Motherhood Journey - Baby Jaundice

Thursday, January 25, 2018 2 Comments A+ a-

The sweetest moment is to welcome my newborn baby girl to our home and she get so much love from her siblings and family members. Happy, excited and looking forward for our bonding time together. Breastfeeding challenge, sleepless night, recovering from birth and so on..The worried moment started when baby reach day 7 when she begin to look yellowish.

From my previous experience, we are advise to put our baby under the morning sun to reduce jaundice, Even the nurse from Tung Shin Hospital told me this. Baby will look more yellowish within 4th day to 7 days. It will slowly go away after 14 days (two weeks time). Many people will advise us not to take ginger, kunyit, pepper and keep breastfeed as much as you can.

I put them under the sun for my three kiddos. They have to go to Tung Shin Hospital to check up on the 5th day. The painful moment when you have to look at the nurse tucking in the sharp needle to take blood from the baby little tiny feet to measure baby's bilirubin level. Ouch..! All their readings is normal and doctor just advise to keep breastfeeding and ensure baby have poo poo.

This round, my baby girl doesn't look yellowish for the first 4 days. KKIA nurse come to home visit on the second day, She check on baby and myself. Pretty good when they provide such good service - checking on my blood pressure and remind me to see if baby will be yellowish for the next few days.
On the 5th day she came and begin to notice baby face and chest is yellowish. She issued a referral letter asking me to take blood test at KKKL (Klinik Kesihatan Kuala Lumpur) or KKIA Sri Rampai. I abit reluctant as I know I can put her under the sun instead. She said it is not advisable. She will come and follow up again next two days.

I discuss with hubby and we decided to go to KKKL located at Tititwangsa area. This center is open on Saturday. Never knew there are such place.  We reach early at 8.40am. Ample of parking space. The Klinik Kesihatan is quite new, bright and clear direction is given. We have to register our self first at the counter, take queue number and they will call our number. Show them that we are coming to take the blood test for baby to check jaundice. After that, we are asked to go to waiting area where they will call our number. Once in the room, the officer will check baby feverish level, and ask us to wait for our number again to go into another room to take the blood sample. Once done, hubby took the blood sample to the lab.

We need to sit down again at the waiting area and wait our number to be called to see doctor.  The result was 150 which is monitoring level and doctor advise us to take blood test again after two days. The reading should be below 100!!!..What?? TAKE BLOOD SAMPLE AGAIN ON HER TINY FEET?? So worried.......

The whole process just took us one hour time. Quite systematic and not much of waiting time. The place is quite cold especially the waiting area. Doctor advise me not to take herbs, ginger, and pepper. Continue to breastfeed and make sure baby poo poo well and feed well. The jaundice will slowly go away after 2 weeks time.

After 2 days, we need to go to KKIA Sri Rampai since this branch is nearer and is open from Monday to Friday. Heartbreaking when I have to see the nurse take my baby blood sample again. I was shocked to see the condition of KKIA in this place compare to my usual visit at KKIA Pasar Gombak. KKIA Sri Rampai is located inside an old building, crowded with patients as early as 8am , I feel suffocated inside waiting for my queue no. We need to go direct to the room to take blood sample after registering. Hubby took the blood sample to the lab and waiting for so long (almost 20 minutes) to get the result. After that, need to pass back to the main counter and wait for our number to be called to see doctor. The reading is 157 which is higher and doctor advise me to take another blood test after 3 days!!! NO WAY!! I am not going to do that.. The reading is still acceptable because she do mention the high reading max is 308.

I believe by feeding my baby well and reduce ginger intake will help on reducing the jaundice and yes!!! believe in old people say..just put them under the sun! I should have do that from the 2nd day onwards...arghhh. It is really frustrating when they keep asking you to check and check to ensure the reading is below 100. I ignore it when the KKIA nurse come and check on the fifth day. I just said the yellowish on her face is lesser already and she just smiled.

I do appreciate for the KKIA nurse to come to check on me and my baby. They come about five times. I know they need to follow the procedure to ensure the reading is good and record down every single check up and result. I politely telling them I did not go for third reading.

After the next few days, I have some free time to dig out my past record on my three children of their blood sample test result. To my surprise, their reading is so much higher than my little one. My eldest was reaching 196, my second girl is 202 and my boy is 186. The range must be below 172. But doctor at that time does not require me to take another blood test and there is no such thing as reading below 100!. I remember I put them under the sun for two weeks and more. Whether you believe or not, just put them under the morning sun before 8am if the weather is good. And most important think positive. Continue breastfeeding, ensure the baby urine and poo poo well.

There is no medicine or anything you can do. The jaundice will go away itself. The mentally sickness is to wait 2 weeks time to get ride of the yellowish and mix feeling of not taking ginger. Almost all menu in my confinement food have ginger, pepper soup and herbs. At the same time you worry if you take these food, will make the baby jaundice worst. That's the motherhood journey that every mum have to go through..

Everything will be just fine..


My Amazing Giving Birth Experience Dec 2017

Monday, January 22, 2018 4 Comments A+ a-

My due date is estimated to be 9 Dec 2017. That's the answer when everyone around me asking me the same question from time to time. It's like repeating this answer each time a person come and ask me when is your due date? From Family members, relatives, friends and colleagues. It's making me more nervous when the due date is nearer and when it comes to the month of Dec. I am getting more anxious. Looking at the calendar and start counting and even predicting when will my baby want to come out. Getting very tired in the 39 weeks of pregnancy, can't get enough sleep and my mind keep flashing some negative thoughts worrying how is baby doing inside. Also thinking about work will I able to hand over the task within that one week time to train the replacement girl? So many things playing in my mind. I still can walk slowly from the Monorail station to office and I decided to work until 7 Dec since I have to sit and wait at home without any symptom yet.I guess this round I might need to go induce again just like my previous pregnancy. My latest check up on 5 Dec ,the nurse provided me an admission letter for induce on 15 Dec. No dilation, no contraction pain yet and seems the baby bump haven't drop much yet.

6 Dec 2017
I woke up early feeling lazy and told hubby I will follow my colleague to work. At 8.30am, when I want to change my office attire, suddenly I spotted blood stain (light red). Feeling unsure, I took a photo and ask my sis and mum is this is the sign that the baby is coming out soon?I feel excited at the same time thinking my girl birth date will be the same date as our wedding ceremony date.

Funny enough that this experience is same as my eldest girl when there is a blood show at 40 weeks too. My mum replied me with a worry voice that I should pack my things and get ready if there is more blood flowing and not allowing me to go to work. ALRIGHT. So I just wait for the contraction pain and text hubby to stand by. I waited until at night but no sign of contraction, no pain at all.

9 Dec 2017
Waited for two days, still no sign yet but a night before I have unusual cramp. I spotted the blood stain again in the morning but this round is brownish. Yesterday I talk to my baby girl again, please come out soon to ease my pain and sleepless night. Worrying she is too long inside and I can't sleep well too. Today is the due date but yet no symptom at all. Argh..begin to feel abit of frustration and not sure if I should go to Hospital to admit today. My colleague told me that Government Hospital doesn't allow you to admit if there is no contraction and no pain. They will ask you to go home and wait. So after discuss with hubby, I think we should wait another day. The blood stain and brownish only happen in the morning time and night time I do feel a little cramp on my left side.

10 Dec 2017
Again! I woke up with slightly red blood stain and brownish discharge. No sign of contractions. After having breakfast, I check again my bag ensuring all the stuff is inside. I read few articles online that we need to bring original marriage certificate for registration purpose. After our lunch at 2pm, I decided to go Hospital Selayang to check if they can admit me. Hubby agree coz he also haven't go there before and good to go one round at least to check the place and the parking space. I Pray hard before leaving home, hoping to deliver by today safely and can't wait to see my baby girl.

It took us about 25 minutes to reach Hospital Selayang. Hubby park at the open space parking. Ample of parking but almost full. We are lucky enough to find a parking lot. We look for the Wad Bersalin signboard and press to level 5. When I reach the registration counter, I saw few preggy mummies sitting on the chair waiting for their turn. I wonder if they are waiting for the pain / waiting to get a ward space. The registration counter stated all the bed is full.  I am getting worried if I have to sit the chair and wait until there is empty bed to be admit. I have read some post saying their experiences on waiting few hours with pain because there are no bed available. This is my very first time deliver baby in Government Hospital. I have read up some post, getting advise from my friends who have experiences deliver their baby here and keep telling myself that this is the right choice. I also ensure my mum who keep nagging me since day one of getting check up at KKIA and on my decision to choose Government Hospital that everything will be alright. As a mum, of course she is worried because she had heard few unpleasant incident happen to our relatives and cousins.

After registering myself, the nurse ask me to go check up if I have any dilation and check baby heartbeat. They ask me do you bring any sarong?? Ermm..I wanted to bring but I didn't. Even mum in law reminds me bring sarong ya...ok now I don't have sarong. Can I still proceed? Lucky they said can. Open up all pants and underwear. The doc on duty checked if I have any dilation and I am happy when he told me yes..already 3cm. And you are going to be ADMITTED! Glad to hear that I have at least 3cm opening and now I need to check baby heartbeat and do scanning to check the water and placenta. The doctors are very gentle and friendly asking me why I come here today and how I feel.
Checking on my past pregnancy background as well. I already told them that my past record is very fast. My third baby come out when the dilation is 5cm. They ask me to change clothes and get ready to be admitted. I need to wait until 4cm, then I am ready to go into labour room. Nervous and excited. Mix feeling that I have to go through this again. The feeling is just like giving birth for the very first time. All my past memory just flash back in front of me and I just smile to myself ..Yes I Can Do It!!!! Yes I can! Breath in and Breath Out ! And be FOCUS!

4 PM.
Hubby paid RM 350 for the deposit payment for booking a second class bed. Sometime the bed is fully taken up even if is second class. The daily charge is RM 40 while the third class is RM 15. Hubby said we go for a better one at least. If you want the first class which is called FPP the rate is higher and need to prebooked. Our estimated price is only from RM 400-500. After taking blood, I am ready to go to the ward. My ward bed is No.4. This number seems to be my lucky no. as always. My birth month (April), I always get No. 4 in class during primary school time (mum got upset why can't I get no.3 because No.4 there is no award presentation on stage), More faith happening around with this No. 4.

It is a 4 bedded ward. Occupied by other mummies too so I won't be bored. Air conditioning with two toilets. One of the toilet is provided with shower. Hot water is available and the toilet space is quite good. The bed is clean with two chairs provided at the side, a small cupboard with drawer and pleasant environment.

I began to feel the contraction starting slowly. The nurse come in and measure my blood pressure and check on my contraction frequency. I need to count myself how long is the contractions. It begin to start with interval of 20-25 minutes. They also will ask from scale of 1-10 how pain are you now? within one hour time, the contraction is stronger and more frequent. I still can play with my phone text mum and friends, telling them I already admitted and waiting to go into labour room. I can feel it is almost 10-15 minutes contractions and I told hubby let's walk around the corridor.

Another weird thing to be mention is the doctor came two time to take my blood. I ask why? She said my blood reading can't be shown clearly. What?? feeling abit crazy

7 PM
At 7pm, visitors are not allowed to be in the ward area. Hubby need to wait outside while waiting for me to be push to labour room. Hubby are allowed to follow me to labour room later. By this time,the nurse will serve us dinner. The menu is not interesting with fish and gravy, white rice and plain vege. I still need to eat all to have full energy to push later. Starting to miss hubby, I text him asking how he doing outside. Any chair to sit and wait? I was telling him I am bored and why this round the contractions is so slow and it 's going to night time already.

Keep counting the contractions time on my own, looking at my phone and time. 5 minutes...3 minutes..and still waiting. More painful now and I can feel the greater contractions is on the way..I ask hubby to take my best companion..my pillow who accompanied me during my boy delivery 4 years ago. How time flies! I will squeeze my pillow when the contractions comes and gives me comfort. This round I am on my own most of the time. Counting the contractions frequency as the nurse will come and ask me. I keep telling myself to be calm, breath in and out when I feel pain.

8 PM
Doctor came to check but it is still 3cm at this hour. OMG!! What's happening? I thought it could be 4 cm by this time. So upset but still hoping it will dilate faster. I wonder why the doctor didn't break my water? My previous experience in Tung Shin Hospital was going into induce as there is no symptom, and waiting for the contractions and later doctor will break the water. So I guess here is different. They will come and check after 6 hours.You have to wait until the contractions pain to the max that you cannot stand anymore / you feeling the baby head is coming out soon ( the strong pressure).

Now I can feel the blood is flowing out..

10.30 PM
I can't stand it anymore. Waiting with no more patience, i walk to the nurse and ask can you come and check my opening? I can feel the strong pain now. But they insist saying they just check at 8pm. I ask them again please come and check for me.The lady doctor come and check and she said still 3cm. What?? Still 3CM??? Sigh. Then she said I can't ask for checking that frequent because afraid of infection later. I just nodded with my frustration look. The contractions is like 2 minutes. I Continue to look at my phone and text my colleagues, family members and hubby to chat.

11 PM
By this hour, I was thinking will my baby coming out today 10 Dec ? or 11 Dec? Sitting comfortably inside too long already. Contractions is feeling stronger that I could not text anymore. I need to sleep at the side with my pillow. When contractions comes  I can feel some unusual thing. The stronger pressure that I can feel my baby head is coming down soon. I wanted to go down from my bed to call the nurse again, but it is really painful now. Wanted to call help from mummy opposite me but I can't. The emergency button to call nurse is not available in our ward, that's the drawback.I try my best to breath in and out. Very hard breath in and out again few times. I am not sure what is the time by now but the feeling is getting closer that I can deliver soon. I want to call the nurse to push me to labour room, but I can't. The third time I breath when the strong contraction comes, I turn my body from side to middle and open wide my leg. The sense that I can feel my baby head is coming out right NOW!!!!.

I breath in and out...and I do not know what is push until now. From my past experience, I know that when contractions comes just breath in and out. The pressure is so strong and from the last breath in and out, my baby head come out herself with a loud cry and myself screaming holding my both hand tightly on the bed. I just deliver my baby on my ward bed. What? Is this real?? Oh gosh. That was the sweetest moment and I am feeling amazing with my newborn. She is giving me unforgettable experience delivering a baby on the bed itself. Without any complications, medications, and long waiting time for pushing. I am so thankful to god and have this blessing with my cute girl.

The doctor and nurse rush to me and they are in shocked! I just laid down waiting them to clean up my baby and my womb. Placenta was taken out smoothly, and I can feel my whole bed was covered with blood. The nurse ask me what is my painful level. I said zero. Even when the doctor is doing my stitch , I can still take the pain. The most painful moment is over. I am too happy to just look at my baby face. Her face is exactly like my eldest girl. 7 years gap. They look alike each other. All girls look like daddy face. While waiting for the doctor to stitch (lucky is minor tear), I text hubby, family members and friends that I deliver already. Feeling calm and steady. I can still text them - feeling overjoyed with my newborn who safely come to this world. The nurse asking me with curious look. You don't feel pain ?? And you still can text right now? I replied her with a smile. Hubby came in as soon as he saw my message. I can see from his face that he must be thinking his wife is a tough and crazy woman. This round the baby come out unexpectedly fast and not even in the labour room! Wow..seems like a new experience for both of us. 3cm already out!That's why I told hubby the doctor and nurse does not believe me that my baby will come out very fast.

Mummies sitting opposite me had a shocked and saw my baby head come out.She told me she got higher reading of blood pressure when she witness my labour. I think i have frightened her. opss.
I can't explain and describe how I feel at that moment. I thought i will be push to the labour room and wait with hubby to witness our baby girl to come out just like our previous experience in Tung Shin Hospital. I am all by my own. I am very focus, counting the time, contractions feelings and perhaps I have labour experience I know my baby will come out very fast. Stay positive, calm and putting confident to myself and communicating with baby really helps alot.

I burst into tears when I hug my baby girl. She look so adorable just like her two sisters. Looking closely at her and to get the breastfeeding experience again. Bonding time begins...

After all the mess, cleaning up the blood stain and get myself changed, the nurse push my baby to be at my side. I need to take care of her. It is my first experiences too. I have to feed her, soothe her, putting her to sleep, change diapers and also change my pad. Basically, no rest after delivery. My hand keep messaging telling others the good news and I also posted my girl picture in Facebook. When baby cries, I will breastfeed her, check on her diapers and make sure she sleep again. Going in to the toilet few times to clean up myself. The challenge is to bring along the glucose drip that are still attached to my hand. Sleepless night anyway. Feeling happy, excited, and can't wait to go home.

I am lucky enough to have my four babies all helping me to push their way out. Less energy use / pushing process . I am glad they give me less painful experience and have a smooth delivery.

Overall, My delivery in Hospital Selayang is smooth and I am glad I have make the right choice. My bill is only RM 352.  And yes my colleague was right. She told me that I have easy delivery, so just go for Government, save money and with all the good  facilities provided. The nurse are friendly , helpful and nice. There are trainees and senior doctors here. I am not sure if my doctor who do my stitch  is trainees or not coz she is just 25 years old. If to compare with my doctor in Tung Shin, he look more professional. If you ask my advise, I will said that you can choose government hospital if you are expecting second or third baby, but if for first baby I will rather go for a private sector with recommended doctor. Just my sharing of my own thoughts.