Wayne's umbilical cord has dropped off

After 8 days, finally Wayne Wayne’s umbilical cord had dropped off!

Mommy discovered it when changing Wayne’s diapers early in the morning at 7am, thankfully the portion that dropped off was safe and sound in Wayne’s swaddling blanket.

Mommy & daddy have kept the umbilical cord in a small plastic zip-lock bag and kept it in Wayne Wayne’s scrapbook. Mommy will show it to little Wayne Wayne when you grow up next time, oki? Mommy loves you little Wayne Wayne. This umbilical cord was what connected you to mommy when you were still inside mommy’s womb. And through this, mommy supplied you with blood and oxygen, that kept precious little Wayne Wayne alive in mommy’s womb. That is why this umbilical cord holds special meaning for both mommy & daddy, you know that little Wayne Wayne?

Paediatrician visit #1

Wayne had his first visit to his paediatrician today! Together with mom, Elaine, Viv and Kenneth, we went to Kinderclinic at Paragon to see Dr Kenny Ee.

Wayne is now 2.69kg - yippee, Wayne is growing! At birth, he was 2.565kg; day 4 on discharge, he was 2.375kg and today, on day 7, he is 2.69kg. This means mommy is feeding Wayne well!

Wayne also had his jaundice level checked today - his jaundice readings were within acceptable levels! Relieved. =) And, Wayne was such a brave little boy. He needed to have his heel pricked to measure his jaundice level, and Wayne did not cry! According to mom, there were two other babies before him, and they were wailing when they had their heels pricked. Brave little Wayne just made some noise for a few seconds but didnt cry! Mommy's so proud of you!!!

Photos of our little Wayne - Week 1

Day 2 : 21 April 2009

Day 4 : 23 April 2009

Day 6 : 25 April 2009

Day 7 : 26 April 2009

Day 7 : 26 April 2009

Wayne is going home!

After 4 days in the hospital, Wayne Wayne is going home!!

Dr Lee and Dr Ee came by this morning at around 10am to give the all clear for both mommy & baby to be discharged! Yippee, because that means that mommy & baby are both doing well! Although little Wayne has slight jaundice, we could still bring him home, but had to continue to monitor his jaundice level and bring him out for a little sun each morning.

By the time daddy settled all the administrative matters, it was already 1230pm!

And, daddy, mommy, little Wayne, together with Aunty Vivien, yeye, nainai and Aunty Lena, we all headed back to grandma and grandpa's house where mommy will be doing confinement. And there were lots of people at home waiting anxiously for Wayne Wayne to be back, there was grandma, greatgrandma, Aunty Michelle, Aunty Elaine and Muffin included!

Thanks everyone for visiting, for the many well wishes and lovely gifts!

The past few days have been especially memorable for Huakai and myself because of the many friends, colleagues and relatives who had dropped by the hospital to visit us.

We were really very touched by all of you who had made time to visit us at the hospital, some even dropping by in between work during lunch , sacrificing your lunch time for us! And, the many lovely gifts that were sent to us. Some, upon knowing about Wayne's arrival but were unable to visit, had even sent hampers to the hospital and to our home. We really appreciate your thoughtfulness! And the gifts were all so lovely, thanks so much!!! And there were also all the sms-es of well wishes, which have really touched and warmed our hearts, knowing that all of you care so much for us!

Huakai and I thank all of you for brightening up our day with your thoughtfulness and for being a part of this special moment in our lives, welcoming Wayne!

Huakai and I are also very grateful to both sides of our family who have come by everyday to look after us and baby Wayne. Thanks for the support and for being there. It means the world to us! We love you guys and hope our little Wayne Wayne will bring much joy to all of you in the coming days and years! *Hugs hugs hugs*

Thanks all!!

OUR DARLING WAYNE'S ARRIVAL PART III - Wayne is here *kiss kiss*!!!

WELCOME WAYNE WAYNE!!! MOMMY & DADDY LOVES YOU!!!

It is always said that a mother’s love for her child is the greatest love in this world. Previously, this statement held little meaning for me. But today, as I write this and as a proud mother to Wayne, I can truly say this is indeed true. Both Huakai and myself are so thankful for a whole and healthy little Wayne. And because our Wayne is something so special shared between Huakai and myself and no one else, he has become so precious in our eyes.

Little Wayne was delivered on 20 April 2009 at 19:29, a Monday evening at Mount Elizabeth Hospital by Caesarean section. His estimated due date was on 9 May 2009, almost 3 weeks later. At delivery, he weighed a mere 2.565kg and was 50 cm tall. He had really long limbs – just like his daddy. =)

He is indeed our very precious little Wayne! Even more so because of the events that led to his early delivery, as explained in my earlier entry. We love you so so much darling Wayne! Mommy and daddy will always be here for you and mommy and daddy will surely try our best to be the best mommy and daddy to you!

Our happy family: Daddy, mommy & our little Wayne darling, taken on 22 April 2009

OUR DARLING WAYNE'S ARRIVAL PART II ! - The delivery

I've always been a scaredy cat, most of my life. Huakai would testify to that. And so would my mom.. I could have a cut on my finger and think I was about to die. So you could imagine how scared I was when Dr Lee told us we would have to deliver Wayne by C-section!

One of the reasons I hated operations (or maybe feared is the better word), was because of the general anesthesia. I mean, what if they put you to sleep and thats it, end of story, you never wake up again? Of course, the super cold operating theatres, the bright lights, beeping sound of machines and doctors and nurses in surgical masks and gowns doesn't help either.

But I must say, after going through this C-section, it was really a total different experience, nothing like how I imagined it to be. To start off, I wasn't on GA. I opted for epidural. Simply so that Huakai could be with me. Nothing mattered more to me than having Huakai by my side, and the both of us being able to welcome Wayne Wayne into this world together. And of course, I won't be asleep totally, meaning there wasnt a risk I wouldnt wake up after that right? And Dr Lee kind of assured me it wont be scary, being awake throughout the procedure and being able to hear what was going on.

Our operation was scheduled at 630pm. However, due to some delays, the operating theatre we booked was only available at 700pm. So I was lying in the waiting area for about 40 minutes (since 620pm), waiting. I remember Dr Lee coming up to me telling me of the delay and joking about how there is supposed to be a recession now but the business in the hospital is still so good. And Dr Tay (Dr Dicky Tay - my anesthetists) coming up to me asking if I'm Rachel and commenting that I looked so nervous! He was fantastic, by the way.

So at 700pm, I was pushed into Operating Theatre #7. And, Dr Tay started his magic! Took some blood samples, injected some stuff into my body (not sure what), then injected epidural into my spine. Dr Tay was really good, he was kind of jokey, which put me totally at ease and I didnt even feel any pain at all. Before I knew it, the epidural was in, and the lower half of my body numb. Dr Lee then took over and started with the operation. I didnt even know he started till Dr Tay told me. That was about 715pm. The funny thing was I always thought with a C-section, there was no need to 'push'. I was wrong! Only thing was that it was Dr Tay who 'pushed' the baby down with his hands and not me doing the actual pushing! Next thing I knew, Dr Tay was asking Huakai to peep over the shield to see Dr Lee bring out our little baby!

And at 729pm, our little Wayne Wayne was out!! And he was crying his lungs out!!! Our poor baby, when he was out, his umbilical cord was 3 times round his neck, not just twice as we had seen in the scan earlier in the morning. Was so worried for him. Thankfully Dr Lee had asked us not to wait till Tuesday for the operations. We are so so thankful to Dr Lee for that..............

And that moment when they brought Wayne Wayne to me.. it was so heartwarming, me cuddling our little Wayne Wayne with Huakai by my side. I felt so blessed finally being able to carry and see our little Wayne Wayne. And with my dearest Huakai by my side, loving me. I couldnt help but tear... Dr Tay took a photo for the 3 of us cuddling together. We will always remember that defining moment in our lives, where little Wayne joined mommy & daddy into this world. The 3 of us from now on. Daddy, mommy & our little Wayne Wayne. We will always be together.

OUR DARLING WAYNE'S ARRIVAL PART I ! -The 2 days before delivery that kept Huakai and myself anxious…

It all started on 18 April 2009, Saturday during our regular gynae visit. Everything was going fine until Dr Lee did a scan of Wayne, a procedure he does each time we visited. During the scan, Dr Lee showed us that Wayne’s umbilical cord was round his neck, which was not good, and that we had to plan his delivery soon. And, the cord was not just round his neck once; it was round his neck twice! When Dr Lee told us that, my tears just started to flow. We were just so worried for Wayne. And the fear of losing him after carrying him for nine months was just heartbreaking.

Dr Lee assured us that from the CTG that was done, the position of the cord had not affected the oxygen and blood supply to Wayne but we had to closely monitor his movements. In the meantime, he wanted us to think when we wanted to have the C-section. It had to be soon, one of the coming days. The next day, we also went to Mt Elizabeth in the morning to make sure his CTG readings were still good. That meant that his supply of blood and oxygen was still good. But we had to make a decision when we wanted the operation on Monday morning itself when we visited Dr Lee again. Basically, the plan was as such, depending on the result of the scan to be done on Monday morning:

1) Umbilical cord still twice round baby’s neck – we could choose date of delivery, either Monday or Tuesday
2) Umbilical cord un-entangled – we could wait for natural delivery
3) Umbilical cord more than twice round baby’s neck or CTG shows any deterioration – immediate C-section

Things remained status quo on Monday, which meant option 1. However, as Dr Lee felt there was no point waiting till Tuesday he advised us to have the operation on Monday. We took a while to decide, mainly because I was scared and wasn’t mentally prepared for the operation to be on the day itself. We also had to decide between epidural or general anesthesia. This was easier, I chose epidural as Huakai could be with me throughout the C-section and I didn’t have to worry about not waking up after the GA. Hehe.

Once, it was decided we would deliver Wayne on Monday itself, we proceeded with the administrative matters like getting the nurses to confirm the operating theatre and doing our pre-admission registration. After which, we went home, I took a quick nap, showered and off we were to the hospital at 4pm - our operation was scheduled at 630pm * nervous*!

Thanks Pearly, my breastfriend! =p .. At 36 weeks

Pearly loaned me her 'breast friend' today.. so now I have a 'breast friend' too! =p

Its this cushion to support the baby while breastfeeding. Pearly found it very useful as Kendrick got heavier so she loaned it to me. Thanks so much Pearly! Big hugs!

Hospital tour.. At 35 weeks

Went for the Mt Elizabeth hospital tour today, was quite useful.. found out where to go when I go into labour and got to see the delivery suite and maternity wards. Another few more weeks to go!!! *Nervous*

Thanks Carol! .. At 35 weeks

Carol bought Wayne a small toy.. so sweet of her. Thanks Carol! Hugs!

Antenatal class #3 ..we skipped AGAIN! ..At 35 weeks

We are terrible.. we skipped our third antenatal class again. We MUST attend next week!!!

Gynae Visit #10 ..At 35 weeks

Gynae visit #10 - 4 April 2009 9am

My weight 59kg
Baby's weight 2.2kg

Dr Lee said Wayne's slightly small in size now. Dr Lee feels its good cos it would make delivery easier but HK & I felt so sad hearing that. Our little Wayne has always been above average in size.. I must be eating too much junk food. Mommy is so sorry Wayne Wayne. Immediately after our check up, HK brought me to Soup Restaurant for a good nutritious meal of double boiled soup and chicken. Must fatten Wayne Wayne up! =)

Wayne Wayne, you must grow up into a healthy and strong boy - mommy wants you to be just like daddy, tall and strong!

As for me.... I've put on too much weight!! Its the desserts - my daily dose of ice cream! Shucks.. Where's my self control.. =( I had put on 2.2kg in 3 weeks, ideally I should only be putting on 0.5kg each week, that means I've put on an additional 0.7kg that I shouldn't have! How I regret now.. I've been eating ice cream almost every day.. or every other day... Sob sob, time for some serious damage control!!!! But you know how when you've started its even harder to curb? HK, you must help me!! Before its too late!!!!