How I survived the confinement month.

mmm nap time, my favourite time of the day!

It’s taken me almost a week to put up this post because I just haven’t had the time to sit at my Mac at all. I can’t use the iPad because both boys will want it and fight over it, and I swear my eyesight is getting worse with me trying to do everything using the iPhone. Most days I feel as if I’m in over my head with all the scurrying around all the time.

Back to the topic of confinement. I don’t come from the most traditional of families – in fact, my mother herself said that after she had me, once she was able to at the hospital she was up and taking a shower! Anyhow, this is the last month of my life summed up:

Week 1

• I’m feeling a lot weaker than previous births even though I was on my feet a lot faster after the actual delivery. I guess that’s because I didn’t have any epidural this time, so my legs weren’t all wobbly. The hubby asked why I seemed to get worse after a few days, and I think it was because in the hospital i hardly had to move about, and certainly didn’t have to run/pick up/etc after the boys. He attempts to organise lunch at Gardens by the Bay less than a week after delivery but I think he’s crazy. As it is I’m still waddling around!
• Oh man, it’s been so hot! Between the blistering heat, the binder or corset, the copious amounts of ginger and the dried dates tea, I’m constantly sweating. Thank goodness I can still shower and sleep in air con comfort at night, and my massage lady says I haven’t got any water retention or wind (but my legs are really really tired). Phew!
• So glad my MIL is around, we definitely need as many pairs of hands as possible.
• Pig’s trotters, mmmm. It’s certainly an acquired taste.
• Abacus has been rather whiney of late. I hope it doesn’t last long.
• I’ve been having a cough since before the birth, and the dried longan red date tea makes my throat even more itchy. Ugh.

Week 2

• Still damn hot. And it can’t just be me that’s feeling so warm all the time.
• I’m surprised by how tired I feel so quickly! Maybe it’s also the lethargy from staying at home all day. Or maybe I’m just tired from watching the boys bouncing off the walls.
• The girl doesn’t nap easily, but I know it is early days yet. I hope this does not mean another year of rocking to sleep. The first week she’s a bit fretful at night, but by the 2nd week she starts to sleep better at night. I hope she will continue to do so!
• Am I gassy because all the ginger is expelling it or is the ginger giving me gas?
• The boys are getting so bored at home. Poor them! Poor me…
• Still kind of waddling.

Week 3

• Still hot. Screw it, I’m drinking my plain water with a slight dash of cold-ish water.
• Pig’s trotters again. Yummm!
• Not so hot on the ang zhao (red glutinous rice wine) stuff though.
• I’m surprised that I haven’t induced IBS or turned yellow with this much ginger. I wonder how much ginger one can possibly eat??
• I take the boys out on a walk to Everton Park to try and find Grin Affair. I push Scout on the pram and the boys ride their bicycle. Within the hour (or less) a group of oldies hanging out by a hardware shop ask if all 3 are mine, proclaim 2 boys 1 girl good, ask me if I have any help, how old Scout is… Then at Grin Affair an Aunty is impressed I’m handling all 3, and at the pedestrian crossing outside our estate another lady (who looks my age) just asks if I have a helper. The nurse from the clinic below my house is waiting for her bus home and when we pass she asks me how old Scout is and seems impressed I have 3. And then a neighbour (whom I recognise) asks how old is Scout, and says something like “2 boys, 1 girl, nice!”, to which I reply “A handful!”. I was amused all this happened within a short walk! Seems like people are feeling particularly friendly. Or find it curious I’m out with 3? Whatever it is, it’s the most I’ve spoken to anyone in WEEKS.

Week 4

• Is it me or is the weather just so humid??
• I think the boys are going slightly nuts from staying at home so much.
• Or maybe the dried longan red date tea is making me gassy.
• Scout is still not sleeping well during the day, but quite good at night, so I’m just thankful for that! Abacus was still waking up for milk before I had Scout, so the interrupted sleep is not affecting me a lot.
• MIL announces that the dried longan red date tea is finished. Does that mean I can start taking cold drinks now? Pass me an ice cold Coke, somebody!
• Abacus is still whiney. I think it’s the terrible twos full on.
• MIL announces she’s thinking of staying with us another 2 weeks to help us out. Yippee! We could certainly use the extra pair of hands around the house.
• I’ve been busy making arrangements for the full month parties and it’s nice to be doing something other than just entertaining the kids the whole day.

Now that the month is over, it doesn’t really feel any different, apart from (much) less ginger. I think the best part is that I can go out without having to answer questions about what in doing “out” of the house.

For those who are planning their confinement, I recently came across an interesting article about confinement and the Myths of Confinement (which also compare the confinement traditions of the various ethnic groups), and an impressive DIY confinement menu which gives suggestions of what to cook each and every day and tells you when you can eat what (like Dom and Yomeishu only after the first 2 weeks). Enjoy!