Finally Cleared

It's back to polyclinic for Dino's jaundice check after 5days wait. The boys were cooperative but mummy still don't dare to bring them in for drawing blood. Daddy and Ah Ma had to do the job while I sit outside waiting.

Heard them let out a scream and my heart shattered.

Then we hurried calm them down with 1 getting the bottle, the other one being breast feed.

The doctor was asking me how I ration my breast milk, I told her each boys get 1 breast each. Haha Sometimes when I get to express the milk out, I will divide into 2 for them during feeds and top up with formula milk later. Wanna them to get equal nutrients though it is not easy.

Yeah, even the doctor was telling me it's not easy. The good thing is I am not hard on myself on breast feeding. I will latch them during the day and pump before sleep but I will not wake up during the night to pump unless it gets too painful to sleep. Then at 6am, I will wake up again to give them a feed to clear my supply. So far so good though they need top up but I am not complaining. Why be so hard on yourself over this? I have enough on my plate to deal with.

Anyways we cleared the bloody jaundice today. Louis is 119 down from 143 while Lucas is 108 down from 141 from last week. It's a good thing we are seen by a senior doctor today who decided they my boys would not need any more blood checks. The younger doctors keep telling me must fall below 100 before we can be discharged for blood checks. So thankful for it.

Growth chart for Dinos are:

Louis - 3kg, height 48.7cm
Lucas - 2.98kg, height 49cm

Taken on the day we cleared jaundice

So we are good till 2 weeks later for immunisation and first month development check.

Dinos' 3rd week check

We are still subjected to jaundice checking for my Dinos after today's check. Am starting to get frustrated at all the poking and drawing blood from my babies.

The results today stands at 143 for both. A drop from 157 & 161 from last Wednesday. But still not enough for the doctor to release us from check.

Instead next check is 5days away which is shorter than this round. I guess different doctor order differently for no. of days in between checks. Some are more chill, some more cautious.

I've been trying my best to breastfeed them or at least pump whatever limited amount of milk I have for them. I realised that they poo better when feed on breast milk haha.

Today's weight check is 2.75kg each for both of them. Grandma is super happy at the 400g jump since last week check.

Mummy on the other hand is happy about her own weight lost. I've lost all pregnancy gained weight (6kg) when I first weighted myself 1 day after discharged at KKH when I brought twinnies back for check up.

Last week when I weight, I lost another 5kg. Not sure is it due to the TCM soups that I'm drinking (but stop at advise of doc since it might affect Dinos' jaundice).

Or is due to the fact that I'm waking up early at 5am during the first week when only mummy and me took shift work to care of the Dinos.

Or is it due to breast feeding where some claimed will make you lose weight fast.

Anyhow I'm grateful that I lost all pregnancy gained weight and lost more in the process.

Today my weight went down by another kg. Not as fast as initially but I'm still happy. Haha. No need buy new clothes since I can still wear pre pregnancy clothes. Yay..

May I lost more and my babies gain more. And no more poking of their feet by next week.

Still adjusting

Today marks the 2nd week of Dinos' birth and 2 weeks down from my confinement.  Frankly speaking, we are still at the adjustment period.

We managed to survive the crazy 1st week with mummy taking night shift and me waking up at 5am to take over. She will then take naps in between during day time to catch up on sleep. Luckily help had arrived and we are also more used to twinnies' sleeping and feeding patterns.

We are now taking turns to care of the Dinos with me feeding them every 3-4hrs depending on when they wake up. They are now sleeping longer as compared to last week and PD said its ok as long as we hit 8 feeds per day. But they are more active at night, something which I need to make them adjust soon.

Their jaundice is still not at optimal level of below 100. Louis is at 157 and Lucas is at 161 as per yesterday check. But we still need to go back once a week for blood test to monitor the level. This is already much better than a return of every other day. Their weight is at 2.36kg for Louis and 2.35kg for Lucas.

Breastfeeding is also on track now. Sometimes after a feed of 20min, they can hold for an hour or 2 before asking for more milk which we will have to top up formula. Initially they can only last 30min before making noise. Though not possible to let them go on total breast feeding. But I'm trying my best to let them have as much as I can. 

Though a lot of people keep telling me to rest more whenever I can but it is just not possible even with 3 people helping. Breast feeding each twin takes 20 min excluding burping and letting them settle down after feed. This will take at least an hour or so and in between there is 2hours break. 

All in all, the only rest time I have totally is during night time when my mummy and aunt takes over night shift from 10pm onward and I get to sleep till 5am before the whole routine starts again. Recently I will bring 1 twin to our room and nap with us till 8am. Also to let them get use to our room when they will have to sleep after my confinement period. 

I do hope I can get the hang of taking care of Dinos soon as mummy is going to Japan for 7 days in March where I would be left alone with them for 4 days in between as Mr Love is going back to work. Am still feeling the strain of my c sect wound some times since the pain will act up sometime.

My twins birth story

My boys were delivered safely on 4th Feb at exactly 36weeks via elective c sect. It was an exciting and scary day for me since I'll be awake during the operation due to regional anesthetic.

Operation was scheduled at 8.30am and we were instructed to reach at 7am to prepare. I was pushed into OT by 8am to prepare the epidural. This time it was administrate to me while I was sitting down bending over a pillow. The last time I took, I need curl up like a shrimp.

It doesn't make the injection less painful but I kinda know what is going to happen. Can even say hi to my gynae when he walks into the OT.

I suffered from the side effects of the epidural quite immediate after the jab. Started to shiver once I was lay on the operating table. Nothing they do can make me feel better. I was silently enduring the shiver and suddenly I heard Mr Love calling me. Haha turns out he was let in when they were ready to cut me up.

Actually Mr Love was there for 3min only before I heard the 1st cry and follow by the 2nd one. I remembered telling Mr Love that they are here already and I was tearing from relieve that they are finally born safely. Really no words can describe how I feel.

Before I knew it, Mr Love was called away to see the babies and I'm left alone in the OT while gynae stitch me up and also remove my cerclage. Before the twinnies were sent up to the nursery, the mid wives were kind enough to let me kiss my twinnies though no skin to skin contact is allow as they are consider premmies.

The whole process took nearly 45min and I was wheeled out to the recovery area where they try keep me warm so that I wouldn't shiver too much but it is of little help. I was shivering all the way though they put a heated blanket on me.

Was sent back to the ward after 30min of observations where I was bounded to bed by a series of wires. Not food was allowed till 3.30pm though I was fasting from 12am last night. No food also meant no medication and when the epidural went off, I started to feel the pain from the operated area.

Louis aka the older twin was sent to special care nursery as they detect lower blood sugar in him. But I was told it was for observation only. The nurse also did push him to me for a quick hug in my ward before sending him down to SCN. 

1st photo of my twinnies

Lucas aka the younger twin was able to stay with is in the ward where I can shower him with hugs and kisses though I was more tired more than anything. 

But despite everything, I felt relieve that my babies are delivered safely:)

Real soon -35wks 5days

Yeah its getting nearer and nearer. In fact 2 more days only till I deliver my boys.

It's back to gynae for a final check to clear us before the big day and my boys are at 2.2kg each. Not fantastic weight but not an easy feat for twinnies already. Mummy gained 400g from last check and I guess its all with bbs since they both gained 400g together too.

Took me 15min to clear my bp and am grateful to the nurse at Clinic A who is so patient with me. Chatting to allow me to relax and took like 15readings before she recorded the more decent looking reading muhaha.

Gynae was looking relax when I went in. Can even joke abit with me. Many complained that he look stern but I think he's ok. Usually he will crack jokes with me while I'm in for a visit. Maybe I got joker look.

But really he is a man of few words. And to deal with a man of few words, you gotta be the one asking whatever questions you have so that you can get an answer. Take it from me who have an elder brother and husband who are men of few words. You don't talk then I talk lo.

My mum says I talk like a machine gun when throwing questions at my gynae. That's becuz he is always chop chop so I dun wanna waste his time but yet I need clear my doubts too.

And unexpectedly, my gynae announced that I have to take the steroid jabs for babies' lungs. I was caught off guard cause all along I thought it is required for 34wks and below delivery. Was still telling Mr Love the other day that we managed to skip this as I heard it was damn painful and I'm afraid of it. Happy too fast. Basket.

I tried whinning to my gynae saying that I'm afraid of needles and his exact words are "You bo bian, its for your babies good" ok lo. Whatever you say doc, babies good are my priority. But the good thing is I'm only required for 1 instead of 2 jabs.

It was later the pre admission doctor told me that its a requirement from the PD side that all c sect deliveries before 39weeks are required to take the jab. Oh well. 

No running away I guess. But it was really damn painful. The injection itself was ok. Not really as painful as the oil based hormones I took thrice during 22nd-24th weeks. Its the after effect that is painful when the medication moves through your veins. I couldn't get down of the bed for 1st 2min and had trouble working properly back to my wheelchair. Luckily for the wheelchair since it saved me from walking long distance.

Then I was pushed down to the pre admission services for an ad hoc blood test for blood type and blood count which is to be sent to operating theatre for my operation records. 

So there you are 1 blood test and 1 jab in the same day for the scary cat me. And I was at KKH from 9am to 3pm where the waiting time outweighs the consultation time. 

Okie..hopefully my next update will be my boys picture hehe.

Praying for all to be smooth.