Savio: On Becoming A Koko

One of the thing that we worried most before the baby come was how will Vio react to it? Of course we’ve told him countless time that his baby sister (mei mei) will come out soon and that he can help us take care of her. And he seemed to be quite ok about it. But hey, we’ll never know how much a toddler actually understand, right?

First time meeting Caitlyn in hospital, Vio seemed quite happy. He even posed with his smile happily to the camera. But we don’t know whether he actually know that we’ll bring the baby home? Lol..

First day we brought Caitlyn home, Vio almost cried when we want to use his rubber changing mat (that he hasn’t used for months) for the new baby. He kept saying “it’s vio’s one..” with teary eyes. Luckily in the end he let Caitlyn use the changing mat.

He also seemed unhappy to see mommy carry baby.. And he said: “don’t want baby.. Baby go out..” wah wah so sad to hear that..

There’s also a change in Vio.. He’ll now cry super loudly if he doesn’t get what he wants.. Every little thing can make him cry.. And somehow he also like to scream more, including in play time. He became much more of attention seeker? Well I guess that’s normal, coz before this, he was the center of attention, and now he need to share the attention with his new sister.

Vio also became more and more sticky to mommy. He’ll cry loudly if he see mommy carry baby.. He’ll say “mommy don’t want carry baby! Mbak/nai2, carry baby donggg..” or he’ll ask me to put the baby down in the bed so I can play with him. There are also times when he doesn’t let other people feed him or change him, only mommy can do that. Well, in a way I’m quite happy but sometimes it can be rather troublesome :p

Other than that, Vio actually adapt rather well. Sometimes he’ll ask us whether he can carry baby too.. And he’ll also happily kiss his baby sister when we ask him to.

I hope when Caitlyn is bigger, Vio and caitlyn can play well together!

Carrying "Mei Mei" for the first time

Welcome to the World!

Finally the moment that we’ve been waiting for is here!

On 11 April 2011, I started feeling something different in my tummy. I was still working from home then. That very night, I couldn’t sleep at all as I feel very very mild contraction but i kind of feel that it’s regular timing of about 10 mins apart. So the whole night, I was busy timing the contraction, and at the same time thinking “is this the time??”. Well, I kind of hoping that it really was it, coz I can’t wait to see the baby!

So about 6:30 am the next morning, pi & I decided to go to hospital. Just in case it really was the time.

Sadly, it wasn’t. Sigh.. When the gynae check, the cervix opening was only 1 cm. And the contraction was too mild. So.. It was a false alarm. She asked whether I want to be admitted to the ward and see whether there’s an improvement or to wait at home. I chose the 2nd option.

Well, I’m glad that I chose the 2nd option, because we spent the next few days waiting and waiting and waiting.. But it seems like the baby was just too comfortable inside and refuse to come out..

And then early morning on 16 April 2011, I notice some colorless discharge and wondering whether the water bag has leaked?? Hmm.. I suppose I really can’t wait too see the baby so that every slightest labor symptom will look real to me.. Lol..

Luckily we have appointment to see the gynae on that day. So we just come to see her earlier, complete with the hospital bag. And you know what? She said most likely the water bag has not leaked coz there’s still so much water inside. Sigh sigh.. Another false alarm?? She provided an option for me to be induced. Anyway it was only 2 days before the due date. And after the due date, I’ll be induced anyway. So doesn’t make much of a difference yeah? With that thinking in mind, and tired of the waiting game, we agreed to be admitted that day and be induced.

Around 12 pm I was admitted to the labor ward. According to the gynae, it’ll be around 3-4 hours. Learning from the previous experience, I asked for epidural from the start. When the anesthetic learn that the cervix opening was only 1.5 cm, he was rather skeptical that 3-4 hours will be enough. Thankfully, unlike last time where the epidural only worked on the right side, this time round I almost don’t feel anything on both side. The epidural was working well!

About 4 pm, the gynae came and check the opening again, this time it was 3-4 cm. Oh no! I was rather hopeless, coz that means that still have few more hours to go?? But about 10 mins after the gynae went out, i kind of feel a pressure below my tummy. When the nurse checked, it was already 9 cm! Wow that’s fast! I can start pushing soon!

The pushing part wasn’t so easy for me. I pushed and pushed for 1 hour but the baby wasn’t out yet. Finally the nurse call the gynae in, since I’ve pushed for more than 1 hour. Somehow when the gynae was there, I feel more energized and finally finally finally the baby was out! Without assistance!

Introducing the latest addition to our family:
Name: Caitlyn Sidharta
Date of birth: 16 April 2011
Time: 17:20 pm
Weight: 2.85 kg
Height: 49 cm
Head circumference: 33 cm

Surprisingly, unlike other babies, Caitlyn cried for a very short while after birth. After that she was quiet! Including when the nurse was measuring her height and weight. So we were hoping that she’s not a cry baby,unfortunately, this wish doesn’t come true.. Lol..

Here’s a photo of her on the first day at home. Freshly arrived from hospital.