my brain dump

I turned 28 recently.

Like previous years, I think Shahrul and I have exhausted ourselves on methods to celebrate each other's birthday - romantic, laid back, over the top - I think we've done it all. I mean..9 years of your life is quite a long time to share with another person, don't you think? I think we've done it all!

Sending flowers, bears, making handmade scrap cards, handmade scrap page and cakes.

But I honestly think..this year Shahrul has topped it all.

So..we finally took him out for shopping malls!

Actually when Shahrul offered (I call it an offer because I'm still technically on pantang, but he knew I really really need to get out of the house), I wanted it to be a reason for Rayyan to go out and see the world. Rayyan hits his 1-month milestone yesterday, too - so it was quite a special day for us.

Inside, it was all about me. 30 days of being confined inside a house - anyone would go crazy.

A friend asked me this recently.

"So have you lost your baby weight?"

I'm guessing she wants to know if my current weight is back to my pre-pregnancy weight.

That was when I realized; I have no idea because post-labor, I haven't even stepped on a scale yet!

(Continued from previous post : Part 2)

I couldn't believe it.

My taking-the-stairs-to-10th-floor method worked!

So she started settling us down in the labor room - a spacious room with CTG monitor, a comfy sofa (for the father-to-be, the nurse said), a table, cabinets with a sink, bath essentials and a 'container' where they put the baby. Came with a spacious bathroom for us too.

She stripped me down to my undies and gave me a green hospital gown to wear. By this time, I was still having contractions so I just went along with everything - a bit drowsy too from countering with the pain.

Hubs took me jalan-jalan around the labor room area, to take my mind off the contractions. Thank God it was peaceful (since it was 12 am at midnight). Had to pause at some point because of contractions. Some nurses told me to stay in the labor room if it was too painful to walk.

My back is aching so bad right now.


My routine nowadays? Wakes up in the morning, changes Rayyan's diapers, feeds him, gets showered while Mum watches over Rayyan, gets ready for makcik urut to come, Mum goes to work, makcik urut arrives, bathes Rayyan, feeds him some more, makcik urut leaves.

Then, it's all either feeding Rayyan or putting him down to sleep or sleeping while he's sleeping or doing something else while he's sleeping.

That's how pantang goes in my life, so far.

25th February 2015

"Why don't you try walking up the stairs, or just walk around the house? It might help ease your labor and open the cervix, I've heard"

To be honest, I've heard the advice countless times already - to induce labor naturally, you've gotta be active and walk as much as you can.

So guess what?

I freaking took the stairs. All the way up to 10th floor to our apartment.

Didn't know how I still manage to breathe after finally reaching our unit. Shahrul obviously was home earlier (he took the elevator, leaving me all panting to our floor pfft) and was surprised as soon as he saw me.

My confinement lady has just left, my Mum is in the living room sweeping the floor and Rayyan is taking a nap after his 30-minutes breast milk supply.

(Yes, I breastfeed now. Still can't believe I'm one of those mothers; I used to think nursing a baby and me are not meant to be. Shall elaborate on that topic soon)

So I guess here is my labor story. Quite simple I think.

Now here's a milestone I think I'd like to highlight on this blog.

Officially a mother now, Alhamdulillah.