Ante-nataled...

We finally completed our antenatal classes yesterday, with the last session on breast/bottle-feeding. The passion of the trainer, Mrs Wong Boh Boi, in breastfeeding is infectious. She also made breastfeeding look rather simple and fuss-free, though she did share some common problems that breastfeeding mums go through. She said that mothers should try to breastfeed for at least six months. That's what i plan to do as well - to be on total breastfeeding for the entire duration of my leave (which is about 6 months anyway). Well, that's what I hope to do... we'll have to 'play by ear' when the time comes:)

Well, back to the antenatal classes.. not sure if i explained it before but the impetus for attending such classes was mainly to 'educate' and ease Chee Meng into fatherhood, especially when he commenting that '8 months can walk already right?'. That's why i did not religiously take down notes unlike some other mummies at the class. Also, i am keen to let the confinement lady and my mum handle Bebe the way generations of women used to handle babies, without too much fuss and 'modern' SOPs/processes. Somehow i hold the belief that our obsession with being too clean and hygienic actually does more harm than good for children as it lowers their resistance and immunity. We grew up well using the traditional methods, didn't we? But this is just theory, i'm not sure if i will morph into a super-obsessive compulsive mummy when the time comes. I hope i won't!

In her classes, Mrs Wong told of how confinement nannies and maids do not clean/sterilise bottles the right way which could be harmful to the child. That i believe, coz of the materials that go into making all the silicon teats and plastic bottles. Let's see how i will actually convey it to the confinement lady and my mum, who will most probably clean/sterilise it based on what they have been doing all the while. Of course, Chee Meng (being the more kan-cheong one) will be rather anxious about the processes being done right coz of the danger of gastro-intestinal problems for Bebe if cleaning/sterilisation is not done properly.

Chee Meng was also concerned about the possibility of me getting post-natal blues coz he heard quite a lot of cases and was worried about it. I certainly hope i won't be a victim and my gut tells me that i probably won't coz i'm usually not too hung up over things and i think i will get adequate help at least for the first few months. To come to think about it, i think i need to worry if Chee Meng will get his version of post-natal blues:) or even panda-eye blues, coz he is quite a light sleeper and i'm sure he will be the one nudging me to attend to Bebe for his night feeds...

Well, I'm officially into my 32 weeks of pregnancy (8 months!!) and it is another 8 weeks to go before Bebe is due to arrive. Time really flies and I am really grateful for all the love and attention that have been showered on me since the beginning of the journey.

I feel so lucky and loved.