This hour 4 years ago .....

Four years at this time (2:50am), I was with my wife at the Damansara Specialist labour room. The doctor has stopped giving my wife steroids and the medication to delay labour (her water bag burst prematurely and medication has to be given to delay labour in order that the lung is more fully developed).

Four years ago, wife was screaming in pain and we were waiting for the doctor to come to administer her epidural injection and we were told that he was coming all the way from Ampang. She was in so much pain that they gave her laughing gas. Anything, anything to stop the pain.

I was so tensed and worried seeing her in such pain.

The doctor finally came and asked us to read the pamphlet about the risks associated with epidural. Honestly, we didn't bother. We just bloody signed the form and asked him to get on with it. He gave the first dose but the pain refused to go away. He frowned and GOD, that is the worst thing a doctor could do in front of his patient ... that frown.. So, what does it mean? Is there a problem? What? What? What is that frown supposed to mean? Damn it! Don't just frown....Talk to me!

"Emmmm....still painful?" he asked.
"Yes! Yes!" my wife almost screamed.
"Ok..I increase dosage and see ...." he calmly answered....

30 minutes on, he came back and asked "still pain?"
"Yes! Still very painful!" wife answered impatiently....

And he frowned AGAIN! And this time with a rather worried looking face! I just cannot described the stress level I was going through then. But nevertheless, have to put up a brave front for my wifey...

"I have already given you a large dosage...eeemmmm.....ok....I increased a bit more and see ..." he said matter of factly....

Thank God that final dosage helped and the pain finally subsided 30 minutes later. Wife finally got to catch some sleep and seeing her sleeping, I slipped back to our room in the hospital for some shut eye...

I woke up at 6:45 am and stumbled over to the labour room ...and what did I see? Dr Guna was already there and getting my wife ready to deliver...

"Get ready." he said..."he is coming"

I ran back to the room, grabbed my camera and video camera (because wife insisted that the incident be recorded, else she would rip my head off)

The moments spent in the labour room the next 15 minutes were intense and nerve wrecking. She huff and puff, screamed and pushed....

At 7:03am, baby Ryan arrived safely into our family .....

Thinking back, all these seemed like just yesterday but so much have happened within these four years. We have all come a long way. Ryan has came a long way. From a 2.2 kg pre-matured baby, he is now a 14.5kg super hyper active boy that seemed to have an endless supply of energy that super charged his legs and turbo charged his stamina, not to mention his brain and mouth that just would not stop talking, asking questions or getting him into trouble ....

Happy Birthday my dear son, for completing our lives with such happiness and joy, filling our hearts with your cheeky laughter, breaking our silence and tranquility with your constant screams and excitement. We love you and never stop being you..because we love you for who you are ...

Thank you mommy for bringing him into the world, the bravery and the courage that you have to muster (knowing how much you fear pain and blood), the long suffering you endured and the patience you shown in guiding and teaching him to be what he is today...a son that we are truly proud of ....

3 years of PURE JOY!

30th May 2011

Ryan finally turned 3 today. We have gone through great times with him in the last 3 years. He has brought us pure joy and occasional `nightmares' but everyday he surprises us with his new learning, new words, new actions with pure cheekiness...

I can still remember vividly 3 years ago, when wife was hospitalized early when her water bag burst. She was given steroids, antibiotic and medication to delay his arrival as he was pre-matured and the doctor wanted to make sure that his lungs have developed fully and properly. On the 29th May 2011, the doctor came and after a last minute check, confirmed that Ryan will be ready for delivery and scheduled the anticipated delivery the next morning from 9 to 10 am onwards. He stopped the medication that delayed the contraction at around 6pm. By 7pm, the contraction started. I remembered the nurses were checking on the contractions the whole night and we knew that this is it...Ryan is finally coming....


We have decided early that we are definitely going to get epidural despite advices from some well intended relatives and friends. However, given that my wife will even panic when she has to do a blood test, I just cannot imagine her having to go through the ordeal without it. By 12 midnight, we told the nurses that we need epidural. She came back with a form and asked us to read the small print bla bla bla before we sign...My wife was in too much pain to even bother then..."Just give me the pen and sign!"

And then we found out that the doctor to administer the epidural have to come from Ampang. We were told that he has been informed. When you are experiencing labour pain, every minute is like an hour, and he took one full hour to arrive ...hair unkempt (as if he just woke up from his sleep) and in slippers....(See also panic!.) He administered the first dose and said that it should work in 30 minutes....


30 minutes went past..and nothing! Wife was grabbing my arms and squeezing it so tight that I would need the epidural injection next....We called the nurse and he came in, looking puzzled! (Although I looked cool and calm then, I can tell you...panic lar...) He checked and then said he will administer a little bit more...and said something like "full dose already...emmmm" (You tell me....panic or not??)

I think the epidural finally worked around 3pm and wife got to sleep a bit. I was too tired by then and I went back to her room to grab a nap, ready for Ryan's arrival the next morning....

Woke up at about 6:50a.m and after brushing my teeth, stumbled to the labour room. Dr Guna was already there and RYAN WAS COMING!!!...OMG! So early ar???

Rushed back to the room, grabbed the video camera and ran to the labour room ..arriving just in time to hear my wife pushing and screaming ....Too panicky and no time to switch on video camera lar....just hold her hands and told her to push like hell...Dr Guna said "Can see the head now." I went to have a look and with one final push, "Whoossshh.....RYAN FINALLY ARRIVED!!" The first thought....RELIEF!!!...and the JOY then sank in .....

Time of arrival : 7:13 am.
Weight: 2.22kg
Length: 44 cm

....and I'm getting ready to go through all this again soon.....hahahaha.....


(Images captures with my Nikon D90 with Nikkor 50mm 1.8 portrait lens)

First 3D Glimpse

Date : 17th May 2011

We had our first 3D glimpse of our baby girl now that she is 29 weeks old. We wanted to do a full 3D scan. However, she wasn't too cooperative and the best image the doctor managed to get was the one above. Hence, we will be going back in two weeks time to do another 3D scan and hopefully we have better images of her.

For a time being, we are glad to have our first 3D glimpse of our soon to arrive new member of our family. Wife is officially grounded and would have to be monitored closely for the next 5 weeks to ensure that she doesn't have a premature delivery just like when we have Ryan.

Our anxious wait continues .....

When the water bag burst...bring the handphone charger !!

Ryan is almost 3 years old now. As my wife and I were sitting yesterday at Damansara Specialist Center waiting to get my stress test done, (and we were there since 10am in the morning!), we were discussing on how should we celebrate his coming 3rd birthday. Naturally, we ended up talking and remembering fondly his arrival 3 years ago ....and I'm still laughed at for doing probably one of the most unlikely or `stupidest' thing in my life....

Wife was carrying Ryan for 34 weeks then. She was coughing badly and her work load has been pretty stressful during that period. May was their financial year closing, hence, the pressure of chasing of sales figures to make up the volume or the stretch target was always there ...

On the 28th May night, she came back late at 11pm after a stressful meeting with her boss. I remembered she walked in wearily and was so tired that she said she will skip dinner and would probably just take a bath and retired. Ryan was not due for another couple of weeks. Suddenly, she called out from the bathroom, while sitting on the toilet seat saying that she is `leaking'. I came rushing in and not knowing what to say (honestly) told her to continue sitting and wait awhile if the `leak' continues. After another minute or two, she said `yes..still leaking with a bit of blood.'

Honestly, I have started panicking inside but being a all macho husband, have to put up a brave front. Don't know ask me why, but the next thing I told her to do was....'Ok. Go and have your bath first.' Maybe experience tells me that a bath is something she would not have a chance to take for the next couple of weeks if Ryan is really arriving.

After her shower, she confirmed that she was still `leaking'. "Ok" I told her. "Water bag burst liow. Time to go hospital for check up now." sounding confident and like I really knew what I was doing.

So we changed and get ourselves ready. Then she asked me what to bring along. And I told her to make sure to bring her handphone charger !!!!! Why? I really don't know. Maybe because somehow I have the inclination that she would be admitted and would need to make calls. Maybe because she has the tendency to run her phone battery to the ground and always complained that her handphone battery is flat. Maybe because I knew that she would still be making calls over the next few days (even in the hospital) to chase sales figures since it is the financial year closing. I really don't know why. But, my wife obediently pack her handphone charger and off we went to the hospital.

Her water bag did burst though the baby wasn't due yet. Wife ended up hosptilised for another 2 days with medication and steroids to prepare Ryan's arrival, planned on the 31st May. Was the handphone charger useful? OF COURSE! During her two days there, she DID made those calls to chase for the figures required.

Would I remind her to bring the handphone charger this round for our coming daughter? Of course besides other equally important items such as change of clothes, hot water tumbler etc..hahahaha

Preparing for baby's arrival

When we were preparing for Ryan's arrival, we were really uncertain as to what are the essential items to purchase. We would be walking in shopping complexes but ended not buying anything because we really do not know what is required. Fortunately, we got some help from my sister and as the days drew near, we were frantically getting ready. Luckily we did because Ryan came early. We have a few friends who are also expecting their first born. So, I have promised to post a checklist of items that we think is important.

Firstly for the expecting mommy:-

• Disposable maternity panty : RM7.90
• Disposable nursing pad : RM20.00
• Breast pump (Manual) : RM18.50
• Breast pump (Battery operated) : RM87.90
• Stretch mark lotion : RM30.80
• Maternity Pads : RM12.90
• Maternity Dresses

For the baby:-

• Feeding - Steam Sterilizer : RM460.00
• Feeding - Milk Powder Dispenser : RM6.90
• Feeding - Bottle and Nipple brush : RM6.90
• Feeding - Warmer Bag : RM36.90
• Feeding - Baby feeding bottles (Advent) : RM139.90
• Feeding - Sterilizer tablets : RM17.90
• Feeding - Bottles and Nipples Cleanser : RM37.00
• Clothing - Mittens and booties : RM7.90 (per set)
• Clothing - Baby napkins : RM25.90
• Clothing - Nappy liners : RM8.90
• Clothing - Laundry detergent : RM18.00
• Clothing - Diaper Pants : RM7.90
• Clothing - Face Towel : RM3.00
• Cothing - Towel and Handkerchief : RM10.90
• Clothing - Blanket : RM17.90
• Clothing - Pillow and Bolster : RM19.90
• Clothing - Napkin fastener : RM9.90
• Clothing - Newborn clothes
• Healthcare - Nappy Rash Cream : RM27.80
• Healthcare - Nose Cleaner : RM12.50
• Healthcare - Powder Puff : RM6.20
• Healthcare - Wet Tissue : RM11.90
• Healthcare - Nail Clipper : RM4.90
• Healthcare - Baby lotion : RM19.65
• Healthcare - Baby oil : RM13.60
• Healthcare - Baby Shampoo : RM27.70
• Healthcare - Baby Bath : RM19.90
• Healthcare - Baby powder : RM12.90
• Healthcare - Cotton wool : RM4.90
• Healthcare - Digital thermometer : RM36.90
• Healthcare - Disposable Newborn Diapers
• Accessories - 2 way Carrier : RM79.90
• Accessories - Baby Travelling bag : RM32.90
• Accessories - Bouncer : RM80.00
• Accessories - Mosquitoes Netting : RM19.90
• Accessories - Changing Mat : RM11.90
• Accessories - Stroller : RM400.00
• Accessories - Play pent and Baby Cot : RM299.90
• Accessories - High dining chair : RM239.90
• Accessories - Baby bath tub : RM89.90
• Accessories - Potty Trainer Seat : RM59.90
• Accessories - Baby Monitor
• Accessories - Baby Car Seat

Based on the list above, the total cost (of items with price listed) would be approximately RM2500. There are some items that you might be able to get cheaper version (eg. bath tub) but you might be willing to spent more on certain items for better quality such as stroller, breast pump (electric) and baby car seat.

All in all, it's not cheap to bring a baby into our world and what we see above is just the beginning of an investment that is going to go on for many more years to come. But the joy the baby brings is priceless. So, tighten your belts, parents and parents-to-be and embrace the wonderful adventure of parenthood.

Be Prepared for Pre-mature Arrival

Baby Ryan arrived when he was only 34th week and he really caught us by surprise. Being our first child, preparing for his arrival was already a challenge and we were not really prepare for his pre-mature arrival. Luckily, we got a few things done early and did not wait to get those preparations done during the eight or nine month (like many parents do) with good advice from some very concerned friends. Be prepared as early as the sixth or seventh month. List of things that you might want to get ready by now should be the following (based on our own experience):-

• get all the required baby stuff by now. Have a checklist and start buying them (especially if you see any of them on sale with discount). I will share the checklist that we have and an indication of how much they will cost.
• decide on where you are going to have your baby delivered.
• if you wish to get a hair cut before delivery, it is a good time to get it done now. A lot of old folks do not allow you to wash your hair after you have delivered (at least for the first week, if not for the entire month of confinement)
• if you are working expecting mum, please prepare your boss or your collegue for a pre-mature delivery. Start planning your hand-over during your maternity leave.
• prepare the bag that you are going to bring to the hospital should you go into labour.
• if you are planning to have a confinement lady, you should have already confirmed her appointment by now. However, do have contigency plans that she might not be available if you deliver early. (This actually happened to us)
• if you plan to have a live-in maid, you should get your maid in and working for you by this time. You would want your maid to be ready rather than having to train her when you are busy with your pre-matured baby, confinement lady, your mum and your mother-n-law. You could go totally crazy.
• for Chinese mothers who have a whole range of chinese herbs to purchase for the confinement meals and diet, it is a good time to start buying them now.