Post Natal Review III

Details:

Who: A very down to earth  free lancer recommended by my prenatal yoga instructor
Duration: 5 days, 1 hr per session
Charges: SGD 300 for 5 Sessions (or SGD 400 for 7 Sessions)
Services: 6 Massage sessions, 1 massage for baby.
Complimentary items: Baby Telon oil, ginger cream and corset
Inch loss on tummy:  hovering between 30 to 31  =( [initial 34 to 31.5 (from the first massage after giving birth to yr)]
Overall Weight loss: 55 kg to 53 kg
[initial 59 kg to 55 kg (from the first massage)]


=)

1. Good pressure. Knows all the critical points.
2. Excellent binding skills. Follow the traditional binding in which you are being rolled like a mummy with a corset and then a long cloth, tightened with the safety pin.
3. Very hygienic - change the cloth daily. 
4. Knows when to chat and when not to.
5. massage with relaxing music (yes she brought along her portable mini mp3 player!)
6. Punctual and no nonsense. Will sms you if late and will stick to the schedule.

=(

1. once date and timing fixed, very hard to change as she is always fully booked. 
2. cream and oil not spicy enough (but I am still fine with her oil)
3. as she collects the cloth and corset daily, you will have to keep them in a bag after you use it on the last day. She will come and collect from you during the weekends or other days. (not a big issue to me though)

If only I can have the sauna, all towels provided (from the last post natal massage), together with her experience massaging techniques and her systematic approach, then it would be a very good and comprehensive post natal massage. But I think it is very hard to get best of everything. Well, I don't mind asking her to do ad-hoc massaging for me once in a while if her schedule permits to relieve my achy muscles. =}


My previous massage review listings:

Post Natal Massage Review II

Details:

Who: A happy-go-lucky freelancer recommended by one of the mummies in Facebook
Duration: 7 days, 1 hr 30 mins per session
Charges: SGD 500 for 7 Sessions
Services: 7 Massage and 6 sauna sessions, 1 ear candling (on the last day) for mummy and 1 massage for baby.
Inch loss on tummy: 34 to 31.5 (still a far cry from my original 27.........=\ , I should have done it earlier for better results but I still feel some pain around csect area so I wait till week 6)
Overall Weight loss: 59 kg to 55 kg (also due to breastfeeding)

=)

1. The sauna is really new to me - I mean, she creates her own "steamed bath" by wrapping me in many towels with a pail of hot water underneath the chair. I felt refreshed after the steaming. Can't imagine myself sweating like crazy within 20 mins !
2. Pressure on back is good for me, able to relieve my achy joints.
3. Loves her own blend of essential oil - spicy yet not too prickly on my skin. can help burn my fats... lol
4. She bring her own towels, chair and pail so I don't have to prepare. Just need to have pillow and mattress. 

=(

1. Text on her mobile while massaging areas where she can manage with one hand (hinted her at some point and she tones down but still continue periodically)
2. I feel that her binding skills is not as good as my previous therapist. She only knows how to use single strings instead of double strings binding. 
3. Not very punctual, there was once she was late by 2 hours. (other times late by 10 - 15 mins, i am ok since I am struggling with my baby too.)
4. yak yak yak...ok she is quite chatty, can be quite annoying when you are tired and wanna sleep. But ok, at least starts only from the 2nd half of the massage. Then again, you learn something too.

As compared to my last post natal massage, this seems to be more value for money. However, if one wants to have the binder then perhaps have to ask her if she has a new one as she uses her own set and only lend you for the 6 days of massage. The last day you have to go without the binder unless you have one yourself. For me, I have one from the previous massage, so I got her to bind for me. 

Last day of confinement, it's time to slog again......

So here I go again: Daily Routine

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

What has changed since being mummy ......

How's motherhood for me till now:

General

1. I think I have mellowed 
2. everything seems yx first
3. no girly nights
4. no more adventurous stuff 
5. no super long travelling
6. bathe faster now, used to take at least 20 mins now 10 mins done!
7. tend to look more at kids section now instead of women's section 

Body

1. wider hips
2. sweat more often
3. flabby, bulgy tummy
4. more hair dropping
5. toner arms and biceps (thanks to yx =| )
6. slightly bigger boobs (ya, slightly only =\ )
7. linea nigra lightens but not disappear =\
8. still eat quite alot, tends to get hungry at night (esp after expressing milk)
9. tend to get into mood swings 

BUT what remain unchanged is : I still wanna look pretty !!!!

How ah? =|

Visit to Gynae

No, not that I have dragon baby but it's a follow up session on the aftermath of my c-section.

I stopped applying Lanakeloid E-cream after I saw that there are some redness (about a week later) but I continued Forsuderm - the antibiotic. It seemed to help but it doesn't really cure the middle portion as I can feel some tingling sensation when I pressed against it. Then again, there is no blood. The initial pus was already out and gone. Though the antibiotic cream somewhat worked, there is still some redness.

After some recommendation by an acquaintance and also reading several positive reviews from the forums, I went to see Dr Joycelyn Wong of ACJ Clinic at the end of February. My external infection was not fully cleared and she gave me 10 Clamovid 625 (amoxycillin [as trihydrate] 500mg and clavulanic acid [as potassium clavulanate]-125mg) pills (oral antibiotic) and a stronger cream:

Bactroban Mupirocin

She was very patient and assuring. Most importantly, she puts herself into the patient's shoes and address all concerns - be it major or minor - accordingly. I am also pleased that she is frank and forthright in her opinions (even though I may not be convinced yet) and share her experiences, or rather from a woman's perspective.

Actually I don't have to consult her again (for the 3rd time), but I am just kiasu and wanna make sure everything is really ok after 3 months+ of bandages, putting cream, cleaning with antiseptic lotion, ......you get the drift.

BUT I will still not be taking seafood at least for another 3 more months and will not exert too much around the abdominal area. So goodbye to my perfect size 8 for now.

Maternity Leave Ending soon

My maternity is going to end in about a month's time.
I dread the thought of going back to work cos I know I will miss yx.
So far, my mum can cope with her, hopefully everything goes well.
=|

Post Natal Massage Review

Yes,  I am really S-L-O-W.

I bet everyone has completed her post natal massage, I just completed it in 2nd week of Feb. I managed to silm down from 57 to 54 kg but my tummy is still quite flabby and bulgy like 5 months preggy? Although breastfeeding also helps in slimming, mine would take longer since I can't really exercise or exert too much due to my c-sect wound. I think I have to wait for another 3 more months before I can go for pilates or yoga.

Details:
Who: Therapist from Traditional & Holistic Post-Natal Centre
Duration: 7 days, 1 hr 15 mins per session
Charges: SGD 530 for 7 Sessions

=)

1. Extend massage for another 15 mins sometimes, not rushed.
2. Patient lady who understand your concerns and gives you advice accordingly.

=(

1. Application for Pilis is quite diluted and little.
2. Only 1 big hot stone (multiple hot stones would be better).

Professional yet certain areas she sometimes tend to 偷工减料 if she thinks you don't need it ? Pressure and techniques are good, can be better.

Postpartum depression and anxiety

I remembered I did a quiz in Dec to determine if I was on postpartum depression and I had no surprise.

This self-evaluation is based on the Edinburgh Post Natal Depression Scale, a test developed in 1987 to help practitioners determine whether a woman is suffering from postpartum depression (PPD) or anxiety. About 10 to 15 percent of women develop symptoms of depression or anxiety after having a baby. If you think you might be one of them, take this quiz and share the results with your healthcare provider.

Instructions: Answer the questions based on how you've felt in the past 7 days. 

Your results

Daily Routine

1. brush teeth/toilet
2. feed baby
3. eat breakfast
4. pump milk /wash bottles,pump etc
5. bathe baby
6. feed baby
7. playtime with baby
8. pump milk /wash bottles,pump etc
9. lunch
10. feed baby
11. nap
12. pump milk /wash bottles,pump etc
13. bathe
14. playtime with baby
15. clean baby
16. feed baby
17. dinner
18. feed baby
19. pump milk /wash bottles,pump etc
20. feed baby
21. rest & relax (subject to baby's temperament)
22. feed baby
23. pump milk /wash bottles,pump etc
24. sleep

Not to mention the in-between ah-ee-oh that I have to attend to. 

My "me" time is gone totally. My eyes look like panda - even Lancome eye cream doesn't help now. 

My arms and back are achy. My hands are coarse and dry. My neck is stiff. 

.........

Hair wash

Finally I can have a good hair wash at the salon after 1 whole month of waiting !

Imagine I wash my hair once a week using the herbal water (eeks!) and I am someone who needs to wash my hair everyday!

Perhaps I was too happy that I can finally wash my hair that I just bought the shampoo the lady recommended.

As it is deep cleansing, I think I shall use it sparingly. Well, if it turns out to be suitable, I can consider buying it again for my next confinement - that is if I am going for another one. Let's see how. =|

DOM Bénédictine

Not Document Object Model haha...but "Deo Optimo Maximo"-"For our best, greatest God"

I believe most of us drink DOM during confinement and I was wondering what does DOM means. Now I finally got to know.

Well, I am not a big fan of DOM but I still manage to finish one bottle in a month.

Super old DOM from mum

Super old - even the company who imported it ceased operations.

Dec 2011

Ups and downs in Dec 2011:

• Emotional turmoil after delivery
• 1 week later, father in law down with stroke attack, admitted to hospital, mother in law can't do confinement for me
• Engaged confinement lady in the last minute - thanks k. for the recommendation
• 1st 2 days with confinement lady was not too smooth due to some miscommunication
• pressed on for the sake of my baby 
• Gets better after the 4th day where she starts learning our habits and I started warming up to her
• CL cooks well, so I continue eating like a pig, to beef up myself so that I can breastfeed
• continue to pump milk like a cow
• hub was stressed - running back and forth - hospital, home and army camp for reservist
• I was still bleeding from my c-section wound
• at last hub can defer his reservist after producing gynae's letter
• Father in law stabilised after 2nd week, but still need to monitor his blood pressure and then go for physiotherapy
• Bleeding stopped but still feeling painful at the wound
• Things started getting better, mood was lifted during xmas
• Enjoying baby's presence - be it crying, pooing or blabbering 

2011 has been a fulfilling year and I had my best present - my daughter. 

Post Natal Massage

I have yet to go for my post natal massage as I just recovered from my C-section wound bleeding but I can still feel the pain around the area. =(

Guess I just gotta wait 2 month later (ie in Feb 2012) before I can have my massage. The lady mentioned at most 2 months before the massage lost its effectiveness. So now I just put on my abdominal support, at least my tummy doesn't sag so much.

I hope I am still on my way to being a hot mama. '__'