Children Learn What They Live

Children Learn What They Live

By Dorothy Law Nolte

If children live with criticism,

They learn to condemn.

If children live with hostility,

They learn to fight.

If children live with ridicule,

They learn to be shy.

If children live with shame,

They learn to feel guilty.

If children live with encouragement,

They learn confidence.

If children live with tolerance,

They learn to be patient.

If children live with praise,

They learn to appreciate.

If children live with acceptance,

They learn to love.

If children live with approval,

They learn to like themselves.

If children live with honesty,

They learn truthfulness.

If children live with security,

They learn to have faith in themselves and others.

If children live with friendliness,

They learn the world is a nice place in which to live.

Copyright © 1972/1975 by Dorothy Law Nolte

Newborn/ neonatal jaundice

Only 1 out of my 3 kids are spared from having newborn / neonatal jaundice. Jaundice tends to be more common in breastfed babies and to last a bit longer. In most cases, it's harmless, but jaundice phobia on the part of parents often creates obstacles to successful breastfeeding. This is because most of the breastfed babies have lower milk intakes in the first few days after birth, because of infrequent or inefficient feeding compared to their formula feeding peers.

Princess had jaundice on the 2nd day, and the Prince had it on his 3rd day. The only difference is that with Princess, we are still in the hospital and since she had G6PD (another topic, another time), it’s expected. However with the Prince, since he’s spared from G6PD, we totally did not expect him to have jaundice. We are discharged from the hospital about 12 hours after delivery, though Prince’s feeding have yet established, the doctors & nurses reluctantly released us seeing that I’ve successfully breastfed Baby Princess till she’s 2.

We noticed Prince’s not feeding that well and prefer to sleep mopst of the time but we did not suspect anything until we noticed a yellow tinge to the white of his eyes. It’s difficult to detect the yellowness in him as he’s still very blotchy. We then brought him to the hospital for a blood test. By the time the test results are back, Prince’s whole body was yellowish and I really had a scare of my life.

I got admitted together with him for the phototherapy treatment so I could continue to breastfeed him. It was heartbreaking for me to ignore his crying when they put him under the light. I keep on breastfeeding him as breast milk acting as a laxative could help eliminate bilirubin from baby's body because bilirubin exits though baby’s stools. Prince was released after 2 days under the light.

Some basic information on Jaundice:

• 
  
  A common condition that turns a baby's rosy skin yellow, jaundice occurs in 60 percent of all babies, typically showing up two to three days after birth and lasting a week to ten days.
• 
  
  Most jaundiced infants do not need supplements of water, sugar water or formula
• 
  
  Jaundice sometimes makes babies sleepy therefore you may need to wake your baby for a feed.
• 
  
  Experts recommend this quick home test to check for jaundice. In a well-lit room, apply gentle pressure to your baby's nose or forehead; if there's a yellow tinge to the skin as the pressure is released, consult your paediatrician. This technique works best for fair-skinned children; if your baby has dark skin check for yellowness in the whites of the eyes or gums.

I'm Back

I'm back after a long hiatus. With the prince and the girls in the house 24/7, I hardly have time to eat, what to say blogging. I'm glad that the new school term is finally here. The last 3 months is like forever. 

5 years and 3 babies later, I found myself not being any wiser in this part of life called motherhood. It’s not getting any easier but in fact, it’s getting more difficult each day.


In addition, of taking care of a 4-month-old baby, I have a 3 years old toddler who follows me like a shadow and a starting to have her own thinking 5 years old preschooler. I felt so helpless and breathless each day, hoping that night will come in a blink of eye as that’s the only time I could rest, at least before baby cries for another feed.

I hope that there’s a manual sold somewhere, a manual that teaches me how to tackle 3 kids in a day without me losing my temper or going cuckoo in long term. If anyone knows where to get it, kindly send me an e-mail. If not don’t bother.

I found that I’m straying away too much from my initial purpose of blogging and I shall try to note down here as much as possible of my motherhood experiences/ blunders. Let’s hope that other mothers shall benefit from my errors in motherhood and do not repeat what I did.

The Prince Had Arrived

21.10.09 (Wednesday)

Morning till 5 pm

Felt uncomfortable with on & off contractions.
Felt wet & went to check if water bag had burst.
Not sure but decided to wait till shop closes at 7pm before admitting to hospital.


9pm
Admitted to labour ward and was given enema.
Was hooked on CTG and monitored for about 30 minutes.
Had on & off contractions which is not strong.
Water bag is still intact & was only 2 cm dilated.

11pm
Sent up to observation ward to wait for stronger contractions.

22.09.2009 (Thursday)


1am
Having stronger contractions but not long enough to establish labour.


2amHaving regular & very intense contractions.
The nurse & new doctor’s having contradicting opinions on whether to sent or not to be sent to labour ward.
Decided to wait for more intense contractions in the observation ward upon advise from the more experienced nurse as upon in labour ward will be confined to CTG and the bed.


3am
Couldn’t take the pain anymore and requested to be sent down to the labour ward as the contractions comes with the urge to push.
Was hooked to CTG machine once in the labour ward.
Asked for entonox since they did not prescribe Penthidine anymore.

3.50am
Asked them to check if it’s time to push as the pain is unbearable.
It’s already 8cm and they asked to wait for the doctor on call to be here 1st.

4.05am
Couldn’t take the pain anymore and told them that baby’s coming out.
Water bag was burst.
4 pushes later, baby’s out at 4.27am weighing at 3.48kg and 48 cm.

Countdown - 6 weeks

It’s only 6 weeks to the grand arrival of the prince and I’m extremely anxious. Part of me doesn’t want him to arrive so fast as I’m not sure how I would cope with a baby, toddler and pre-schooler at home alone. Another part of me wants him to come out now, as I’m tired, emotionally & physically. The tummy’s getting heavier and my groin part is beginning to hurt if I stand or walk for too long, not to mention the backache, heartburn and countless trip to toilet. Sigh…

Well, at least something good had happened since my’ nesting instinct’ is here. The house’s somewhat cleaner and not that messy. Managed to shift the girls back to their room though Baby Princess still make her way back to our bed every night without fail. However, the number of hours she spent sleeping on our bed is decreasing, *victory dance*.

We finally have our own car last month. Not an expensive car but still ours and I’m still torn on whether should we get an infant car seat for the prince. No doubt, the first 3 months would be spent at home, as Princess will be having her year-end holidays, and we’re not sure on the arrangement of the kids once Princess starts her new term next year. I guess most probably we’ll decide early next year.

28th Week

25th June 2009

Went for the scheduled scan with Prof. After a detailed scan with him, he confirmed that baby is as normal as HE could be and no signs of Ascites. Praise the Lord indeed.

 

19th July 2009

3 weeks had passed since the last pre-natal check-up and I did not even follow up with Dr. I guess the pre-natal baby blues had affected me that much that I don’t bother to go for check-ups.
I really need to relax myself and not to be so tensed up with all the stuff that’s happening around me now.
I MUST REMIND myself that whatever that happened, happened for a reason. I guess I just have to live a day at a time.

22 Weeks and Still Counting

08 June 2009
- Went for a routine scan  in the afternoon. Everything seems okay with the scan except that the Sonographer detected a vague shadow, which seems like fluid, in Baby's abdominal wall which is not supposed to be there. She told us it might be a condition called Mild Ascites. She's not sure herself but not wanting to take any risks, she scheduled us for another scan with Professor on the 25th June 2009. We did managed to confirm baby's gender which is a BOY.


- Can't sleep at night which I'm not sure caused by the pot of Oolong tea I had earlier or if it's because of baby's unconfirmed condition. I felt helpless.


12 June 2009


- Felt calmer and better now compared to the first 2 days after knowing that baby might be having Ascites. Prayers from friends do help a lot. Thank God for friends that are caring and helpful during this time.


- Been keeping myself busy at home doing the never-ending chores and minding the girls. Trying to clean the house as much as possible before baby makes His appearance.