mellomouse* » What to Expect when I’m Expecting

Cloth Diapers, pt 5 – Snap Buttons!

mellomouse — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:09:57 +0000

We first started with Velcro
4 Plain Colours & 1 Printed Safari White

Then added Buttons to the fun
Velcro vs Snap Buttons

After much deliberations
Velcro were up for sale

So out goes Velcro
And in comes Snap Buttons!

I bought the 4 new PCD — Twinkle Red, Blue & Lime — last Friday to replace the 4 preloved that were sold off on Thursday. So now we’re back to 8 *phew* It was pretty stressful to only have 4 to use, after packing up the velcro aside to sell.

Autumnz doesn’t have much choice for PUL material with snap buttons. I didn’t want to get Minky again as they are too bulky and warm. I like Daisy but that’s too girly. So instead I had to settle with the same design. Out of the 3 colours above, Natey looks best in Blue

Why did I buy Autumnz again? They are within budget, and doesn’t need to break piggy for it. Else it would definitely be a big pinch to sell off the velcro after only using for 3 weeks and replacing them with new ones. There’s still a lost though, but better than chucking them aside *sigh*

Anyway, I am very happy with the Twinkle snap buttons. So that’s all that really matters

It’s raining Autumn!
Natey’s Pocket Cloth Diaper Stash

In a more organised order
Twinkles, MooMoo Cow, Dreamy Dots & Safari White

Asian Parenting Today.

mellomouse — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 16:06:15 +0000

This book was 1st introduced to me by the writer herself, Jennifer during my confinement. I called her for a postnatal home visit — RM150 for 1.5hrs — to help me with my breastfeeding dilemma, and she was an enlightenment. Natey has been fully breastfed ever since!

Sadly, I didn’t really pay attention when she mentioned her book. Else I would have gotten this sooner and save another RM150 for Natey’s sleeping dilemma 2mths later. Not forgetting the headaches of disagreements on what should and shouldn’t be done.

Asian Parenting Today
Jennifer Hor, Ho Ai Ling & Jocelyn Oo

My verdict:

A definite gem for every 1st time Mommies & Daddies!

This book is so relevant — for Asian, especially Malaysians — and easy to read. The best time to begin would be weeks before delivery. Then everything would stay fresh in mind. Otherwise, a handy bedside bible!

What I like about this book is the FAQ right after each tiny topic. Some questions might seem ridiculous but they were some of our doubts exactly. And I bet, it could be yours too

I highly recommend buying this book — whether as a gift, or for yourself — as it would certainly be cheaper (RM39.90) than calling Jennifer for SOS when you can get everything in these pages!

Btw, if we knew about Jenlia Maternal Services during my pregnancy, we wouldn’t have signed up for Gleneagles’ Parentcraft and somehow feel cheated of our RM180 for 3 lousy sessions. Instead pay RM310 for 4 sessions at Jenlia, with Jennifer being one for the speakers.

Since I can’t turn back time, but you are on the crossroad of deciding for yours, why not check them out

Cloth Diapers, pt 4 – Velcro vs Snap Buttons.

mellomouse — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 16:35:46 +0000

My verdict:
(+) Easy to put on, adjust and remove
(+) Better fitting
(-) If not fastened securely, diaper may fall out while carrying baby
(-) Baby can easily remove by pulling
(-) Velcro’s hard corners would leave red marks/blisters when pressed continuously against baby’s delicate skin — especially the inside tabs

My verdict:
(+) More secure fastenings
(+) Not so easily removed by baby’s curious itchy hands
(-) Challenging to put on the 1st few times — it’s easy peasy once you remember which snap goes with which
(-) May not be so suitable if you have a fussy impatient baby

I personally prefer the snap buttons. Although it appears more challenging with all those buttons, it is actually quite fun snapping and unsnapping them. Call me crazy but I like the sound it makes

As you can see in Part 3, I started off with 5 Velcro PCD. I decided on Velcro because it is easier to put on, adjust and remove. But after using for a day or two, I noticed the red marks on Natey’s thighs.

I tried readjusting the part where the velcro touches his skin. I even trimmed the sharp edges into round smoother edge. They still poke! This could be Autumnz’s design drawback and does not apply to all brands. Remember to check this important element before you purchase because all velcro have hard edges.

If not for this main concern, I’m pretty happy using velcro. This was the reason why I bought the 2 snap buttons PCD. Now that I have my verdict, I’ll definitely go with the buttons.

Natey could be fussy or not during nappy change. If he is, I’ll just use the Velcros

Added 28/7/10, 12.15am
After much deliberations, I finally decided to sell off the velcro diapers.

Now I can be worry free pocket diapering Natey. No more red marks/blisters on his chunky thighs and tummy!

Hooray for Snap Buttons!

Cloth Diapers, pt 3 – Finally!

mellomouse — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 16:51:15 +0000

The Research began 9 months ago
I was already drooling over these eye candies

Pocket Diapers on hold
DIY Prefolds with Baby Nappies

On Disposables for 3 months
Natey outgrew his Newborn Diaper Covers

Finally the Excuse to get these!
Velcro Pocket Diapers with Microfiber Inserts

Bought 2 more yesterday & made it 7
Snap Button Pocket Diapers with Microfiber Inserts

Total Spent = RM282.30

If you want to try out pocket diapering and on a budget like us, Autumnz is not a bad choice to begin with. Definitely stretches your Ringgit more compared to the diaper cover we bought, and wasted. Not including the 40 nappies turned swaddle blankets and whatnot

I’m looking forward to add up to this collection with other brands later on. But for now, 7 shells and 14 inserts are more than sufficient for daytime use. As for night, we’re still relying on disposables to keep Natey dry for an undisturbed slumber.

For 3 weeks of cloth diapering in the day has saved us a big pack of disposables. Just imagine in a month or a year. Even during potty training years.

So be wise for your wallet and our planet!

Save Mother Earth. Go cloth!
Natey is wearing Autumnz Baby Blue Cloth Diaper

Added 16/7/10, 6.39pm
I’m selling all 5 of the above velcro PCD at RM128, including delivery. Leave a comment if you’re interested!

BabyNatey 14: 3rd July 2009.

mellomouse — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 14:46:08 +0000

Exactly a year ago today, we had the pleasant surprise that God has blessed us with this gift ♥

I was a 5mm tiny Embryo then
Today, I have multiplied into a giant!

Don’t you agree that time grew wings? It’s July! A year ago, I was an expecting Mother and today I am already one for 4 whole months. I still can’t believe that I have a son — a Mini Me of myself and the husband ♥

I’m always moved to tears whenever I recall the times when Natey was just known as Little Benjac Junior. How I missed those days — minus the morning sickness bit — when he was kicking and hiccuping inside me. He still does both now, but the feeling is different. Somehow I know one day, I won’t be able to remember these treasured moments *sniff*

It’s a happy day. It’s a day to be thankful, and certainly a day for a little celebration.

Hubby, do you remember now?

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 07: Nursing Bra, pt 2.

mellomouse — Mon, 17 May 2010 03:33:44 +0000

True to its namesake
I am being Carri(ed)well since Friday

My Verdict:
2 words — God Sent! *breath with utter relief*

Since wearing my new Carriwell bra last Thursday night, I did not have to deal with the painful ordeal of engorgement caused by blocked ducts. I still experience pain from the fullness, but certainly not as agonising as before.

What I love about Carriwell is that the side panels can expand 2 cup sizes when the breast are full. This is definitely an intelligent and thoughtful invention!

I suspect that I am experiencing engorgement because my FM nursing bras become too tight when my breast are full. Hence plugging the ducts along the way and turning my breastfeeding joy into a nightmare.

I bought 2 pairs to try — a black (I was wearing when photo was taken) and a white — each for RM89.90 and I am now tempted to get a third. Shall wait for Mega Sale soon

If this design looks too boring for you, try the lace range going for RM129.90.

I would definitely recommend this bra to any expecting and nursing Mommies. The super comfortable material is simply to die for. No regrets!

Added 24/5/10, 12.42pm:
I really heart this bra. My life saver! The husband bought me another pair yesterday ♥

I recommend getting the white ones, as I find the black have lint problem

Postnatal 06: Nursing Bra, pt 1.

mellomouse — Thu, 13 May 2010 06:41:15 +0000

How many pairs of nursing bras does a nursing Mommy needs? Well if you are a shopping jinx like myself, you’ll probably have too many to go around BUT none of them fit. At least, not anymore.

To date, I have collectively bought 12 pairs of nursing bras from Fabulous Mom: 2 Eunice, 4 Amber and 6 Sarah. Total spent RM323.00! *hubby faints* There’s no point of going to FM anymore because these are already *ahem* their biggest size in the shop.

So here I am engorged with no adequate support for my “girls” and squeezed into 2 sizes too small causing pain to the point of passing out. I need new ones and I need to get them quick! *sweats*

This morning I called Roberta — my Brazilian Mommy girlfriend — for rescue advice and she highly recommended me Carriwell’s Nursing Bra. By the look of the video below, I am crossing my fingers and toes that it is my Salvation!

Did you know that the breasts can increase by TWO cup sizes between nursing? I didn’t! No wonder I’m in so much agony. Why didn’t I thought of asking her earlier? *smacks self*

I’ll endure what I can now — had been for 3 weeks! — and wait for the husband to bring me shopping after work. I called 9 months at Pavilion earlier and they have the size I need. Hopefully Carriwell will work for me as they did Roberta *fingers crossed*

I promise to do a review on this soon. So if you’re planning to get yours, Don’t Yet!

Hospital Bag, pt 3 – Real Necessities.

mellomouse — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 05:06:54 +0000

Let’s revisit this post — because you asked — and make a little adjustment. I’ve never packed a hospital bag before, so the one I did was a bit overboard. Can I blame it on the checklist I followed? *bleh*

Honestly what went into the bag for “during labour” was unused and useless. Maybe because I delivered an hour after I was admitted, so I didn’t get to use most of what was in it. But you might need them

For Mommy

During Labour
__ Admission Letter for Delivery
__ My Birth Plan
__ Socks (Mello says: Bring extra pairs for after delivery)
__ Johnson’s Baby Oil Lite for back massage
__ Crackers & Juice
__ Birth Ball
__ Yoga Mat
__ Hot Water Bottle
__ Johnson’s Mother & Baby Book

After Delivery
__ Medela Harmony Breastpump (Mello says: Gentler to use your hands to massage)
__ My Brest Friend Nursing Pillow (Mello says: You must have this. It’s a life saver!)
__ Nursing Bras (Mello says: Wear sleep bras — comfy and easy to “open”)
__ Lip Balm
__ Shawl
__ Disposable Undies (Mello says: Get the “hospital type” at their pharmacy, extremely comfy and stretchable — 3x the price too!)
__ Disposable Breast Pads — (Mello says: Sorry to disappoint, but no flow yet at this point to stain)
__ Lansinoh Nipple Cream
__ Comfort Pillow from home (Mello says: You’ll want this because hospital pillow sucks)
__ Going Home Outfit: Nursing Top & Yoga Pants
__ Toiletries: Facial Wash & Towel, Comb, Toothbrush and Toothpaste
(+) Keepsake Book: Cute Baby Boy (Mello says: If you got this, remember to bring along to get the nurses for your baby’s newborn footprint!)

For Daddy

__ A change of Clothes
__ Camera, Extra Battery & Charger
__ Phone Charger
__ Toothbrush
__ Laptop
(+) Sleepware

For Little Benjac Junior

__ Going Home Outfit: Newborn Short Sleeved Vest & Bodysuit
__ Receiving Blanket
__ Booties & Mittens
__ Hat
__ Hankies

Postnatal 00: My Birth Story.

mellomouse — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:44:43 +0000

It was it!

My story began at approximately 4.07am on 23 February 2010. Being a 1st time Mommy, I was unsure and so I endured — almost turning this story and LBJ into a home delivery *gasps*

I recorded all the contraction time in my mobile as an unsent SMS. It was too early in the morning to wake the husband, so I laid patiently ~~awake in pain~~ until he was up and told him to take the day off. He even managed to go for a morning swim *pat on the back*

By noon the contractions were 7-8 minutes apart. Yet I was still unsure if it was the real deal because I swallowed all the pain as they came. The husband made a call to Dr Tan’s clinic and the Labour Dept asked us to come right in. But I was still adamant to stay put till I was 5 minutes apart. I must have been crazy! I didn’t want to go all the way there and come right back.

At 12.15pm, I staggered into the bathroom and took my last “real” shower. Finally half an hour later, I surrendered *sobs*

The normal 5 minutes lift ride and walk down to the basement carpark — 10 floors plus 3 — took like forever! We reached Gleneagles a little before 2pm — thankfully no traffic! — and that’s when the no-words-can-describe pain climaxed. I was already 7cm dilated!

As indicated in my Birth Plan, I only wanted Gas & Air and that’s exactly what I had. Was it any help? It doesn’t do anything for the pain and I was almost knocked out every time it took effect.

I remembered Dr Tan came in twice. The 1st was to check on me, and the 2nd about 45 minutes later when I was ready to deliver. With 2 big pushes, LBJ was heard crying so loud! His Apgar Score was 9¹ 10⁵. After the husband cut LBJ’s umbilical cord, he was taken for a quick clean before passing to me.

I am a Mother!
♥ Filled with awe & thanksgiving ♥

3 Generations in a Flash: GrandMama, MelloMom & LBJ

LBJ stared at me with the biggest pair of eyes as he cried his little heart out. A head full of fine black hairs and neatly-tugged-to-the-side ears — not like Mommy’s Mickey ears — he was the most handsome baby to a Mother’s eyes! Immediately I fell in love with God’s Gift to us.

At that very moment, I was never more sure that the name Nathaniel was meant for LBJ than anything else in the whole wide world ♥