Baby essentials
My mom and dad had arrived from Indonesia, that's why I have a bit of time to go online and post something on this blog. It's such a huge relief. I think Agastya has started to drain my energy out. I've been spending most of my day (and night) in my room with Agastya. When he sleeps I try to sleep, unless I have to breastpump or eat. I think if I continue like this my skin will become so pale. Need some sunlight desperately.
From my experience this past couple of weeks, there are things you need when you have a baby. I am going to list them here, for friends who are thinking of having babies (hint hint-- I know at least one who's due in September). Apart from the obvious like car seat, pushchairs, beddings, etc, I found some things I learnt myself that I can't live without.
1. Support.
The best support comes from your family. I really wouldn't have a clue what I'd do if Yovita (my sister) were not here this past two weeks. She's studying for her SAT but she's nice enough to help me in any way she can. She's my angel and saviour. Now that my mom and dad are here, I'll have more support and hopefully Yovita can get her well-earn rest. I cannot thank her enough. I get support from Nagi as well, that goes without saying, but he's expected to do that, afterall he's the father.
2. V-neck pillow
I don't know why I had not discovered them much earlier. It would have made my snooze in the nights a lot nicer. This pillow is very comfortable. I use it for breastfeeding to support my back, but I find it most useful to make me go to sleep almost instantly at whatever time.
3. Breast pads
When I look at them at first, I thought "Hmm.. how many of them do I really need? Certainly this 50 disposable ones would do for a month at least." Turns out I was wrong. I finished the whole thing in less than 2 weeks!
4. Food
And lots of it. I find myself having a very big appetite lately, more than when I was pregnant. I eat oatmeal and juice for breakfast, and 4 slices of bread with butter. I have those bread and butter for snacks too. I have more portion of meal for both lunch and dinner. One important thing, Nagi found this Tesco Finest Chocolate Roulade. My God that must be the finest thing Tesco had produced! It's a rolled chocolate cake with cream in the middle. The chocolate cake is perfect, not too chocolatey, not too sweet, not too strong. The texture is very delicate too. And the cream... oh... by now you all should know how I love cream. Anything with cream is edible. I really recommend you to try this chocolate roulade, unless you live near Milton or regularly shop in Tesco Milton. I want all the chocolate roulade stock for myself!!!
5. Sleeping clothes with front opening
I have only a few, and most of them were my mom's! *blushed*. I don't have many of them, and when breastfeeding, front opening is definitely a must. I don't like pulling up t-shirt because I can't see the baby's face very well. That's why I have to keep putting the same clothes in the wash, and that's also why people might see me in photographs wearing the same clothes over and over again. That's not because I have not had shower for ages (although sometimes that's true *blushed*), but because I honestly don't have that many clothes suitable for breastfeeding. I ought to buy some more, but I thought I'd buy them in Indonesia.
6. Nursing bras.
Same with breastpads, I originally thought to myself how many of these do I really need - I should be able to use my old bras (the ones I used during pregnancy, which are 2 sizes bigger than the ones I used before pregnancy). Turned out I must have gained 2 more sizes since Agastya was born or something, because the ones I used during pregnancy just doesn't fit me anymore, especially if I had to use breastpads continuously like right now. I hope these boobs will go back to their original size otherwise I'm a bit alarmed since I look like a skinny girl with Dolly Parton's boobs!
I only bought a couple of them to start with, but that's really far from enough due to leakage and sweat (oh yeah I sweat like a pig when I sleep. I don't know why, but when I wake up I always find myself soaked in sweat!). I can use 3 in a day!
Oh, just an information, now my weight is 50 kgs. It hasn't really changed since the day Agastya was born. I was 57 at the end of pregnancy, and the birth with Agastya's weight and the volume of the water and blood etc probably totalled to around 7 kgs.
Agastya's weight on 20th January (20 days old) is 4.08 kgs, which is around 0.5 kgs more than when he was born. Which is good, that means he's been feeding very well. We know that already before weighing because he's been pooing very much too. He's definitely a poo factory, and I think he's getting that trait from his little aunty Yovita.
7. Maternity pads
There's something I wasn't really prepared myself during pregnancy. I did not know that I'd be bleeding for about 3 weeks continuously. We're talking about heavy bleeding, more than what I used to get during my periods.
8. Arnica
This is something that was recommended by my midwife. It's some sort of homeopathy, supposed to help to reduce bruises, which I had during labour. It comes in 2 forms, cream and "pillules" (= small tablets that are placed on the tongue and sucked or chewed until they dissolve). I am not really sure how helpful they are but now my bruises are gone so probably it does help then.
9. Breast pump
It has become my best friend nowadays. My way to relieve myself from bursting breasts and leaking milk. I produce 10 oz of milk at least 3 times a day. Sometimes more than 10 oz 3 times a day, sometimes even 4 times a day.
From my experience this past couple of weeks, there are things you need when you have a baby. I am going to list them here, for friends who are thinking of having babies (hint hint-- I know at least one who's due in September). Apart from the obvious like car seat, pushchairs, beddings, etc, I found some things I learnt myself that I can't live without.
1. Support.
The best support comes from your family. I really wouldn't have a clue what I'd do if Yovita (my sister) were not here this past two weeks. She's studying for her SAT but she's nice enough to help me in any way she can. She's my angel and saviour. Now that my mom and dad are here, I'll have more support and hopefully Yovita can get her well-earn rest. I cannot thank her enough. I get support from Nagi as well, that goes without saying, but he's expected to do that, afterall he's the father.
2. V-neck pillow
I don't know why I had not discovered them much earlier. It would have made my snooze in the nights a lot nicer. This pillow is very comfortable. I use it for breastfeeding to support my back, but I find it most useful to make me go to sleep almost instantly at whatever time.
3. Breast pads
When I look at them at first, I thought "Hmm.. how many of them do I really need? Certainly this 50 disposable ones would do for a month at least." Turns out I was wrong. I finished the whole thing in less than 2 weeks!
4. Food
And lots of it. I find myself having a very big appetite lately, more than when I was pregnant. I eat oatmeal and juice for breakfast, and 4 slices of bread with butter. I have those bread and butter for snacks too. I have more portion of meal for both lunch and dinner. One important thing, Nagi found this Tesco Finest Chocolate Roulade. My God that must be the finest thing Tesco had produced! It's a rolled chocolate cake with cream in the middle. The chocolate cake is perfect, not too chocolatey, not too sweet, not too strong. The texture is very delicate too. And the cream... oh... by now you all should know how I love cream. Anything with cream is edible. I really recommend you to try this chocolate roulade, unless you live near Milton or regularly shop in Tesco Milton. I want all the chocolate roulade stock for myself!!!
5. Sleeping clothes with front opening
I have only a few, and most of them were my mom's! *blushed*. I don't have many of them, and when breastfeeding, front opening is definitely a must. I don't like pulling up t-shirt because I can't see the baby's face very well. That's why I have to keep putting the same clothes in the wash, and that's also why people might see me in photographs wearing the same clothes over and over again. That's not because I have not had shower for ages (although sometimes that's true *blushed*), but because I honestly don't have that many clothes suitable for breastfeeding. I ought to buy some more, but I thought I'd buy them in Indonesia.
6. Nursing bras.
Same with breastpads, I originally thought to myself how many of these do I really need - I should be able to use my old bras (the ones I used during pregnancy, which are 2 sizes bigger than the ones I used before pregnancy). Turned out I must have gained 2 more sizes since Agastya was born or something, because the ones I used during pregnancy just doesn't fit me anymore, especially if I had to use breastpads continuously like right now. I hope these boobs will go back to their original size otherwise I'm a bit alarmed since I look like a skinny girl with Dolly Parton's boobs!
I only bought a couple of them to start with, but that's really far from enough due to leakage and sweat (oh yeah I sweat like a pig when I sleep. I don't know why, but when I wake up I always find myself soaked in sweat!). I can use 3 in a day!
Oh, just an information, now my weight is 50 kgs. It hasn't really changed since the day Agastya was born. I was 57 at the end of pregnancy, and the birth with Agastya's weight and the volume of the water and blood etc probably totalled to around 7 kgs.
Agastya's weight on 20th January (20 days old) is 4.08 kgs, which is around 0.5 kgs more than when he was born. Which is good, that means he's been feeding very well. We know that already before weighing because he's been pooing very much too. He's definitely a poo factory, and I think he's getting that trait from his little aunty Yovita.
7. Maternity pads
There's something I wasn't really prepared myself during pregnancy. I did not know that I'd be bleeding for about 3 weeks continuously. We're talking about heavy bleeding, more than what I used to get during my periods.
8. Arnica
This is something that was recommended by my midwife. It's some sort of homeopathy, supposed to help to reduce bruises, which I had during labour. It comes in 2 forms, cream and "pillules" (= small tablets that are placed on the tongue and sucked or chewed until they dissolve). I am not really sure how helpful they are but now my bruises are gone so probably it does help then.
9. Breast pump
It has become my best friend nowadays. My way to relieve myself from bursting breasts and leaking milk. I produce 10 oz of milk at least 3 times a day. Sometimes more than 10 oz 3 times a day, sometimes even 4 times a day.
posted by Monica | 2:58 PM
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