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>> If you’re pregnant and you’re on your way to the hospital to deliver your baby, remember to eat something first. Depending on your doctor’s examination, it’s possible that you’re not allowed to eat anything until the baby’s out

AND the thing is, you DO need that energy to push the baby out later

>> Hospitals are somehow ‘cold’, and so bring along your thick socks and long pants

>> I personally am not into confinement food. Didn’t have any (before and after I delivered Anya) and haven’t had any this time round too. To me, as long as you eat nutriciously and drink lots of water (or milk / juice / soya milk, etc), you’ll be healthy and fine

>> I told the nurse and my doctor at Thomson Medical Centre that I’d like to go for total breastfeeding (just like when I had Anya). It means, the nurses will not give any formula milk to the baby at all. As and when the baby’s hungry, they’ll bring him to you.

And to be honest, I actually wondered if Vai is going to be really really hungry considering that the amount of colostrum I had was not that much at all. Plus, since I didn’t gain much weight during my pregnancy, I’m always under the impression that I must have then not have enough ‘body fat’ to produce the breastmilk Vai needs.

The thought of giving him some formula milk did cross my mind. But then again I told myself, I should still give total breastfeeding. The more frequent I breastfeed Vai, the milk ducts are better stimulated too.

AND AND, today baby Vai’s starting to get the breastmilk he needs.

Yay!!

Anya’s now a proud big sister to her new baby brother … Levi!

It all happened two days ago, both my hubby and I definitely weren’t prepared for it to happen last Sunday morning!

As much as I’d like to share how my Labour Day really went, I could only share it on another day (it’s been a very busy day for all of us these past few days)

For now, here are a few things I can quickly share with you…

Name: Levi Hidajat

Origin: Hebrew

Meaning: United

Levi is also the english word for ‘LEWI’ (Indonesian). And if you notice, it’s short for LEonny and WIlson, too. Hehe.

In the Bible, the tribe of Levi is also appointed by God for many of His works. And it sure is our hope and prayer that this child can be a blessing to many people and is used by God for many of His works.

And just in case, you’re not too sure … it’s pronouced as ‘Lee-Vai’ … and we call him by the name ‘Vai’ (rhymes with ‘bye’).

I was 37.5weeks pregnant when Baby Vai was delivered.

My doctor said that the baby would be quite small (around 2.8kg). Considering my total weight gain was 8kg too. Weighing 3,42kg, Baby Vai sure was much bigger than anyone’s expectations!

It was natural delivery, with no epidural or injections. Just some laughing gas.

Honestly, it was quite a tough delivery. Kinda tougher than when I had Anya (and they say delivering your 2nd baby will sure be EASIER?)

Anyway.

Vai’s doing well. I’m doing great. Wilson’s a happy dad of two. And Anya’s a proud big sister to her little brother.

Thanks so much for all the wishes, cards, emails, calls, smses and gifts we’ve received. We REALLY appreciate each and every one of them.

Will post more photos soon!

These days, it’s even harder to move about.

Browsed through my 1st pregnancy photos and came across this one on the far left. It was taken SIX days before Anya was born.

And hey, somehow my tummy DID look ‘bigger’ and ‘fuller’, huh?

Anyway, my appointment is next Monday. My guess is that I’ve gained 1kg since I last went to the doctor (2 weeks ago), and that the baby’s probably around 3kg then!

Oh well … as long as he’s doing well inside!

When you read books or websites on pregnancy, you’ll most likely come across the term ‘nesting’ or ‘nesting instinct‘.

Basically it refers to the ‘urge to clean up brought on by a desire to prepare a nest for the new baby’ (hmm, I disagree with the idea that we are likened with the ‘animal kingdom’ though).

But anyway … nearly throughout this pregnancy, I somehow can’t stand ‘dirty’ bathroom floors. I just NEED to scrub. It may be 10 at night, and you’d find me squatting down, scrubbing away and feeling really good afterwards when the bathroom floor’s nice and white (or should I say, ‘whiter’ than before!).

Oh, one other thing that I’ve been wanting to do since some 3 months ago is to re-arrange our bedroom too! Just so that the baby cot can be prepared and I can slowly tidy up the drawers and clothes, etc.

BUT… we somehow have just been busy and we just can’t seem to find the right time.

Well … not until today! *big smile*

We finally did it.

We re-arranged the furniture. Swept. Mopped. Wiped the dust away. I felt REALLY good!

Anya also got a new bedroom corner now (plus a toddler bed!). And she’s SO excited!! (hmm, actually I was too and still am! hehe).

It’s just so exciting to see her so happy with her new ‘corner’. She spent a LONG time reading books on her bed and pretending to sleep. Hehe.

It’s so cute!

PS: And oh, of course … a big CONGRATULATIONS to Nichol, a good old friend of mine. She gave birth to Will Tan last Friday. The baby’s 3.98kg and she delivered naturally withOUT epidural!

Congrats Mike & Nic! May you both have the wisdom and strength to bring up this little one God has entrusted in your loving hands.

I’ve heard about Cord Blood banking (read: keeping it for future medical use) your newborn baby’s umbilical cord blood.

BUT, I’ve personally never heard that you can actually DONATE it, until a friend gave me the brochure and info!

You see, when baby’s are born, the umbilical cord blood is basically ‘thrown away’, unless you tell your doctor in advance that you’d like to donate it.

It costs nothing to donate and it can save other people from many life threatening diseases.

And for us, apparently it’s already TOO LATE, even if we wish to donate, because arrangements should’ve been done many months before your delivery day!

Anyway, just go and visit their website to find out more info.

>> Went for another check-up and my total weight gain is (… drum rolling …) 7.2kg!

(READ: Over the past 2 weeks, I only gained ONE kg and hey … I really have been napping for at least an hour almost everyday)

>> The baby is now 2.5kg though, which is good for his gestational age.

And so now, I’m kinda telling myself that it’s okay if I’ve only gained 7.2kg so far, because it means by the time the baby’s due, I would have gained at least 9kg (right?), AND the baby would be 3kg at the VERY least (right?).

I would assume too that it’d be easier to deliver this 2nd baby since Anya was 3.97kg (read: the ‘exit way’ is kinda well prepared for baby no.2. Hehe.)

Aaaaannyway, did you know that one of my sis (I have 3 older sisters) gained a total of 14kg (her first daughter was 3.99kg) AND then, when she got pregnant the 2nd time, she gained only 7kg! (the baby was 3.89kg!)

And oh, quite a few people also told me that the 2nd time we get pregnant, we usually gain ‘not as much as the 1st time’ because we’re busy with the 1st kid.

Oh well … just trying to cheer myself up with some facts here …

Over these past few weeks I’m more keen on ‘relaxed’ playtime with Anya (for obvious reasons).

For any activities that require more ‘physical strength’, I’d leave it to her daddy. You know, stuff like jumping and hopping around or playing ‘koala-bear’ (where she hugs one of your legs and you’d then start walking around). I just don’t have the energy for such play. And Anya knows it, though she still occasionally tries her luck while giggling away.

And so nowadays, we spend time together doing stuff like:

>> reading books together (yeah … I visit the neighbourhood library more often now!)

>> Anya telling ME what the storybook is about (while I lay on the bed and relax)

>> playing ‘hairdresser’ (where Anya is the hairdresser of course! Now this is an excellent one because I get to nap for a few minutes while she washes and dries my hair, combs and puts hairclips on me! Hehe.)

>> Doodling. Either she doodles or I draw something and she takes a guess at what it is. Right now I’m teaching her different shapes in English (rectangle, circle, oval, etc) and so this doodling activity is also a great way to spend with your kid, especially if you’re VERY pregnant and need to relax!

Anyway, here’s Anya’s drawing … of ME! Hehe.

I personally am not a believer of old wives’ tales.

But I guess for my one particular case, the common saying: your tummy will be ’sharp’ if you’re carrying a baby boy, instead of ’roundish like a ball’ is true (?)

Yeah … I guess it’s kinda weird that from the front, I just … don’t look pregnant!

>> Li’l Anya took this photo (this time round, she got my tummy in the shot, but only half of my head. Hehe.) I did some touch-ups on the photo though …

>> Started home delivery (dinner for two) some 2 weeks ago. Didn’t like the food and I changed my caterer when the ‘trial delivery period’ was over.

Sigh. I don’t have much of a choice since I just can’t bring myself to cook anything. It’s weird. I’m simply NOT in the mood for cooking (read: meals for me & hubby) throughout this 2nd pregnancy!

>> Hubby’s overseas for a few days on business trip. Hiks.