A S.t.a.r. girls

I've diligently finished the confinement set: internal and most of the external stuff. The pantang ritual of massage/ tungku started earlier at week 2, as compared to previous post C-section pantang. The Pfannenstiel incision took 3 weeks to heal externally, whereas the episiotomy wound took 2 weeks to heal all throughout.

It is now 7 weeks post delivery- day 44 was last Thursday (yippee!). End of pantang ritual...penutup pantang they say. The previous 'mak bidan'(s) did massage and womb massage a.k.a. sengkak. I usually go to Nona Roguy spa after that. This confinement- for which I used their home service, I went for 3 days of spa (plus it is a good reason to go out/ drive post confinement). It is specifically for massage/ tuam/ tangas.

Confinement practice varies from each person. I chose to have more massage/ tungku as I really want to regain my pre pregnancy state. I see faster healing because of this and mostly because it is natural delivery, not a c-section.

Don't forget pap smear during gynae checkup at 6 weeks!

... of my breastpump. Need to get another set of breastshield, connector and valve. The Medela Pump In Style Advanced is still working well.

Pumped in the first week when I was engorged- but just to relieve engorgement. Didn't want an oversupply and suffer further engorgement or OALD.

Restarted pumping recently, next to impossible if she is nursing continuously. She is 5 weeks+, hopefully her feeds are established soon enough for me to build up stock.

Apart from the confinement dishes that I managed to prepare, I am slowly starting to cook. Cooking pajeri in first trimester totally put me off cooking ever since.

Cooked pasta bolognese (for toddler and I) and importantly the pungent, spicy sambal tumis. 5 months time- I'd be weaning Sarah to solid *gasp*. That was the origin of this blog- cooking for the baby, back in 2008.

I have my 2 girls...and a boy (al Fatihah to Adam).
Arianna- we call her Sofea.
Arissa- she's been called Sarah since 1st trimester.

We went for Greek names. As long as the name has good meaning to it- does not represent a bad meaning in languages we know, we are happy.

I'd eat sensibly with balanced carbohydrate, protein and lots of veggie. I got bored of fruits lately but I'm taking more veggie.

Apart from obvious things (that I normally avoid anyway), I eat most things. Things I avoid are cold stuff, seafood except for fish. I take more ginger. And if I get bloated (angin, kembung)- I'd go back to my pantang rituals.

What's with Gong Cha? I (we: tweetmomma/ WA momma) wonder if it is a galactogogue. Another cup of longan/red date cuppa tonight.

It's Nona Roguy all the way.
I used the confinement set (3rd time around), and had the home service too.

We were out doing groceries on Monday (Sunday was Aidiladha). We tried The Daily Grind... (thanks Liz @Snuggbaby for the suggestion). That was the last main meal I had prior to admission! I had the lamb stew for late lunch. On D-Day, I couldn't stomach breakfast. I was rostered to CT scan, all work and walking... forget about breakfast when at work (a note for all dedicated, hardworking docs).

By the time I got into the car going to the gynae clinic- I ate few choc chip cookies. When I left the clinic, with no clear time for scheduled C-section, I really couldn't stomach a meal, and I knew I should be fasting. I just finished the rest of choc chip cookies (courtesy of @nadhirah of @1tspoflove) for  fast energy.

Next meal was hospital dinner at 6pm.... thank God for fast and furious labour.

Ate the mash potatoes, veggie, papaya and red date soup I think. Curry chicken was blergh.

So during intrapartum, I survived on entonox gas. Too late for pethidine or epidural.
I had panadeine (paracetamol+codeine) in the ward and upon discharge.
I took diclofenac sodium (ok this is self prescribed) rather than mefenemic acid on the days that the throbbing pain was really bad, or I had to go for hospital visit i.e. lots of walking.

2 weeks later- I'm alright, no more painkillers. Epi has healed.