Number 2?

Yes, I am constantly being thrown the question of having a second child now and again. 

People were more interested to ask this question as opposed to asking how I was coping or how my baby was progressing / recent developments.

What's wrong with me having one child for now? 

As if having ONE child is a sign that I'm a selfish mother ... that I don't wish to conceive another.

At times, I just want to be mean and ask them back these questions:

Would you like to conceive for me?

Carry the baby the entire 9 months for me?

Deliver the baby for me, be it SVD or C-Sec?

Endure the 40-day or 100-days confinement period for me?

Care for the new baby AND at the same time, my Lil' Rainbow for me?

Have sleepless nights as baby transitions from the womb into the world and have difficulty sleeping?

Breastfeed baby and suffer cracked nipples for me?

Suffer baby blues for me?

I can list out several other questions and am soooo interested to know how they answer!

Ok, I'm not THAT mean ... I won't ask those questions despite me having the urge to do so and mentally asking them and calming myself down at the same time! 

In turn, I'd just smile and say, "No plans yet."

THEN when you thought it would end there ... they'll go, "But WHY? You're not getting any younger" or "She needs a younger sibling to play with" or "At least you need 2 kids so that it won't get lonely when they grow up" bla bla bla bla bla bla!!!!!!

They have NO idea ... 

That I'm scared ... 

Of getting pregnant again and delivering a second baby ... 

It hurts, really does. 

Every step of the first delivery is still fresh in my mind and it seems so recent, though it has been almost 17 months ago.

But some people just can't empathize and even compared me with other mothers who have more than one child. 

Let me be, please, for now. 

It's my body and it is me who has to endure it ... not you ... 

I'm SICK of the question ... 

I either just smile and not say a word or avoid the question entirely (change subject).

When the time comes for me to get pregnant the second time, it will come and I shall leave that to God the Almighty.

It is MY second child so let me do things MY way ... 

If I happen to conceive, it's God's will and I shall accept it wholeheartedly.

Mothers Need Pampering Too!

Lil' Rainbow will turn 17 months old soon am I'm proud to say that I still bf her ... Though she REALLY tends to cling on for hours, especially during afternoon naps and wakes up every 2 hours at night .... Eek! 

Find myself having body aches from lying on one side too long and the fact that she tugs at times when she's dozing off or trying to get comfortable.

I had a super duper headache last weekend and could barely open my eyes. 

I literally had to lie down and sleep it off after downing 2 pills. 

Lil' Rainbow was such a darling as she seemed to understand that I was in pain. 

She visited me in the room from time to time, standing by the bedside and called out for me. 

When I looked at her, she smiled and played with her toy, not once climbing onto the bed and wanting to disturb me. 

I had no energy to even sit and kept apologizing to her. 

She went her merry way to find Daddy to play with.

It was the first time ever I've experienced such pain.

I decided to get a traditional massage. 

I was told that since I lay on one side too long, it affected my womb and true enough, when my tummy was massaged, I could feel a slight pain on the left-side. 

She applied subtle pressures at first and slowly worked her way around my tummy. 

After awhile, walla! No more pain!

She told me to rotate sides when I bf and not stay on one position for too long. 

Moreover, since it has been quite some time that I had actually gone for a massage, she told me to get at least monthly massages so that I feel better since I've already developed a severe headache.

For me, getting a full body massage is my way of being pampered and I'm a happy mother already!

Breastpump: Manual vs Electronic

Lil' princess is 14 months old now and she's still breastfeeding ... yeay!

I also need to top-up with formula as I don't pump enough at work.

I make it up to her as I would bf her in the evenings when I'm home and  when she occasionally wakes up in the night ... 

Yes, she still manages to 'climb' into our bed! :)

I'm thankful that the nursing room at work can accommodate 4 people at any one time. 

They have installed proper curtains in the room for more privacy, comfortable sofas and of course, a small fridge for you to store your milk.

I can go there anytime I want, except during lunchtime, as this would be the peak hour for all moms to rush their pumping session.

I know of one mother who has lunch AND pumps at the same time ... she'll only have biscuits or bread for lunch as it would be easier for her to manage the food and pump.

I know of one or two mothers who use the manual pump. 

I do pity them as they take quite a long time to complete their pumping session. 

They would ask me if it's better to use single or double pump, I proposed to them that double pump is faster.

My Medela Swing is handy for me as I use recyclable battery and it is small but I can only pump one breast at a time so it's not quite efficient. 

I am quite the stubborn one as hubby wanted to buy me the double pump but at that point of time when I was still on maternity leave and bf on demand, I said that it wasn't necessary...

If hubby is reading this entry, he'll surely say, told-you-so. :D

Anyhoo, yes, manual pumps are time consuming and for single pumps, suggest you get the double pump if you are a working mom ...