Bits and Pieces

Since I have a few minutes to myself again (Lucia is with Grandma!), just a few things I thought I'd post:

My new toy:

I love, love my HP Mini Vivienne Tam edition! Don't you think it's gorgeous? And it has the same features as my old IBM Lenovo T60 without the weight!

Zara sale has started and I had a chance to visit the store yesterday when I was out for a meeting. Sadly, it's not the same as being there the first day. I spied a pair of shoes I wanted but there was only 1 shoe left. The supposed pair was a different size. Sigh! Maybe next year. Treated myself to a Krispy Kreme donut instead. Ok, it was actually two Krispy Kreme donuts. I was hungry!

Breast Milk Envy

Yes, I've got it. I'd stare in envy at the milk coming out of mothers pumping it out in the breastfeeding room at the hospital. The lot of them filling up 6-8 oz at a time, some of them the color of ripe mango shakes. Talk about colostrum overload. While I struggle to produce 1 measly oz of milk for my baby.

Sigh. I obviously have issues. I've tried everything to increase my production -- natalac tablets,drinking more than 3 liters of water everyday, trying to eat right. Heck, I'm even taking anti vomiting tablets because the pediatrician told me one of the side effects is increased lactation. Lucia's just not getting enough judging by her grunts of frustration when she's been at my breast for some time. I can tell. And I feel so guilty for not being to provide enough for her.

So despite my best intentions of pure breastfeeding for Lucia, I've caved in to giving formula. I don't think it's evil like a lot of pediatricians do (thank goodness mine doesn't). I just believe in the good effects of breastmilk. I still put Lucia to my breast first before giving her breastmilk. It makes me feel a lot better plus it keeps my meager supply running, so to speak.

I resign myself to the fact that I will never be able to pump like those mothers do. I'm just glad that Lucia continues to thrive and gain weight. Now excuse me while I go take my Plasil tablets.

At lunch yesterday....

Someone wanted to play games on a cellphone and wasn't allowed to.....

Meanwhile, here's me with Lucia in her orange sling given to me by my good friend Melay. :D

I wish I could carry her in a sling all the time since it frees my hands but it's just too hot at home. This is only possible at the mall or restaurant but since we've refrained from going out with her (too scared of the swine flu that's going around), I've only been able to carry her this way a couple of times. Mostly to restaurants that are stand alone and not crowded and never at the mall.

I've got a slew of pictures we took at lunch yesterday (my dad's birthday) but I don't have them all in my laptop yet. Maybe next time.

My Miracle Baby

Finally got around to posting some pics of my baby Lucia. Not everyone knows (at least, those who aren't in hubby's facebook circle) what happened during the birth.

We got a nasty birth surprise called Placental Abruption -- below is the wikipedia entry:

Placental abruption (also known as abruptio placentae) is an obstetric catastrophe (complication of pregnancy), wherein the placental lining has separated from the uterus of themother. It is the most common cause of late pregnancy bleeding. In humans, it refers to the abnormal separation after 20 weeks of gestation and prior to birth. It occurs in 1% of pregnanciesworld wide with a fetal mortality rate of 20-40% depending on the degree of separation. Placental abruption is also a significant contributor to maternal mortality.

It was a very scary moment -- they couldn't find Lucia's heartbeat while I was writhing in pain at the delivery room. As a result of this, her Apgar score was only 3 and she hardly breathed when they finally got her out. She had to stay in the Neonatal ICU (NICU) for 10 days before she was well enough to come home. There were other conditions that she was being treated for but I don't really want to go into all that. Suffice it to say that we are very thankful that she (and I!) survived the trauma and what could have been a very tragic event had a happy ending.

Here are some pictures of Lucia -- pardon the poor quality as these were taken thru our cellphones:

Here's one taken at the NICU while doing kangaroo care. I loved kangaroo care.

Taken at home -- around 3-4 weeks old.

This was taken last night at just about 6-7 weeks old. She's filling out! :D

I've popped!

Yes, I've given birth and there's a story to it (not a very happy one) with a good outcome, thank goodness.  But, between changing diapers and feeding Lucia, I hardly have time to really sit down and put it all in writing.  So thank you to all the well wishers and please know that I really appreciate your kind words (in this blog and in Facebook and emails and text messages).  I will try to update when I have had more sleep, when Lucia loses a bit of her pre-occupation with me (and my breasts) and when I have more time than the bathroom breaks I allow myself due to necessity.

Some random stuff I want to throw out:

- Why doesn't anyone make strapless nursing bras??  Why? Why? Why?  

- Why do nursing bras have to be so darned ugly?  Isn't it enough that you have a post pregnancy belly to deal with?  And now you can't even have decent underwear.  

- Babies poop a lot, I get it.  But why does Lucia have to do it in the middle of a feed?  Every.single.time.

And hey, people don't really need to sleep.   I know, cause I'm still alive aren't I?

Distractions

Well I didn't win the make-up brush set, too bad.  I probably wouldn't know what to do with those brushes anyway.  

Anyway, I've been trying to distract myself from the aches and pains.  I've just ordered a couple of books from Amazon and had it sent to Johnny Air Retail which I learned about from Chuvaness' blog.  Great alternative to paying the enormous international shipping fees!  They charge $6.00/lb + $5.00 handling fee.  And you don't have to wait for weeks for your shipment -- it arrives in 6 days.  Perfect for when I'm already on maternity leave.

I'm off to check out the HP Mini 1000 Vivienne Tam edition!  Some women get jewelry when they give birth, I get techie products!  (I got an Ipod when Faith was born).  Then we're watching Wolverine.

Have a good weekend!

36 weeks and 4 days

Me modeling my new dress in our messy bathroom.  I figured I might as well take a picture for posterity.  

I just realized how huge my tummy is.  

Just a few more days!!!!  Bought a crib yesterday and I think we're ready.  

But I haven't packed for the hospital yet!