Triplet cubbies 1st reunion dinner

2011 Feb 2nd, 年三十

This is cubbies very 1st reunion dinner. They are still too young to be excited, but cubby-angel and cubby-daddy are busy thinking and planning how to transport them & what items to bring to let them feel comfortable during dinner time.

Just like usual, we will be having reunion dinner with the LEE's relatives. Lucky thing, the dinner is held at one of relative's house.

We had packed extra clothings, diapers, muslin clothes, whole tin of milk powder, milk bottles, hot & cool water and not forgetting a single bed mattress.

No regret in bringing the mattress along, cos cubbies could get to nap whenever they felt tired. They also get to free their hands and legs, stretching themselves before the next adult pick them up again.

The adults enjoyed these 3 additions.

As for the cubbies, they enjoyed the crowd and most of all, they got lots of carrying and playing.

Reunion ended bout 11+. Cubbies were tired and fell asleep on the way back home.

However, they got excited again once they arrived at home. May be, they understand the Chinese Custom of staying up late on the New Year's Eve. They stayed up till almost 3am... *yawn yawn* for the cubby-daddy and cubby-angel.

Feeding Preemie

4th Oct 2010 

Today is my pregnancy EDD, which means cubbies r officially 40 weeks.

Cubbies are born premature at 32 weeks. although they are not micro-preemie, they r still consider preemie with low birth weight of 1.8kg (Hung), 1.6kg (Syuen) and 1.1kg (Juin).
There are many new learning for parents of preemie. This time I'll share on Feeding!

Feeding a full-term baby is so much differ fr a preemie. I once took for granted (n i think most ppl hv this same thought too) that all babies r born wit d capabilities to eat/suck. 
What we found out during cubbies stay in NICU is tat we need to teach preemie to suckle!

1) TUBE FEEDING
During d 1st few days of stay in NICU, cubbies r fed using tube where d tube r inserted from his mouth into d stomach. D first sight of d tube make me tears as they r so tiny n yet needed to insert d tube. So, our first feeding lesson in NICU is to learn how to feed them using d tube.

2) SYRINGE FEEDING
We introduced syringe feeding to stimulate the baby's sucking action.  We had to control or fingers when pressing & releasing the breastmilk into bb's mouth while encouraging bb to lick & suckle. 

3) CUP FEEDING
When Hung is ready to learn sucking, he was first introduce sipping fr cup. Till now,i m still very raw to cup feeding,i'll end up pouring all out instead of feeding.

4) SUCKING
Hung did not know how to suckle fr breast. Hence, I was taught how to give him cheek massage, lips massage and tongue massage to stimulate his sucking movement. It seems that bb learns sucking movement in mummy's womb during week 33. But Hung was born at 32 weeks, hence there's a need to give him time to develop the ability to suck.

5) SWALLOW
Then we need to teach Hung how to swallow. Even during cup feeding, Hung will tends to keep all milk in his mouth without swallowing.

6) SUCK & SWALLOW & BREATHE
When Hung had mastered d sucking & swallowing skill, he needs to be stimulate to perform both d action n synchronize wit breathing. What a tough process for just a simple action of sucking milk.

I still remember there's once when i was BF Hung, suddenly his face turned blue. Since we're reminded on this, I quickly unlatch him fr d breast and gave him few slaps on his feet to wake him up. He was fine after that.

Preemie r known that they hv the tendency to forget breathing, regardless it's feeding, crying or even laughing. Even till now,we still need to b observant on d changes in bb face during feeding, to ensure bb remembers to breathe & swallow.

BreastFeeding the Cubbies

2nd Sept 2010

Many ppl had asked me this question during pregnancy 'will u b breastfeeding?? Won't u consider formula?? Not everyone has milk supply, esp for 3, u need to hv other option'

My answers to all those questions was always 'YES, breastfeeding for all 3, believe in supply n demand...believe tat since god has given me three cubbies, he must also give me the ability to feed 3'.

Breastfeeding indeed u need lots of support from family n friends, esp your closest hubby. Hubby once asked do we need to buy some formula just 'in case', my response was 'if we had d thoughts of in case, then definitely we won't b persistence in BF'. Hence, i rejected d idea of getting formula in advance. Thanks my dear for understanding & respect my opinion.

Still remember during d first few days after delivery, i kept pumping n pumping, but only a few pathetic drops of colostrum appear. By the time it is deliver to NICU, d colostrum had all dried up (looking just like birdnest).

However, thanks for encouragements fr hubby and advice fr my sis & dear friend feei chyi. They kept encouraged me to continue n answering to all my BF questions.

Only on day 4 afternoon, the first droplet of milk appear. We were so happy with our persistent.

Now, i'm capable of producing sufficient milk for 3 cubbies ^.^