Happy Birthday Maya Suraya

My baby girl turned 1 on May 18th 2011. Can you believe it? I’ve been a mommy to the most wonderful baby for 1 whole year and InsyaAllah many many more to come. I’ve realized I haven’t shared my birth story on my blog. So here it is, my birth story with Maya Suraya.

Monday, May 17th 2010.

I had my doctor’s appointment that morning. Faliq and I entered the doctor’s office and before he checked me, he asked whether or not we would like to induce. He said, I could come that night, the nurse will induce me, he’ll come the next morning to burst my waterbag and that’s when I’ll feel the pain, and we’ll have our lil precious by noon. As soon as I heard that I could have my Maya tomorrow, DEAL, we’ll check in tonight!

I was overwhelmed with excitement. I was telling my family that we’re going to have her tomorrow. May 18th is also my MIL’s birthday (what a coincidence eh?). I was ecstatic! I went to Carrefour and Pavilion that day too.

Before leaving for the hospital, we had a big feast at my inlaws’. We were taking PLENTY of pictures with my big round belly because it’ll be all gone when I come back home later. Faliq, mommy, and Aza accompanied me to the hospital and I was officially checked in around 10pm that night.

The nurse asked me whether or not I would like to spend a night in the labor room or my room and I opt for labor room because I didn’t want to bother about moving from one room to the other when I’m in labor. BAD choice! Labor bed is UNCOMFORTABLE! After checked in, the nurse gave me my gown and later she literally shove something up my you-know-what. It was uncomfortable but the pain was manageable.

Mommy and Aza left and it was time for me to sleep but I couldn’t sleep. I was majorly uncomfortable. I had this thing around my belly to monitor the baby’s heartbeat and my contractions. Faliq was snoring away on the couch of course.


Tuesday, May 18th 2010

Around 3-ish, I felt pain on my lower back and I didn’t even know it was contractions. It felt like really bad period cramps. I was trying to find a good position but whenever I do that, the machine could not read the heartbeat and contractions. Soon after that I felt water coming out down there and then it clicked “OMG, I’m having contractions and I’m leaking!” I buzzed the nurse and the nurse came in and she said “Oh, baru 1cm. Takpe tido dulu. Besok doctor datang.” HEH?!?!? Tido? I was in pain, and also I was afraid of the hospital. I couldn’t shut my eyes. I was so afraid of the paranormal. Hehe :p

Anyhoos, the doctor came in around 8am to poke my waterbag. He said I was about 2cm dilated and when he read my readings, he said, the contractions Ive been having is nothing. I was so tired by then. I didn’t have good rest and I surrendered to epidural. The anesthesiologist did his thing and within few seconds I was pain-free. I could sleep, deep sleep and at one point I could hear my self snoring. My sister put some makeup on my face, attempted to do something with my hair, just so I look picture ready. Every so often, the nurse would come and check on me and Alhamdulillah I was gradually dilating. The nurse said, I should be fully dilated by 3pm, and boy she was RIGHT. 

The nurses prepped me for labor. Stirrups in placed and other stuffs were too that I vaguely remember. The doctor came in all prepared to help me deliver my baby. When they told me to start pushing I was thinking “is this really happening? Am I about to have a baby?” I pushed and I pushed and I was coughing a lot when I took few deep breaths due to a fever I had. After three big pushes, Maya was out and the doctor said “It’s a girl” and “she’s bigger than I thought she would be”. He soon placed her on me and when I hold her little hand, the first person that I thought of was my father; and of course I cried. Faliq had the honor to cut off the umbilical cord.

After Maya Suraya was cleaned, Faliq Qamat Maya and just as he finished, our family who were waiting right outside the labor room, came gushing in the room (almost everyone teamed up to wear pink since we’re having a girl =D). Everyone, including us, could not have enough of her since that day.

Thank you Allah for giving her to us.

Mommy to Maya Suraya
Farah~

PhewWwww

I finally called the guy who rents out tables and chairs for any event (it was SUPPOSED to be Faliq’s duty) today and he said “sorry buy we are completely BOOKED on that day”. *faints followed with seizures*

A mini video of my guests sitting on the floor played on my mind. Well of course, it’s freaking THURSDAY, obviously everyone is booked out because there’s always a wedding EVERY fantastic weekends!

I asked Wawa for anyone else, I googled, and I asked Leey. Leey gave me a number and THANK YOU ALLAH, he said he has tables and chairs for rent.

Hip Hip HOORAY!!

I told him what color tablecloth I want and he said he has it. Can I trust him? I really hope he’s telling the truth. I would be so angry if he comes with a COMPLETELY off color. I will so chop chop him off verbally.

Another important thing to do is off the list.


Feeling Good Mommy

Farah

Presenting Maya's Candyland Invitation Card

My best friend Leey designed this card for Maya. She custommades invitation cards etc. I LOVE her work. If you guys have a wedding etc coming up, holler at me and I'll give you her details. I can assure you, you'll be 100% satisfied just like this MOMMA!

Lollipop Fan
Farah~

Somebody Sweet is Having a Birthday

I’m in the midst of planning Maya’s 1st birthday party. Thank god I have my SIL. She has helped so much and she is truly a God sent. *me love you Wawa*

Invites are out. I’m still waiting about 70% of them to response *grrr*
I’ve placed my order with the caterer. *Yabidabeedoo*
Photographer is officially hired. *wee*
Leey is working on all printing works. *Yeehaw*
Kak Yanie is sponsoring the birthday cake. *yahoo*

And the list goes on.

I sometimes feel like I’m planning a wedding. I’ve had countless nightmares about the party gone wrong. However, I’m enjoying the whole party planning thing. I really do.
I started brainstorming about this party since Maya was only 3 ½ months old and I really can’t wait for the “unveiling” day.

I’ll post Maya’s invitation card soon. I just LOVE it!


Birthday Girl’s Mommy

Farah

This Made Me Smile

As I was drying my bottle (for pumping) in the restroom, my boss came in and as soon as she saw what I was doing, holding a feeding bottle under the hot air hand dryer, she asked “eh, you’re still doing that?” and I proudly said “yes I am”.

Even though I dread my self nowadays when the time come calling, I’m glad and grateful to Allah S.W.T. for giving me the best rezeki to feed my baby my milk.

Please don’t dry up on me.

Happy Lactating Mommy

Farah~

Aloha April

So I’ve been MIA for nearly a month now and many things have happened thus far.

“What had happen was…”

Faliq, Maya and I surprised our family in the US with a visit (only few people knew about our trip). They were expecting us in August but who can wait that long? I missed them too much and still am. We were there from April 4th till 13th. Our time there flew so quickly and I am saddened that there were few friends and family that I didn’t get to see. It sucks being too far away from your loved ones.
Nevertheless, I had an enjoyable time there and Maya was such a good sport. Alhamdulillah ☺

On our way back to Malaysia, we spent a night in Frankfurt, Germany; and that made Germany as my first Euro country (mini) holiday.

I’ll post pictures in my future post.

I discovered three teeth popping out of Maya’s upper gums when we were in FL. I heard someone grinding his/her teeth one early morning and it didn’t click to me that it was my baby girl because my sister Aza grinds her teeth E-V-E-R-Y-T-I-M-E she sleeps which bothers the hell out of me.  Soon I found out it has been Maya all along. Hehe.. Sowwie Aza  :p

5 is the number of teeth to date.

Maya just turned 11 months old on Monday and NOPE she’s not walking yet. I hope she can walk by the time her birthday party comes around.

I’m planning Maya’s big ONE birthday party with the help from my SIL and MIL. I’ve got a bunch of things for the party from US. It’s so much cheaper there and A LOT OF choices to choose from. I can spend hours and hours in the party stores there. *sigh*

I can’t wait for the outcome.

Baby Party Frenzy Farah

Car Seat

I feel sad to see that car seat is not a norm here in Malaysia. It’s “normal” to see families travelling with babies/toddlers with no car seat. It’s either they do own one but it’s completely under usage or they don’t even bother buying one.

Yes, we all know babies/toddlers do NOT get along well with car seat. Believe me, I have my days when Maya will not cooperate with us and yes GUILTY that sometimes we travel, MOSTLY short distance, with her on our lap instead of her in her seat. However, 97% of the time Maya is usually in her seat.

Anyhoos, I would like to share this article that I came across on Parenting.com about the right way to place your car seat. I know, it’s a bit lengthy.

I hope mommies and daddies will take this matter seriously. If you have no children yet, please remember this post and do convey this message to any parents you know. Your action is very much appreciated!

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In a new policy statement published in the April 2011 issue of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Pediatrics now advises parents to keep toddlers in rear-facing car seats until age two, or until they exceed the height or weight limit for the car seat, which can be found on the back of the seat.

A 2007 study in the journal Injury Prevention found that children under age two are 75 percent less likely to die or to be severely injured in a crash if they are rear-facing. Another study found riding rear-facing to be five times safer than forward-facing.

“A rear-facing child safety seat does a better job of supporting the head, neck and spine of infants and toddlers in a crash, because it distributes the force of the collision over the entire body,” said Dennis Durbin, M.D., F.A.A.P., a pediatric emergency physician and co-scientific director of the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and lead author of the policy statement and accompanying technical report.

Parenting talked to Ben Hoffman, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque and a child passenger safety technician, to get answers to parents’ most pressing questions about the new policy.

Although the new baseline is now age two, the AAP has advised parents since 2002 to keep kids rear-facing until they reach the height or weight limit of their car seat. Why are parents so eager to turn their car seats?

“Parents are interested in milestones, and the minimum of one year and 20 lbs has been interpreted as gold standard instead of the minimum,” says Dr. Hoffman. “Parents are always looking for the next stage of development because in every other scenario, that’s a good thing. With car safety seats, however, that's often not the case."

But isn’t forward-facing easier for everyone?

Yes, it’s easier to interact with your child when she is facing forward, and less awkward to get her into the seat. But safety should be the main concern. “I would ask parents to consider the protection of the child in addition to comfort,” says Dr. Hoffman. “It’s minimally acceptable to change to forward-facing at a year, but parents can do better than that.”

What about squished legs?

Kids who have only been rear-faced will most likely not be bothered, since they don’t know anything else. And it’s completely fine for their feet to touch the seat back, or for their legs to bend. “Once you make the switch, it’s hard to go back, so try not to ever switch them before they are ready,” says Dr. Hoffman.

Why are so few parents aware of even the older guidelines that say kids should stay rear-facing as long as possible?

There may have been some confusion with the message, with many parents mistaking the minimum for the ideal age to make the switch. The AAP hopes that by making age 2 the new guideline, the message will be less confusing for parents and for pediatricians.

If my child turns 2 before he reaches the height or weight limit for the seat, should I keep him rear-facing?

Yes. The safest decision is to keep him rear-facing until he reaches the height or weight limit for the seat.

If my child reaches the height or weight limit for my seat before age two, what should I do?
Once your child exceeds the height and weight limit of his infant car seat, purchase a convertible car seat with a higher height or weight limit (most go to 35 pounds rear-facing) and continue to use it rear-facing until age two, or until your child hits the height or weight limit for rear-facing use. At that point you can make the switch to forward-facing—or you can purchase a convertible car seat with a higher weight limit for rear-facing (some go up to 45 pounds). “That’s a very personal decision for the parent,” says Dr. Hoffman, one that may also be influenced by the size of your car, the arrival of a younger sibling, or your budget.

What should I do if I’ve already switched my under-two child to forward-facing?

The best advice is for parents to consider switching their child back to rear-facing. But the next best thing is to, at a minimum, make sure you correctly use the seat you have: Make sure the seat is harnessed tightly to the vehicle, that the harness is snug over the child and the chest clip is in the correct position, and that the seatbelt or LATCH system are installed correctly.

Why didn’t my pediatrician tell me about this?

“Pediatricians should be talking about this,” says Dr. Hoffman. “But given everything else that needs to happen in a well-child visit, sometimes this message gets left behind. I would love to see a day where every family-care health provider knew the best possible advice and shared it with their patients.” Hopefully this new policy will keep things moving in that direction.


Farah~