My second postpartum.

 POV : You are on maternity leave with your second baby, but it also means you get another maternity leave with your firstborn. 🥹

"Mom can do wonders, you can do it"

Day 1 (15 May)

After fasting for 26 hours, it’s finally my turn for C-section in the middle of the night. According to the machine, I do have contractions going on, but maybe my pain threshold is high, so I hardly feel my contractions. (yikes) I still remember there’s a mini discomfort and pelvic expansion for the past 26 hours. Here’s my rating for childbirth pain:

-contraction 0/10

-checking opening 0/10

-urinary catheter 0/10

-suture 0/10

-epidural 2/10

-placenta removal 2/10

-iv branula 1/10 (MO poor skill ft multiple try error)

-post surgery pain 7/10

After surgery, I was escorted to the recovery hall for a good 2 hours to make sure the epidural effect is reducing and I’m able to move my toes. Once I reached my first class ward (HAHAH), my baby was already in the room waiting for me. She was tightly and comfortably swaddled and fast asleep.

The hospital is under renovation, thus this is the best they have for now. Aircon ftw.

After 4 hours of birth, she cried for milk, and I tried direct latch. I have milk! Lol. But I’m a newbie in direct breastfeeding, and at the same time, I really want to try this breastfeeding, although it hurts!!! My nipples are crazy sensitive ok. 

My breast feeding is kinda hourly and baby poop meconium right after each feeding. With my post-surgery state, I can hardly move, but thankful to the night shift nurses who help me! 

By morning, the doctors came ward round and checked on my baby and me. I was advised to have my first walk to the bathroom, my tummy loose like crazy, and I can feel my belly skin sagging and pulling downwards. I have to support my sagging belly fat to walk.

Honestly, I do not have such pain/sagging in my previous childbirth k. I remember everyone asked me to walk slowly back then, but now only I can relate, as I can’t even walk properly. 

Spend my whole day occupied with feeding my baby. Sitting up is painful AF.

Day 2 (16 May)

The second night came, and Isabelle cried hourly! I was stress up with my bloated boobs. Huge hard boobs but seems like no milk & baby probably was hungry.

Mr.hubby arrived JB at 10:30am, visiting hour was 12pm. 

After 2 sleepless nights, I’m desperate to be discharged. I need to at least rest my tummy! By now, it’s 36 hours post-surgery, and my nipples are bleeding. I’m traumatised by direct latch. 

Hubby was heartened seeing me so he went to buy enfalac A+ newborn milk. 

The specialist was concerned about my baby's jaundice, so a blood test took place. The result shows it was borderline high but not to the level that needed phototherapy. 

By 5pm, we are discharged.

Childbirth was free /zero money spent yay.

While waiting for hubby to help with the discharge procedure.

Heading home with crazy lots of medicine & supplements. Had my first warm bath at home because the hospital toilet is jialat.

First night at home, hubby, who just touched down from Shanghai, slept in another room with the baby for the whole night. I got to rest for the first time since I delivered!

Day 3 (17 May)

Woke up at 7am with Aelfred, my maid, took over taking care Isabelle from my hubby.

Today marked the day I started my confinement lol. The maid has cooked for me a balanced meal, herbal soup, and herbal drink. Today marks the day I can't drink plain water anymore. 

I spent whole day dealing with my swollen boobs. Bought a nipple cream (medela purelan 7g) that cost me RM60 and as for my backache Salonpas patch by online delivery ftw!

Severe backache due to the crazy position of breastfeeding and multiple sit-ups post-delivery deliver past 2 days.

By night time, hubby took care of newborn Isabelle in another room & I got my rest!

Checking out free samples from hospital.

Day 4 (18 May)

ON REPLAY

Woke up at 7am while my hubby went to bed at 7am! Hahaha opps. Let him experience a sleepless night while he still can!

Somebody told me tips for confinement at home with a toddler and newborn are to prepare a gift each day for the toddler, then he wouldn’t feel left out, or at least give mother a break. So I prepared a box of new toys (water gun, slime, playdoh, scooter, snail etc). The conclusion is that these tips don’t work for me because my toddler requests that I play with him instead. 

Today my hubby friend Kahwai came over for a staycation at our place, so mr hubby is a bit occupied. And around 4pm pastor& wife came to visit too. 

Day 5 (19 May)

Today we have nurses from the nearest clinic who came to visit in the morning. They came to check Isabelle and my surgical site. Isabelle appears to have Jaundice. So we were advised to visit the clinic this afternoon.

So hubby, kahwai & maid went to the clinic with Isabelle to check for her bilirubin level. While I rest at home with Aelfred!

Tonight I started my night look out for baby Isabelle.
2am pump milk.
3am feed the baby.
5am feed the baby.
7am maid takes over.
7am pump milk.

Day 6 (20 May)

This afternoon have to recheck Isabelle’s jaundice. So hubby and maid went to the clinic while I rested at home with Aelfred! Hehe

Day 7 (21 May)

Today, hubby finally got time to bring me to my workplace to report my maternity leave. Handing in the paperwork, work etc.

Day 8 (22 May)

Woke up to the news that water is finishing and there’s a major Johor pipe repair going on.

In the evening, we brought Aelfred to hunt for mineral/drinking water.. we didn’t get any lol. But we bought durian! 

Day 9 (23 May)

This morning water came back. *relieves*

In the evening, we brought Aelfred to the shopping mall for a short outing. Bought bread from the famous bakery! 

Day 10 (24 May)

Today my sister Joyce and her two sons came to visit. There were showers with gifts and cakes! 

Day 11 (25 May)

Today, my sister Joyce and her two sons came to visit again. They brought more essentials along after checking things I might need during this confinement. So glad to see they bought gift for Aelfred too! This way Aelfred won’t feel left out yo.

My mother-in-law arrived Johor around 3pm & hubby went to fetch her at the airport. 

Upon arriving at my house, my mother-in-law had a list of confinement rules for me. I find it pretty sweet, as I know in her view those rules are for my well-being. But slowly, I feel it’s overwhelming. Or postpartum depression started today??

She doesn’t let me shower! And she makes sure all my food has to be hot! I pity my maid who is really looking exhausted, warming up my food again ok. Mother-in-law claimed, “The food must be hot until you burn your tongue, only consider good.” crazy is it!

Day 12 (26 May)

Woke up and faced my mother-in-law's rules. She scolded me for touching water when I washed my hands. She pushed me away from the basin! I told her I touched water when I brush my teeth & I do need to wash my hands. She insists I just sanitise or use a wet wipe. 

Listening and respecting her way still. I took some time to accompany Aelfred to play toys that require me to sit on the floor, which then triggered my mil to scold me for sitting on the floor. When I questioned the reason, she firmly told me to stand up at that moment. She says she doesn’t know why she can’t sit on the floor, but it is what it is. Semok sai?

In the evening, I took an evening walk with Aelfred around my housing area. My mil had a big reaction watching me step out of the house. I told her that it’s not my first time to leave the house, I will need to leave the house to bring Isabelle for a check-up up too, right? Then she replies that it’s different: “If you can avoid going out, then avoid; bringing Isabelle to the clinic doesn’t count.” 

My very calm personality has attempted to leave my body many times, but I have mastered in self-control ok.

Day 13 (27 May)

Woke up at 7am to pass over Isabelle to mil to take over while I do my late pump-milk.

Mil suddenly came to me and said Isabelle slept halfway and cried in sleep/closed eyes. She claimed a ghost disturbed her. Mil asked me to pray for Isabelle. rolling mai eyes

To ease my maid's burden, I feed Aelfred lunch. My mil was surprised at the amount of rice and dishes I was feeding Aelfred. Well, if you know, Aelfred is always been borderline underweight since young. The main point is I asked Aelfred if he still wants to eat or if he is full. Aelfred says he is still hungry, but my mil told me to stop feeding anyway. Semok sai?

We managed to go for a late-night date at the café! 

Day 14 (28 May)

Woke up to my late milk-pump at 7am. I remember Isabelle was making a discomfort sound (either need burp/wanted to be held) but my mother in law insist that we shouldn’t carry Isabelle so much, so she decided to just play with Isabelle. My mil insists Isabelle just wanted to play/carry.

Couldn’t held any longer I told my mil “Isabelle is too young to play, she can’t even see clearly yet, can you help me to carry her, she's probably not comfortable right now” 

And behold Isabelle burps upon being held by mil. Yes that’s what baby wants dear mil 😑🤬

Oh thanks to Facebook crap video, my mil say she saw people saying “not to burp baby right after feeding it’s not good”. Wth

Mother-in-law hated breastmilk mou.

Also today my mother in law suggested we mix formula powder milk for Isabelle because she claimed that formula milk is better and more nutritious. I told her that I have too much breastmilk anyway. (Little did we know that formula milk powder causes my little Isabelle to be admitted to hospital few days later) fml

This mil really hated breastmilk or something. She says she used to have a lack of breastmilk and her children all drank formula which is better. WHAT? 

Day 15 (29 May)

Feed Isabelle 3am and 6am and I straight pass to my maid to take over at 7am. 

10am hubby drives Isabelle and me to the nearby clinic to follow up on Isabelle’s jaundice and my scar. Due to our concern why Isabelle seems to struggle pooping recently/bloated belly. The doctor claimed it’s a distended stomach, and advised referring us to the main hospital. 

That’s the first time I've sat in an ambulance. It’s like a limitless sports car ;

fast & Furious without seatbelt.

Reached the emergency department and got Isabelle admitted. Most of the doctors don’t understand why she needed to be referred/admit because she drink well, poop and pee well and sleep well. 

I try to take this admission to nicu kinda as a mini break for me. I haven’t rested well since I gave birth you see. 

Day 16 (30 May)

Even tho my newborn is not with me. I still have to wake up every 4 hours to express my breast milk ok. By now, imma oversupply breast milk. Isabelle was given IV saline & nil by mouth. So we decided to feed Aelfred my breast milk and surprisingly, he still loves it. He even requested for more milk recently. 

My mother-in-law is super against me feeding Aelfred my breastmilk.

She says my confinement food is heaty, which may cause my breastmilk to be very heaty for Aelfred. facepalm

Visiting hours for Isabelle at nICU were 12pm and 4:30pm. They put Isabelle on a tube from her mouth and started iv antibiotics. Her belly size was 40cm. 

I still remember my friends were saying that when their child got admitted for nicu/phototherapy for jaundice. They took the time to just breathe and chill. But it doesn’t work for me, I miss Isabelle so much that my milk supply decreases! The usual pump per session was 300ml, but now I only manage to get 150ml! 

Cafe session at Flower in the window.

Day 17 (31 May)

Woke up without my newborn, but no rest in pump milk sessions. 

4pm, hubby and I drive to the hospital to visit Isabelle. She looks calm and chill in the icu. I refill her diapers and manage to wipe her eyes and mouth a little. Her belly is obviously smaller, with a diameter 40cm and now 36cm. 

Cafe session at Chagee

Went home to feed Aelfred, and at 8pm hubby & I went to the indoor playground with Aelfred. It was great to see happy Aelfred.

Have to order food minimim RM30 at the indoor playground (fun house)

At night, I was craving Maggie soup, so I asked my maid to cook one for me. So it was a bowl of Maggie kimchi, vegetables, sausages & meatballs. Of course, this triggers my mil. She cursed and tsk at every spoon I took. It was supposed to be a happy cheat meal, but I feel so furious eating it because she keeps saying how terrible I’m for eating such during condiment. I really want to throw the whole Maggie bowl at her :) but I remember I’m a non-violent lady.

Day 18 (1 June)

Woke up and around 12pm hubby & me went to visit Isabelle. Her belly size has decreased to 34cm. She looks calm and comfortable by now. Took turn with hubby to pray for Isabelle. 

We managed to stop by a cafe for a drink.

Went home 6pm brought Aelfred to the park playground. He is the happiest boy. 

Cafe session at Alley & Daisy

Day 18

Day 19 (2 June)

The nurse from the nearby clinic came to visit. This is their second visit. I still remember when I delivered my first child, nurses would come visit one week straight (every day). Anyway, good news that my belly height is back to normal before birth already. So conclusion, pump breastmilk or direct latch is the same stimulation for vagina to contract.

Today, my maid cooked 3 types of curry and lontong for breakfast. My mother-in-law told me that because of the food, it’s better to discard all the breastmilk I expressed today to prevent Aelfred/Isabelle from consuming the curry/lontong through the breastmilk. I had been brainwashed so much recently, I really wanna give in. Started to doubt my breastmilk, but hubby to the rescue! Breastmilk mainly concern should be if you consume alcohol/certain medicine & food consume will not affect the quality also it’s scientifically proven. 

Cafe session at Miyakori.

Day 20 (3 June)

Morning woke up 8am for my late pump milk hehe. Then brought my mother-in-law to the market.  She uses the opportunity to tell me that I shouldn’t eat beef because cows work very hard in the field, so if I eat beef, my life will be difficult. Mil told me pig better than beef also. 

Also, I’m not allowed to kill mosquitoes/flies during my confinement, it will have bad karma. Astaghfirullahalazim. 

Today, drama is, I cut my own hair and Aelfred’s hair. We are both happy with our new haircut. Spent RM zero heheh. My hair at the length of my waist is now above my shoulder length, so much comfortable ok. But my mother-in-law says I’m not supposed to cut my hair because it’s like killing life. Wahseh, I’m just offending her in all the way, isn’t it? Then I googled it and it’s true that some believe not cutting hair protects the new mother from catching a cold or "wind-cold" and they want to focus on rest and recovery. But also Warmer climates where maintaining hygiene is important. 

After done nagging, life moves on with my pretty haircut whoots. 

After visiting Isabelle at the hospital, hubby and I went to a cafe for a good coffee and burnt cheese cake. Noms.

Cafe session at The founder.

In the evening, we brought the whole family for a 30-minute drive to another town for a walk. We headed to Adda height huge park, fed the tortoise and fish! Saw monkeys and pay RM5 to rent a bubble toy.

It was a good day still, but finally not a sunny day yo.

Day 21 (4 June)

Woke up at 7am for my late pump. I have too much breastmilk. I wanna donate! 

Today, my mother-in-law told me that her relatives advise her to extend my confinement up to 50 days. How come upgrade again sia. I wonder what she told the other relatives 🙃

Torture dies me. But imma a low-key also wasn’t confinement man. Every day I have to go hospital-a way also leaving the house yo 

Anyway, the good news today is that Isabelle can be discharged.

Morning, went to buy meat with hubby and Aelfred. Aelfred cutie independently fell asleep in, the back seat. 

Afternoon we visit Isabelle at the nICU. We manage to cafe Hop nearby the hospital. By late evening 6pm we bring baby Isabelle home! Yay. 

Aelfred's first genuine reaction is a smile on his face, and he was like “hooray, Isabelle is back, doctor gave back Isabelle already, Isabelle is stronger now Rawrr” so cute! I didn't even know he knew the word “hooray.”

Anyway, motherhood of two begins again. Back to a sleepless night. 

A pic of lil Isabelle before discharge.

Day 22 (5 June)

Today only we started tummy time for Isabelle. She can already lift up her head! In the evening,  we brought Aelfred to buy durian and play with a free display toy at Ninso Shop (rm2.40) 

Day 23 (6 June)

Today Isabelle tummy time & she enjoy her tummy time! We started probiotics for Isabelle too. Evening, hubby and me brought Aelfred to the park playground. 

Morning pump.

Day 24 (7 June)

In the evening,the we went cafe hopping with Aelfred! It's the tiny lake. I thought it should change name to not-so-tiny pond tho. Then we headed to the mall to buy groceries. Then we had our first dinner for 3 at Wanri Taiwan restaurant. Aelfred loves their noodles.

Little tiny lake with Aelfred and hubby.

Day 25 (8 June)

Selamat Hari Raya Haji 2025

Morning drive with Aelfred and the maid to the morning wet market. It's Raya haji so many good food stall is closed. Today Nic’s friend Kahwai came for a staycation.

Day 25.

Day 26 (9 June) 

I usually woke up 2am for midnight pump milk but today I woke up 3am+, swollen boobs Mou. I guess I was tired, plus Aelfred slept at 12am! 

Anyway woke up at 8:45am for my second milk pump of the day. Today, hubby is going to Kelantan to take a soil sample for his China research. 

The first night was with just me, Aelfred and Isabelle. 

Morning reading.

Day 27 (10 June)

"Mom can do wonders, you can do it"
Although I get to nap with my elder child, I still feel kind of exhausted. Nic used to give me lots of examples of how other mothers can manage so many children while doing house chores to encourage me, but I have lots of examples of mothers who can't. I am the weak.

Day 28 (11 June)

My postpartum confinement 24/7 sweating mou. Today Little Isabelle is having flu and cough symptoms. Too smol for infection ;(

Day 29 (12 June)

Blessing of the morning pump.

Day 30 (13 June)

Getting used to such a routine:

2am woke up for the midnight pump, 
5am feed Isabelle,
7am woke up for morning pump,
8am back to sleep woth Aelfred.

10am woke up with Aelfred.
12pm pump milk,
3pm nap with aelfred.
6pm pump milk,
10pm pump milk.

11pm sleep.

Day 31 (14 June)

Hubby managed to come back from Kelantan today and Today Isabelle is one month old. We did shave the hair at home with just the maid and me-kinda chaotic, but a good experience. 

To My Daughter,

You are not a princess in a fairy tale —

You are something far greater.

The world may not always be kind.

It won’t always be fair.

It will challenge you, test you,

And at times, it may try to break you.

But my sweet girl, you are not made of glass.

You are fire and heart,

Soft but unshakable,

Gentle but fierce.

Grow wise. Be kind. Stay strong.
And remember — even when the world is harsh,
You are more than ready for it.

Thankyou for reading. 

Till then xx