Category: Health

Life’s firsts

A TMI post, I know. But please bear with this first-time mommy who didn’t expect this to happen just as when they’re preparing for a family vacation.

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First word, first tooth, first solid food. As moms we anticipate those. I can’t believe there will be a first hospitalization for my little big girl.

On Labor Day Tuesday, she woke up, rather lazily. She took a few minutes tossing and turning around the bed. We thought it was just one of her new tricks. But when I touched her forehead it was hotter than the usual. True enough, her temp went almost 39 degrees celsius. We gave her paracetamol ad just vomitted it. We held our decision to proceed to the ER until after lunch, when we gave her another dose if medicine and spat them all out. She was uneasy, sweating, cranky, and crying.

We were sent home so we could just monitor. But at 10.30pm, when she’s about to take another dose, she was shivering. That moment, we decided to head back to the hospital, nevermind the pambahay clothes. Her temp went as high as 40. Good thing there was no convulsion, bad thing because depite the meds, hydration, nonstop breastfeeding, and attempts to give her food she’d take, our efforts weren’t enough. We had to check in at the hospital.

It was almost midnight. We weren’t aware of the hospital policy that no guardian is allowed while IVs are put, so imagine our worry leaving Aria to the nurse and doctors. If we were worried, more so my mom, who can’t go an inch behind the door where our poor baby was shouting, crying helplessly. I told my husband that if they weren’t finish in five minutes, I’d bang the door open. Finally, what seemed like forever took less than five minutes, and as the door opened and I was getting Aria, she kept on shouting ‘goodbye!’ to the doctors. My poor little one. We warned them of her kalikutan and yes, it proved to be so according to the nurse.

We were assigned a private room and good thing my daughter has a health card! (thanks, daddy!). We watched Little Einsteins and it’s as if nothing happened; though weak, she imitates Leo the conductor, got ready for blast off and tapped the rhythm from slow to super fast!

Today, Wednesday, Aria pooed, peeed, and vomitted her meds in the morning. I pity her, she’s not the usual happy kulit baby I know. But we prayed, really hard, to take whatever pain out of her little body. Medicines were administered by doctors and nurses and boy did she hate all of them now! Just hearing their voices makes her cry. So hard.

The antibiotics we hope will cure whatever infection she might have gotten. I’m just so exhausted to think of things other than Aria. Schedules were forgotten and people may have been affected but this is out of my hands already. Both Aria and I just want to go home, cuddle, sing songs and play. Please offer a prayer for all the sick little kids all over the world. They don’t deserve to be sick at all.

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No one’s gonna hurt you, not while I’m around.

~ Touringkitty

The Milky Month of August

The past eleven months had been truly life-changing for me and my family. My husband and I took baby steps, literally, in taking care of a newborn. My mother, on the other hand, had to review how it is to take care of a newborn after a 25-year hiatus (back when my younger sister was the baby then).

But what made these months extra special is that I’ve lasted this long exclusively breastfeeding my firstborn. Yes, exclusive, not a single grain of formula milk. And I am really proud!

Why? Because I wasn’t even breastfed for so long! Read my post here.

And this month, I wish to give credit to whom it’s due.

Family. Especially my husband. Choosing what to give your child must be the decision of both parents. Breastfeeding was both our choice. Luckily, I have a supportive husband hence I was able to give up my work and focus on taking care of our newborn, especially in the first months of life. My mom (who didn’t breastfed my sister at all) was very much supportive. Doubtful, sometimes, but supporting and encouraging me, still. And she gives my daughter my expressed milk when I am working!

Friends. Most especially to those who were also formula-feeding and yet encouraged me to breastfeed. I’d write super long messages to these friends and they’d give me endless tips and encouraging words. Nobody told me to stop and supplement.

Internet. I love technology, especially when it’s put to good and sensible use. The resources online are now limitless. Blogs about breastfeeding helped me a lot, especially this. I was able to share my experiences as well through this blog, which, by the way, celebrated its first year last July 20! Hooray for Touringkitty!

Online friends. Especially La Leche League Manila, Newlywedsatwork Yahoogroup, and Twitter friends. They really are inspirations to me. Some of them I haven’t met in person but they are really accommodating when I have questions.

For fellow mommies who told me I was lucky I was able to successfully breastfeed, well, maybe I really am. But be assured that if you were able to breastfeed even for a day, your children are lucky, too, they have loving parents like you. I just wished you asked me first before you gave up. Or maybe you asked the wrong person that’s why you weren’t successful when you should have been.  *wink wink*

Whoever will read this blog and is nursing/planning to nurse/know someone who nurse, I would like to offer whatever knowledge I can share regarding breastfeeding if you need. And I can help hook you up to the real experts – the breastfeeding counselors – to be able to successfully breastfeed.

Happy World Breastfeeding Month!

 

~ Touringkitty

The Doctor is Late

THE DOCTOR IS LATE should be the signage on her clinic door!

Her clinic is 8-10 AM but she arrives at 11! Wow. Happened to me in those two times I made an appointment with my new doctor. I panicked the first time because I didn’t leave pumped milk for my baby because I was first on the appointment list anyway and the clinic was less than a kilometer away from home. Turned out I waited for two hours so imagine how I felt. Baby might cry of hunger, might be looking for me, etc.

The reason for her being late: it was raining. So what?!

I heard a story from another patient. This patient arrived at 10.30 AM because she is so used to the doctor’s late arrival. But the nursing attendant said the doctor left already at 9 AM! The poor patient had to reschedule her doctor’s appointment again.

It’s not only with my doctor, but also of my baby’s pedia. Her clinic is 10 AM-12 PM and she has an afternoon schedule as well, but I always go in the morning after baby’s morning nap, or during naptime when she gets to snooze inside the clinic. Still, I make the earliest appointment but then, with the long waiting time, baby is cranky already while getting the vaccine shot. Ending: loud squealing, squirming, red-eyed baby.

This morning, we arrived a little early and on the waiting area was a young boy who seemed to have high fever. Her grandma carried her and the mother was just seated. They tried to give him milk in a bottle (formula perhaps) and rubbed his head and face with wet towel. A few minutes after, the mother was carrying her son out of the clinic, shouting his name, and rushed to the nearby hospital. Apparently the kid was having convulsions. Or something else. My baby and I stepped outside because I got one bored baby.

Poor kid. They could have brought him directly to the emergency room of the hospital across the street and not wait for the pedia, who arrived at 11 AM. Aria and I were there since 9.45 AM. She slept as soon as we reached home and almost missed lunch.

We all have appointments, right? It’s no fair that these medical professionals are always late for clinic appointments and charge sky high professional fees for two minutes of talking to one patient who waited for hours, who travelled hours to reach the clinic, and who left their babies or bring with them.

How’s your experience with your doctor? Do they come late or early?

Wear my baby I shall

It was a Sunny Saturday and we’re off to Starbucks Bonifacio Global City for a Babywearing Meet.

I encouraged my hubby to bring me there because we have a ring sling and we don’t know how to use it. So, even if it’s super out of our way and we don’t have a car, we took a cab and took that road less traveled.

Babywearing is using cloth or a similar material that you wrap around your body so mommies won’t have that hard a time carrying their babies. It’s a lifesaver indeed.

The meeting was organized by some members of the yahoogroup I belong to: Newlyweds At Work. It’s a group wherein “graduates” of wedding planning from the Weddings At Work group exchange newlywed stories, mommy stuff, and other chika.

I have the ring sling from Next 9. Bought this at SM Mall of Asia and this was the only print available:

Aria at three months. The saleslady really didn't know how to thread so we were really nervous. But she slept in there anyway.

 

But because of our lack of knowledge in using (and fear of using it), it ended up like this:

Whose idea? You guessed it right -- Nonna's 🙂

During the Babywear Meet, we were introduced to a bajillion types of slings and carriers and were taught how to use it. The most important with the ring sling is the threading:

We're doing it right this time, baby
Ms. Abbie trying to put the malikot girl in her sling. On the background is Ms. Benz, the brains behind W@W and N@W

Finally, after that hour and a half of demo and talk, I was babywearing Aria as we strolled Bonifacio High Street! She even slept while we’re browsing books at Fully Booked.

The sling is duyan no more!

The sling is a good alternative to strollers. Had I mastered using this, I would not have De Quervain’s anymore.

It was an enjoyable talk with the mommies and their babies. I really hope it would have a part two!

Happy Babywearing, everyone!

~ Touringkitty

PT/OT

I never though just carrying a baby would send me to rehab.

To the Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine unit of San Juan De Dios Hospital, I mean!

And my, I have never seen that many a people in a rehab facility on a Monday morning! Mostly old folks were there who are recovering from stroke and had to undergo therapy, both PT and OT – Physical Therapy for their weakened bodies and Occupational Therapy for their simple motor and cognitive skills to get back to shape.

The patients, along with their relatives or personal nurses, were assisted by cheerful physical therapists, who would greet patients with a big smile and shouting at the top of their lungs.

For the PT, they used gym equipment. I didn’t know they now use Wii for therapy! I’d want to try it, but it’s not part of my session.

The OT was amazing. I didn’t know simple motor skills like pinning sipit or buttoning clothes and zippers can equal to therapy. There was this guy who injured his hand because of riding the motorcycle. So he was asked to take out coins from a clay using only one hand. And an old man who was answering a questionnaire to build back his cognition after a stroke.

I have De Quervain syndrome, or Radial styloid tenosynovitis . In simpler terms, it’s called washerwoman’s sprain, or mommy thumb. It is tendinosis or chronic injury of the tendons.

My right thumb is painful when I stretch it. This started when Aria is starting to get heavy and really malikot when I’m carrying her. My mom, who helps me out in taking care of Aria during the day, has a more serious case of De Quervain’s because aside from carrying baby, she also does other stuff like washing clothes and dishes.

My treatment goes like this:

1. Paraffin treatment: Hands are dipped in uber-hot paraffin wax. I asked if I could just melt candles and do it at home. Of course, they don’t allow it. Salon paraffin also is not an acceptable treatment.

Hospital paraffin treatment. Not your ordinary salon paraffin treatment.

2. TENS (Transcutaneous Electrial Nerve Stimulation): Electricity runneth over your wrists. I don’t think this is powerful enough to cause electric shock.

A TENS unit. From Wikipedia

3. Therapeutic Ultrasound: where a cold gel is applied, just the same as the pregnant ultrasound. The energy is absorbed by the connective tissues.

4. Stretching. Certain stretches were made after the treatment and recommended to do even at home. These stretches were meant to relax the tense nerves but should be done properly.

Another warning is for those who use the cellphone too much. I found out that this condition is also called “Blackberry thumb!” So for those who love texting, better not overdo it. It might send you to your nearest rehab. I tell you, PT/OT is really expensive!

My right thumb is feeling a lot better. I cannot take any medicine since I’m breastfeeding, hence, I was recommended to do the therapy. I have four sessions left and I hope the pain would soon be all gone.

~ Touringkitty