Very Satisfying Result - Sleeping through the night miracle

Yeah Yeah Yeah ~~~~ Baby Chloe, Mama & Papa slept at about 1.00am last night and all of us woke up at 6.30am this morning. Total of 5 hours sleep!!!!! Congratulation and Celebration, da da da da da da da da da da ~~~

Baby Chloe was fed with the expressed breastmilk for the past two weeks and she managed to get up once in the night for a feed. Instead of every two hourly feed, the interval stretched to 3 hours every feed during the night. Sometimes, when we were lucky, Baby Chloe managed a 4 hour interval.

Since Baby Chloe rejected Wyeth S26 Gold Infant Formula, I have changed it to Enfalec A+ (HA) Infant Formula as advised by Dr. Ong. HA is a special formula for baby who have allergy problem such as eczema. Unfortunately, Baby Chloe has mild eczema found therefore Dr. Ong recommended special Formula instead of the normal Formula. Anyway, Baby Chloe had the Formula twice only so far, the effect is yet to know.

HOWEVER, one thing that I am 100% sure is that Infant Formula is definitely thicker and not so easy to digest as compared to Breastmilk. Baby Chloe was fed with a 4oz of Enfalec A+ (HA) with the ratio of 4oz. water + 3 scoop of Milk powder at 12midnight, and she was able to sleep through without waking up in the middle of the night for feed. Well, at least the feed lasted her 6 hours which MaMa & Papa are very satisfied with the 5 hour sleep.

Experiment SUCCESS!! Baby Chloe is my good girl!

Day & Night

Finally, Baby Chloe is able to distinguish day & night. She usually stays quite awake in the afternoon and sleep in the night. I realise her changed of sleeping pattern since last week but I want to observe for a longer period of time to confirm her changes.

Baby Chloe is a late sleeper like her Papa. She would go to bed between 12 midnight and 1am. Then she would wake up between 4 - 5 am and then between 7 - 8 am depending on how hungry she is on that day. Baby Chloe continues to sleep after the feed at around 8am and my maid will wake her up at about 9.30am to bathe her. After her bath, it is the feed again at about 10am.

Subsequently, she would cry for milk every 2 hours until 10pm at night which equivalent to about 6 - 7 feeds between 10am to 10pm. In between, she would nap for estimating total of 3 - 4 hours depending on the activity on that day.

Baby Chloe likes to go Gai Gai, She feels very comfortable with her "Ferrari" Stroller while we bring her to shopping mall. Baby Chloe is never affected with the mass noise in the malls and restaurants, she continues to sleep very soundly. To be exact, I think she could sleep better in her stroller when we bring her Gai Gai compared to putting her to sleep at home. Perhaps malls and restaurants are fully blast with air-cond and there is only a pathetic fan at home to cool her down which obstructed her from her nap. I didn't want the air-cond during the day for her as I didn't want her to get used to air-cond too much. Besides air-conds will make her skin quite dehydrated no matter how many glasses of water I put in the room.

Anyway, although the Sleeping through the night miracle has not happened yet but there is definitely an improvement in her sleeping pattern that Mama and Papa is very much satisfied with. Of course, there is always a room for "sleeping through the night" to happen. BRAVO, Baby Chloe.

*sigh* Going back to work in two days time. I miss Baby Chloe already.

Gong Xi Gong Xi

Time really flies, 3 more days to go and I will be back to work. Today is already the third day of Chinese New Year. Since my ILs are on their vocation in Haerbin, We spent our Chinese New Year at my mum's place. Unfortunately, during this festive season I cannot really enjoy any of the nice food because my right gum is sore. My Hubby said it is not GUM, it is the mouth! Anyway, "some part" towards the end of my "mouth" is sore. I could feel the swallon and pain. I have difficult swallowing my saliva too. Everything that I put into my mouth became not so delicious when it is suppose to be. *Sigh* In order to comfort myself from this unfortunate incident, I told myself that luckily i have sore gum that's why I will not add extra kilos to my body. Well, this is the best way to make the condition less painful.

One good News to share, I have finally breastfeed my Baby Chloe directly without any complication. Hahaha...Finally... However, the bad news is that I am going back to work soon and I want to start Infant Formula for Baby Chloe. Last night, I tried feeding her S26 Gold Infant Formula with 2 Scoops of Powder to the ratio of 4oz water. Baby Chloe rejected the milk instantly. :( Bad Bad Bad. I told my hubby, maybe because she didn't like S26, and I will try Enfalec A+ HA later in the afternoon. With her growing appetite and me going back to work schedule, I really need Baby Chloe to get started with Infant Formula. It is such an irony, I want her to have the best by forcing myself to feed Baby Chloe Breastmilk as much as I can. And now, I am going back to work soon, I have to force myself letting Baby Chloe to be fed on Infant Formula. Geezzz....Stupid!

Going Back To Work Plan

10.30pm : Feed Baby Chloe with IF and straight to bed with MaMa at about 11pm.
04.00am : Ideally, If She can do so well, I shall feed her at 4am.. Hope my dream will come true.
06.30am : Feed again and pump milk to store - 2 feeds
08.00am : Go to work.
12.00noon : Pump milk to store - 2 feeds
06.00pm : Home from work
6.30pm : Pump milk to store - 2 feeds
10.00pm : Pump milk to store - 2 feeds

Total of 24 hours per day, average every 2 - 3 hours per feed which means about 10 feed per day. 8 feeds on Breastmilk and 2 - 3 feeds on Infant Formula.

Well, plan is after a plan only. Whether or not it goes according to my plan is all up to my Baby Chloe la.

Upgraded Appetite!

Time really flies without you knowing it, and Baby Chloe is exactly 2 months old now. I used to feed her 3oz of expressed milk every 2 hour, but now with her growth I have to increase it to 4oz. It was a little struggling for me to cope with 3oz and now I have to feed her 4oz, *phew*, not easy at all.

Other than her expanded stomach, I am also considering what am I suppose to do when I get back to work. I have been contemplating on feeding Baby Chloe with Infant Formula or not? I was planning to feed her Infant Formula at night so that She can sleep better or rather longer hour since Formula is not so digestive as compared to Breastmilk. Plus, I have make a calculation of the volume of my milk supply against Baby Chloe's demand. It is definitely impossible for me to meet her demands especially after going back to work. My plan was to get my maid to feed her breastmilk during daytimes and I will feed her Infant Formula during the night. I was trying to convince myself that :"Well, at least i am still feeding Baby Chloe breastmilk, better than nothing!"

It has been one week, and I hold the unopened packet of S26 Infant Formula every night for almost a week; the packet remained sealed. I couldn't' give myself enough reason to feed Baby Chloe with Infant Formula. Maybe I was so into breastmilk after reading so much from the Internet, I feel guilty to even start thinking of feeding Baby Chloe with IF. I know very well, many babies are as healthy with IF, for instant myself, my husband, practically my whole family. I don't know what is the matter with me that keep on feeling uneasy about IF. I worried that once I am comfortable with feeding her IF and I gradually skip the pumping and end up giving up breastmilk totally for Baby Chloe. Gosh, am I thinking too much unnecessarily? am I worried too much unnecessarily? Should I just let it go and do all the best I can?

It is confusing! I am confused! Breastmilk & Infant Formula confuse me!!!!

Lack of Sleep

I could never imagine myself not having enough sleep before Chloe's birth. I would rather sacrifice my breakfast, lunch & dinner for my sleep. The old ME who did not get enough sleep would become very grumpy, angry, inpatient, rude and unfriendly. The current ME who did not get enough sleep becomes worried and sad. If I am not getting enough sleep, Baby Chloe probably won't get the sleep too. Or should I put it the other way round. LOL.

Baby Chloe is getting better now. She doesn't jerk as much anymore and she could sleep in the night except waking up every two hours for feed, which means I am now able to get total of 2 - 3 hours sleep in the night. She usually wakes up at 11pm for feed then get back to sleep at 12midnight, then wakes up again at 1am and back to sleep at 2am, and then wakes up again at 3am and back to sleep at 4....something like that.

I am going back to work in two weeks times and up to now I am not sure how can i cope with this sleeping pattern and back to work punctually. By looking at my hubby, he has not been punctual for 2 months already. Poor hubby.

Sigh, plus due to the long period of sleepless nights, I have developed a ring of deep dark eye circles. Shit... Sometimes, the dark eye circles seems a little red. Last night, I started to use teabag to sooth the puffiness and dark eye circles. Of course, I did it ONCE only and the result is not visible yet. I will try again and again. The problem with me is that when Baby Chloe sleeps in the day, I just couldn't get myself doze off in the day time. I tried laying down with my eye closed for an hour and I am still so awake. Sigh...

A lousy Mother I am.

I was longing for Baby Chloe’s “Sleep through the night” Miracle, but now I realize to let Baby Chloe has a comfortable sleep is all I want at the very moment. I was terrified to see Baby Chloe stay so awake from 8pm last night to almost 7am this morning. Anxiety plus the Sleepiness kicked in that made last night a tense night for hubby and myself. We ended up quarrelling when both of us became restless due to lack of sleep.

What is going on with Baby Chloe? I would have guessed that her nose blocked and flams are troubling her which had obstructed from her sleep too. But, there is nothing much that I can for her? I tried the nasal spray on her and pat her back, but it doesn’t seem to work at all. I tried giving her warm water hoping to sooth her throat but ended up she got choked. What did I do wrong? How come I cannot get Baby Chloe to sleep? I am such a lousy mother I thought and burst into tears and pleaded Baby Chloe to go to sleep.

Finally, at about 5am, hubby was successfully put her to bed. Sadly, she was awaken startled and began to cry furiously. We didn’t understand what made her so petrified, must be a horrible nightmare I thought but hubby came in with an idea about spirits making the atmosphere eerie and also frustrating. Then I start to think, how could Baby Chloe has any horrifying nightmares since she is only 7 weeks old. Furthermore, I have never exposed anything that would actually make her startled so much.

It was so heart-breaking to see Baby Chloe cried and you couldn’t understand why is she crying? Of course eventually, I managed to calm her down and rock her to only half-asleep. Baby Chloe tends to jerk a lot after I put her down on her crib. I really wish that I can communicate with Baby Chloe and understand her needs so that she could have a peaceful sleep.

I have no more choice. Pediatricians are not my source to seek for assistance anymore. I am very very desperate!! I asked my grandma, I asked my mum, I asked my aunties what I can do to my Baby Chloe. I will try everything as long as I can calm my baby down and let her sleep without disturbance.

Even though I didn’t sleep the whole night, but when I think of Baby Chloe not getting her sleep and I became so awake. Since 7am this morning, I was looking at the clock tick tock tick tock hoping to it to tick to 10am where Carrefour opens for business. The clock struck 10am and I rushed to Carrefour with my maid. I bought a Sarong for Baby Chloe. Hubby was still at home by the time I reached home at 11am, and he fell sick due to lack of sleep and over-exhaustion. I also bought Pearl Powder from the Chinese Medicine Shop as my mum told me that by feeding Baby Chloe Pearl Powder might clear her flam and also keep her calm. Well again, I have to try it to make sure I can let Baby Sleep well tonight.

Baby Chloe didn’t like the Pearl Powder and refused to drink it, but I force into her mouth and make her swallow. At times, I even choked her. But, I really didn’t know what else I can do to help her? I teared when Baby Chloe howled, I am such a lousy mother that I cannot even take care of Baby Chloe properly. I cannot even make her sleep comfortably when she was yawning. I am very very lousy mother. I hate this feeling and it just makes me feel useless and guilty. I thought giving her breastmilk will make her the healthiest and happiest baby. Unfortunately, this doesn’t happen at all. First, it was the blocked nose. Then, the rashes and now flam plus insomnia. Arghh…. Help me! Luckily, she is getting her sleep now, otherwise Iwill kill myself. :(

Darling Baby Chloe, Mama is sorry. Mama will try my best again.

When to feed Baby water?

As mentioned, Baby Chloe is having rashes on her head, cheek, neck & ear. I am very very worried and keep asking around from experienced mothers since my pediatricians only suggested me to apply Seba Med Facial Cream which doesn't seem to work. Apparently, mothers whom I know do not go through what I am going through now. Their babies do not have any rashes like Baby Chloe's. So how???

My nervousness is very much obvious that my Granny came into the picture and blame me for not giving her water which resulted the rashes. I was very against giving water to my baby because breastmilk contains 80% of water. Therefore, pediatricians do not recommend to feed baby water until they are 6 months old. Babies have small stomach and instead of feeding her water, why not feed her with more nutrient liquid which also contain water i.e. Breastmilk & Formula. Furthermore, I read from Baby Center that excessive water may be dangerous to baby whereby it develop something called water intoxication??.. But anyway, by looking at Baby Chloe's condition, I have no choice but to feed her a little water, hoping to clear her "heatiness" and make her rashes go away.

*Sigh* Was I too stubborn of not feeding Baby Chloe water? If I have fed her water from the start, would she get all these rashes that she is having now? Maybe Yes, Maybe Not.

Gosh.. Baby Chloe, please get well soon. I can't bear to see your rashes that seems to bother you even though you are not complaining. Hopefully, it doesn't cause itchiness and uneasiness to you. Mama is sorry la.

MaMa's New Complaints

(1) Mama found out that Vein is very much visible on her chest and breast!!!!! Shit. Why everyday got something new to trouble me??? Arghhh...

(2) Mama not allow to go on Total Diet because Mama has to produce milk for Baby Chloe

(3) Mama only allow to go Slimming Center after 3 months. Arghhh!!!!!

(4) Mama has to fit into a Size 12 Clothes and Size 30 Jeans. FCUK!

(5) No Clubbing or Night Drink for MaMa!!!

(6) Wrinkled & Flabby Tummy!

(7) Super Cellulite attack!

Sighs....Too tire to list all out. Baby Chloe is sleeping now and this is my only chance to sleep. Here I come, Mr. Zhou.

Cradle Cap

What's Cradle Cap??? My Baby Chloe has Cradle Cap at her eyebrows and the back of her ears. Sob Sob Sob.... What again? She's only 7 weeks old and so many new things occur week by week. CHOY, TOUCH WOOD LA!!!

I just found that Cradle Cap is very common in babies, and it is not life threatening as per quoted from Dr. Patrick Chan. I think Pediatricians see too many babies everyday that this kind of "NOT LIFE THREATENING ISSUE" is negligible to them. HOWEVER, I am a mother of my child, every single abnormality means SOMETHING to me. Ok, what if Cradle Cap is not life threatening, I asked Dr. Patrick is there anything that I can do about it? He told me to leave it alone since it is not itchy and it is not bothering baby at all, and that it should disappear by her 6th month. If I really want to apply something, I should go with Olive Oil or Baby Oil. Haha.. Hubby asked him should we used EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL??

So, I learned something new again. Cradle cap. Well, It is easily noticeable since it is some yellowish crusty patches skin rash that grows on My Baby Chloe's eyebrows. I found out that Cradle cap has nothing to with infection, allergy or hygiene. It is something to do with the oil glands in babies' skin that release a greasy substance that makes babies' old skin cells attached to their new skin. Something like that. I just have to wait for it to dry and fall off by itself. Arghh... Ya Ya Ya... It is NOT LIFE THREATENING and it is PURELY COSMETIC. My Pediatrician also confirmed that these will not leave scars as long as it is not peeled off by my ITCHY HANDS. Trust me, when you see you babies with the cracked skins that seems like falling anytime soon, you will be tempted to give a hand to speed up the peeling process.

*Phew* I am sorry, Baby Chloe, MaMa is sorry that my hands were a little itchy and did something like this ONCE. I promise I won't do it again. I am sorry. Don't worry, your skin is still very smooth.

Mothers, remember not to do what I did to my Baby. It is a TABOO. Hahaha... it might cause scar or hair loss.

Baby Chloe makes MaMa worries

I always thought that I understand how difficult it is to become a mother, now I realise is far more than I can imagine. Motherhood involves responsibilities, tiredness, sleepless nights, worries, anxious etc etc etc so many more that I can never ever list them down.

I was worried about I do not have enough milk supply for Baby Chloe. I want the best for her, that's why I always remind myself that I must overcome all obstacles and give Baby Chloe the best that I can even forgo my diet plan getting my pre-pregnancy weight in the shortest time, even if I have a fixed schedule expressing milk as a daily routine, even if I have to go through cracked nipples, even if I have to have engorged breast :( It shows how much I want to breastfeed my Baby. Unfortunately, I am still not able to breastfeed directly as her suction is too much that I can endure. Nevertheless, once in a while I will still try and try and try.

Then, I have to worry about whether Baby Chloe is getting enough sleep? Do I need to resolve it with Sarong? Pacifier? Bouncer? Rocking? Recently, my Baby is not getting enough sleep like most newborns. She is waking up frequently almost every 1 to 1 1/2 hour for feed. She would stay awake for straight 5 - 7 hours in a day and that really worries me a lot, especially I was told that newborns suppose to sleep for total of 16-18 hours. My Baby is only sleeping of total approximately 12 hours.

Arghh... I love seeing her talks and eye wide opened but it becomes a concern when my baby stays awake for such a long hours everyday. :( What should I do? Why is she not sleeping even though she yawns continuously. Why is her eyes wide opened even though she yawns for so many times? Why Why Why? What's making her stay so awake everyday? What's troubling her? Is she uncomfortable or something? Help!!!!!!

I was thinking to buy a Sarong as doctor said babies usually sleep better and longer in a sarong, babies are more comfortable sleeping in a sarong too. However, doctor told us that it is not advisable to put babies in a sarong if it's possible even though there is no studies indicate how the up and down motion could affect their brains. The choice is ours. I want to make Baby Chloe sleep well and I have tried pacifier but it is not a good solution either as it did not really help Baby Chloe going to sleep. I told my hubby about Sarong but he was against it. I teared and was nervous when Baby Chloe continues to stay so awake everyday. I know she's tired!! Something must be bothering her.

Baby Chloe starts to have better vision now as she can respond to us by talking back to us or smiling back to us with sound. She is always looking left and right. She is always excited about all the things that is new to her. I was thinking maybe this is the reason why she is not sleeping well because she starts to have thoughts and emotions. She starts to THINK and she refuses to go to sleep. I am not sure whether this is a good sign or not. I am sure not sleeping enough is a bad sign. Poor Thing. Hubby and I decided to give Baby Chloe another 2 weeks or so until the next visit to Dr. Patrick before we decide on a Sarong.

Then comes with the rashes. Her Heat Rash started on her head since her 4th week of birth. It was mild and I applied Angel Baby Nappy Rash on her head as per told by the sales person. However, it is sad to see the rashes do not disappear but getting bad to worse. It spreads to her both cheeks. Her cheeks now are red with red dots. Sob Sob Sob. I bought Calamine Lotion but due to its strong odour I didn't really apply much, especially on her face. I dare not apply the Calamine Lotion on her face at all. I tried on a small patch on her scalp. It doesn't seem to work also. Sigh. We ended up at Dr. Patrick's clinic waited 1 1/2 hour for his consultation. All he said was that all these rashes are not severe and we should just ignore it. He told us that these rashes will disappear gradually by its own and we should not worry much about it. It is purely cosmetic. He recommended us not to apply any medication but we can apply a little Baby Oil or Olive Oil if we really want to. Sigh... It is so heart-aching to see her rashes spreading so much. HOPEFULLY, it is all only surface and is not bothering her with itch....

What else????? Can never stop telling how worry I am about this, about that..... I just want her to be healthy.

To Do or Not To Do?

Last Sunday, I had dinner with Hubby's friends. I was chatting with Audrey who has a daughter of 7 months old. She told me that Tong Tong, Audrey's Daughter, sleeps through the night since she was 2 months old. Tong Tong's sleeping pattern is almost like an adult as she will sleep at 10pm and wakes up the next day 6am or 7am, otherwise close to 10am. WOW~ I exclaimed enviously. Baby Chloe is already coming 6 weeks old and she is no where close to Tong Tong's Sleeping pattern. i asked Audrey for her secret to adjust her baby's sleeping pattern, and she said I just need to be strict and determined enough to make it happen. How??? I asked. She told me when Tong Tong woke up at 2am and 5am, she fed her water instead of milk. Replaced the milk to water even though she will not be satisfied. Allow her to cry and train her to adapt not having milk in the night. Then, slowly omit the water as well and replaced it with pacifier. Again, she will start crying if there is no feed at all, not even water. Gradually, Baby would understand since she would not be entertained or fed with anything, she would choose to sleep.

It sounded so easy for her, as for me I can't even bear to see Baby Chloe cries for 5 minutes. OMG, to be honest, not even 1 minute. It is so torturous for me to hear Baby Chloe cries and cries and cries. No joke, her cries are not ordinary cries, hers is LOUD, CLEAR, FURIOUS, SYMPATHETIC. How can i totally ignore her? But I want her to sleep through the night without disturbing myself & hubby. Am I too selfish? Am I too cruel? Let Baby Chloe cries it all out herself without feeding her? Or rather think positively, I am just training Baby to adapt to normal sleeping pattern? Treat it as an education?!!!

Gosh, such a difficult decision to make!! If I don't try, I will be forever trapped (at least until she's one year old) for 2-3 feed in the night. How am I suppose to regain my energy to go to work? How am I suppose to concentrate at work? How am I suppose to survive for one year without sleep of good eight hour STRAIGHT???!!!

I will think about it again!!!!

Week 4 Photos

This is Baby Chloe in Week 4.

Week 3 Photos

This is Baby Chloe in Week 3

Week 2 Photos

This is Baby Chloe in Week 2 with Papa, Mama & Grandma.

Week 1 Photos

This is me, Chloe Chan Wyn Lam in Week 1 with Papa & Mama.

PaPa New Investment - Medela Pump in Style Advanced

Papa & Mama are both very persistent about breastfeeding, giving the best nutrient for Baby Chloe. We were thinking of purchasing a dual pump instead of the Mini Electric Single Pump that I was using since Chloe's birth. Coincidentally, I saw an ad from the Newspaper that Robinson is having a sales, and the Medela Dual Pump is only RM699.00 which Original Price was RM1K+. So, I told my hubby that I want to go to have a look at the pump and perhaps I will buy it since it is on sales.

Hubby and I went to Robinson on last Sunday and saw the Mini Electric Dual Pump which cost RM699.00 with free storage bottles. Then, next to this offer item I saw this Backpack with pumps displayed. Without hesitation, I told hubby that I want to get the one with the Backpack for convenient sake. Hubby agreed that I should get the one with Backpack. The moment we checked the price, both of us were stunned as it costs RM1688 which we were told this price is already a special nett price item. I started to doubt and hesitate whether or not to proceed with the purchase. First, I am not sure how long more I can hold the supply. Second, Am I really so dedicated and purchase such an expensive equipment. After thinking twice, Hubby bought it without checking price from other vendors.

He told me that it will be a good investment, and he should not delay it any longer:-

(1) Hubby wants me to have more rest, with this Dual Pump it Will definitely shorten the time of pumping.

(2) Hubby said it will be also useful for our next child, so look long term and this pump is still worth it.

I want to thank my hubby for being such a good husband and a good father. He is a man who will only purchase any goods at the cheapest price that he can ever get. For instance, he would not mind to walk further to save just RM3. But in this case, he was so certain and purchases it instantaneously for me and Baby Chloe. Thank you Thank you Thank you.

Immediately after we got home, he opened up the box. Hubby cleaned every single parts that are in the box, used a damp cloth to wipe the Backpack. He read the instruction manual for me and guided me through on how to use the Pump properly. So touched!!!!

Hubby and I were amazed with the outcome, I usually took 1 hour to pump 4 - 6oz averagely. With this Dual Pump, it only took me 20 mins to pump 5 - 6oz. It is definitely a good investment especially when I get back to work.

This pump has a 2-phase expression, which hasten the pumping process. It also allows single or double pumping according to our wish. It also comes with Cooler Carrier and 4 storage bottles. It is very convenient as it can be electric or battery operated.

I thought the Mini Electric was superb, and now i think this Dual pump that I own now is splendid, fantastic, marvellous.....

Thank you, Lokong.

The wonder of Fenugreek Seed

HaHa, I know this is my second time mentioning about these WONDERFUL herb but it really works well on me. I was down with my milk supply last week to only 3oz, after a few dosages of these Fenugreek Seed Water; my milk supply is coming back gradually. If you are keen in breastfeeding and not enough supply, please try this. This herb is not only good for production of milk supply but also helps to prevent many many sickness e.g. Diabetes and High Blood Pressure. No harm trying!!! :P

Good Bye 2008 and Hello My 2009

Hello, Year 2009. I am so happy to spend my very first New Year with MaMa, PaPa, Grandma, Ah Yi & Ah Gu at Titiwangsa. We spent our times together watching Pirates of the Caribbean and Harry Potter together.

Bye Bye, My Birth Year 2008. I have to bid farewell to you in order to grow. :p