Breastfeeding

Days to come after Day 3
Totally not very sure how soon I've got my production. I think shud be on the second week.

One day when Chris was out doing errands, & Kiersten was taking her afternoon nap, NOT giving up still, i tried expressing the traditional manual way. But it was all kelam-kabut. Why not... having both hands already occupied, i have to make sure every single precious drop of milk will drip into the bowl. Hard at work & all sweat out, yet not very fulfilling :(

But it was an amazing experience though. Production is coming soon :) even with that few droplets, i still saved it for Kiersten.... for the colostrum sake!

when Chris got home, obviously i was like having a verbal diarrhoe again... told him the whole episode. He obviously had a good laugh! But he had even better news for me, he got me all the GADGET, accessories, & all sorts that i don't even know that those stuff existed... that i might need for milk production... sweet :) He also spent his time in the shop reading up on all products, bought me a rest chair to relax and to breastfeed.... how sweet i thought. For that i'll definitely work on my production! I started using the breast pump ritually, like every two hours. It started off with only 2oz of milk, very encouraging. since i had a mum-friend that mentioned to me once, if i even have 2oz in the beginning, it is a blessing already. Even for the breast pump, i had such bad experience initially.

Braestfeeding

I was so super determined to breastfeed even way before i knew i was pregnant. This is because i read bout the GOODNESS of it where NO, really NO formula milk with whatever BEST scientific formula they have can compare with GOD's creation!
I was even totally aware of all the hardship and consequences ... but of course you will think it is easier said than done. True. But i only had Kiersten's health before me to keep me going throughout my breastfeeding journey.
The goal was to supply for 2 years!

The Beginning
Day 1 (few hours after delivery)
A so-called lactation nurse came to me with Kiersten for feed. Why i called her so-called because she was so young, around her early twenties and definitely not married, or a mum.
My 1st question to her was 'You sure i've got milk so sooon?' , she replied 'Yeah'
Ok... she quickly carry Kiersten to me. I raised my baju up, look at my breast, and think 'God Bless the production'. I was skeptical. Who can blame me, there was no briefing at all! Not that i am expecting a 2 hours course ... but at least some idea of how i should start. Especially for the 1st time mum. The nurse then cupped my breast with her palm. Shocked, shy and helpless, i just kept quiet and try to learn from whatever she was doing. If you think that is rude, i don't think so. She squeezed Kiersten's fragile cheek to my breast and try to make her suckle on.
This is when i jumped! Still controlling my manner, i asked .. 'U sure? There isn't any drop of susu and i don't think Kiersten knows how to suckle on. Are there any way to do this?' She answered ' No, you have to just keep squeezing your breast' and while she said that, she was squeezing Kiersten's cheek. By now her cheek was as red as an apple.. i swear. That was the final draw. I stopped her! Again i asked ' if i don't have milk yet, what is my baby going to drink if she is hungry. Which at that time i don't know that babies can go without milk for at least 3 - 4 days. She just replied ' u kena try lar, kalau tak der then tak der lor'. What kind of an answer is this from a nurse. She left. My mum, Elayn, Zoya was there with me throughout that time. My mum was not helping definitely. She was in tears seeing all that, that had happened. Blaming me for being so harsh not allowing Kiersten to have Formulas. Believe me i was so super angry, depressed and thought of just getting everyone out from my room. I called chris to come in and told him the whole episode especially my mum. Chris was super supportive. But of course i was also worried bout the milk. What if really no milk for days, how izit gonna be? I was like a mad woman asking the question around.
I was desperate. I tried every ways. Still no milk. So i gave up. Thinking .. let me fix myself 1st and in the mean time ask the nurses to give Kiersten some Formula. So i did just that. The nurse then told me if i do that then my baby will not wanna learn how to suckle a breast since the bottle tits are sooo much easier and effortless. I insisted. I thought my baby will be adaptive.
So all that hoo.. hahh... for day 1 ... Damn tired!


Day 2 (Discharge day)
In the morning, at last a real lactation Director visited me, asking how am i coping along with Breastfeeding. Like verbal diarrhea , i pored my whole experience to her. She was so super kind to understand and spent time explaining the steps to me. Like how i should massage my breast first then how i should put Kiersten's mouth in and guide her. After theory lesson, she called for Kiersten for me to do the practical pulak. Still kelam-kabut, but at least better after the theory. But sadly, still no milk. Damn... i was thinking how come other mothers' get their supply immediately. how they do it? Though frustrated, i am still not giving up but desperately looking for a solution and help! I kept telling Chris, i'm in a race here... i need to get the milk to to Kiersten B4 she missed the MOST IMPORTANT part of it .. the colostrum! Though he was also as anxious as me, there's nothing he can do or know how to do.
But as usual, Chris will never leave me alone for any battle :)


Day 3 (Already Home)
This is worst, home! With all the old folks and NO encouragement! All they are concerned is Kiersten is starving and mummie & daddie is the culprit. Can you imagine the situation. Dah it is not easy to adapt with a new borne home, No sleep, not enough rest, need to still entertain (thank gudness we already pre-determined NO GUESS throughout my confinement, BUT only the selected ones).
In the mean while Kiersten was having formulas. Chris & I on the pursuit to solution.

Told ya.. made by chris!

Made by Chris!

Kiersten checking out Standy

She is attracted to the flower print actually ...

Nah... mummie, this one for you ...

Nah, i guess not ... grrrr... heh .. heh ...

Nah, mummie here you go ....

Love you like CRAZIEEEE!!!

Bird's flying action.

Bird's wing flipping

Do re mi tune .... me a name i call myself .... she loves this song :)

Tiffin Bay

Chris checking Afiq's camy...

Sigh... krystle will be off to Tasmania for her Studies on CNY day 5. And we may not be around to send her off.
She has grown up sooo much. And so much prettier too. When i first knew her she was still a school goin kid in high schol. Thought it's kinda weird too, since she skipped class (not the PONTENG one obviously but the UPGRADe kind) She is always younger than her peers, listening to Phill Collins, Light Fm ... but she survived! Well obviously these are not the things that was marked in me bout her.
If everyone in the family still remember, our family trip to Hong Kong. She was pain in the Ass! Like i said, she is young but trapped in an older world, well pampered, travelling with her was NOT easy or rather accomodating. she can't walk for long, she complains when it is too far to walk, asking whether can we take a cab instead and at LAST Chris & i missed going to the PEAK! Believe me, i was rolling my eyes at her till it almost pop out, childishly throwing my tantrum at her too. Poor her, she was sooo frightened. And Chris was mumbling me for being so harsh on a young girl taht was 10 years my junior. He can't believe ME! For that, we had a fight ... in HONG KONG!
But i had my mind set changed the next day, though she may be young she already had the guts that i never thought she had! She apologised to me personally for what happended. Believe me, this time my eyes was rolling to the back of my brain by now, i blushed. I felt sooo bad for making her go through my tantrums and sleep through the nite with it. And i was suppose to be the adult one here. But looks like not... she thought me to be one though! Ever since i had seen her ups & downs in LIFE. And she had really proven to be a real tough cookie. I'm sure her mum will be absolutely proud of her! She raised a great daughter! And i'm following her foot step! Over the years, we had become shopping mate, Bawang Merah kaki, good frens .... i'll surely miss her and i'm sure Kiersten and Chris too.

Afiq & Krystle :0 HAPPY BIRTHDAY AFIQ!

He must be thinking ... "bila lar my anak this BEASR"!

Kiersten's ... so NOT elegant :(

Kiersten's Godma :)

Kiersten's Kaima :)

Kiersten's mama

Thaipusam-ing in Bakerzine, BV

Kai-ma and Kiersten :)
Wardrobe : Thanks to Godma Krystle, top sponsored from Melbourne!

Sweet :)

See how she will twist herself when she wants things her way ...

Kena 'lecturing' by dada ... poor girl

Our 1st Family Potrait!

OUR first Family Potrait by Un-ker San Yen.... so sweet of him! With such limited time and last minute ... he started from the wee hours (12 midnite on Sunday), took him almost 5 hours to finished this Master Piece.
As usual the Artist himself would be his own biggest critic. He claimed that he got rusty and all since he had not don on his skills for ages since becoming commercialised for his Baby Z4 sake. Well who can blame him for that matter, any one would :)
When he gave it to us during the Birthday bash, i was soooo super over whelmed, tears literrally welled up my eyes. And in seconds i was the CRY BABY :)
Nyway, thank you so much if you are reading this! Muacks from us ALL!

See the Chi-Sin Kai ma of Kiersten!

Quite a BIG appetite u must have thought. NOPE! That is the usual amount we eat !

Elayn & i at Nero Vivo ... u guess it right.. it was a girls' nite out! They feed us sooo welll! And Love the Prosecco!