Nelson's activities at 8 months

Nelson is now 8 months old... yes the big 1 is almost nearing!!

At 8 months, Nelson has developed really well and is an extremely active baby. Sometimes I wonder if he gets tired from rolling over, kicking and playing? I even once asked my GP if my son is hyper active... and she said "Would you rather have a non active or active baby??".. That's a valid question and I would personally have an active kid as I know he's meant to be doing what he is doing.

Nelson loves to grab things, bangs them on the table and then chucks them on the floor... the satisfaction of hearin the sounds brings smile to his face!! That money cannot buy..

The biggest milestone is saying the words "Mama"... it brings tears of joy and melts my heart. The other word that I have been teaching him is "Mamam" which means "eat".. he can say this too, letting me know he's hungry!!

How adorable are children?? All these little things that they learn each day and communicate to you.. Nothing can take these precious moments away

Do first time mum spoils their babies too much???

Being a first time mum to a premie baby is already hard enough. Sometimes I wonder if I'm actually spoiling my baby or not. I often ponder...

I play alot with Nelson, read with him and even sing lullabies to him. Is this spoiling I wonder??

Before Nelson goes to sleep, I would sing to him.. his favourite songs - Twinkle, twinkle little star and Rock a Bye Baby... Sometimes I would turn on the iPod to his favourite album.. Mama Mia!!! Believe it or not my 8 month old son loves the sound track of Mama Mia.. especially "Dancing Queen".. Whenever I played this song, he would be silent as if engaging in the tune and lyrics..

When Nelson cries, I would give him a big cuddle and kiss and telling him everything is alright. Mummy's right here... is this spoiling??

Hmmm... I guess everyone has a different definition to the word "spoil". If giving him a cuddle when he cries, singing lullabies to him is spoiling.. then I would not know the definition of "settling a baby"...

Nelson's Milestone

Time really flies when you're enjoying spending your time being a mum to your baby. Nelson is now 8 months old and it seems it was only yesterday that he was born.

Sometimes I wonder what Nelson is thinking.... is he wondering if my Mummy and Daddy understand me??

Nelson is a very active baby boy. I wonder if he gets tired though... he plays non stop especially since he has mastered the art of "Rolling Over" at exactly 7 months old!!

His day will start waking up at around 7.30am every morning and watching ABC kids whilst holding his MagMag cup drinking his milk. Then its playtime...

Yes finally he takes a nap but not for long and I can finally sit down and relax before the next playtime comes.

Over the last 8 months, I have experienced the enjoyment of watching Nelson's development. From clutching his favourite rattle (Dino the dinosaur), grabbing all things that are around him, destroying our coffee table with his toys and rolling over. Oh and the largest leap is starting solid!! First taste of solid was Farex.. which he didn't like it at all and threw it on the carpet!!

But the best of all is watching and hearing him babbling in his own little language and smile at you... this are the best moments that cannot be taken away.

My Journal

Nelson at 5 months old

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Nelson's new found hobbies

Nelson at 6 months old

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Nelson at 7 months

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My daily life as a Mum

After all the things that have happened, I'm thankful everyday to be able to spend my time with my precious baby.



To everyone's surprise, I have taken motherhood really well as if it was my "hidden talent" within me.



As Nelson grows day by day, month by month, it's amazing to see the transformation from a premature baby to a 7 month old baby. He's now demanding alot of my attention and is a very active baby.



I know most people tells me to have tummy time with Nelson, but I just let it be. Nelson never used to like being on his tummy and would always cry. But at exactly 7 months, he rolled over!!

I was so excited and happy that I shed tears!!



Its amazing to see your child develop new skills every day. Nelson babbles alot in his own language of course and grabs hold of anything that is within his vicinity.

What is Necrotising Enterocolities (NEC)???

At 35 weeks (which was exactly 1 month after Nelson was born), Nelson was diagnosed with Necrotising Enterocolities. It was an extremely stressful situation and emotional as well to see my little baby extremely sick and his abdomen was swollen.

We were called by the hospital at 4.35am and immediately I knew something was wrong. As soon as we arrived in the hospital, I cried looking at my baby with an oxygen mask and swollen abdomen. Our paeditrican was already there and had arranged for an immediate transfer to the children's hospital. Nelson was immediately transported by NETS and as soon as we arrived in the Intensive Care, the doctors and surgeons were waiting.

On arrival at the children's hospital, Nelson was intubated and mechanically ventilated. The abdominal X-Rays confirmed the diagnosis of NEC.

The doctors were trying to explain to me what NEC is but I was oblivious to what they were telling me as I was too emotional to understand.

Nelson's condition deteoriated over the next 48 hours as he developed firther abdominal distension and dermal erythema. An emergency surgery to remove the infected intestines was immediately performed. The surgical team removed 20cm of small bowel which showed signs of "white necrosis" proximal to the ileo-carcal valve. An end-ileostomy was formed along with a mucous fitsula.

Nelson tolerated grading up his feeds well but struggled to gain weight due to high stoma losses. His ileostomy was therefore reversed and was uneventful.

Nelson is now a healthy baby as a result of the high level of care given by the doctors, surgeons and nurses at the hospital.

Nelson is selected for a case study by the doctors as he developed NEC quite later at the stage. This would be helful to other parents whose baby are suffering from NEC.

What is NEC???
A gastrointestinal disease that mostly affects premature infants, NEC involves infection and inflammation that causes destruction of the bowel (intestine) or part of the bowel. Although it affects only one in 2,000 to 4,000 births, or between 1% and 5% of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions, NEC is the most common and serious gastrointestinal disorder among hospitalized preterm infants.

NEC typically occurs within the first 2 weeks of life, usually after milk feeding has begun (at first, feedings are usually given through a tube that goes directly to the baby's stomach). About 10% of babies weighing less than 1,500 grams (3 lbs., 5 oz.) experience NEC. These premature infants have immature bowels, which are sensitive to changes in blood flow and prone to infection. They may have difficulty with blood and oxygen circulation and digestion, which increases their chances of developing NEC.

What Causes It?
The exact cause of NEC is unknown, but several theories exist. It is thought that the intestinal tissues of premature infants are weakened by too little oxygen or blood flow, and when feedings are started, the added stress of food moving through the intestine allows bacteria that are normally found in the intestine to invade and damage the wall of the intestinal tissues. The damage may affect only a short segment of the intestine, or it may progress quickly to involve a much larger portion.

The infant is unable to continue feedings and starts to appear ill if bacteria continues to spread through the wall of the intestines and sometimes into the bloodstream. He may also develop imbalances in the minerals in the blood. In severe cases of NEC, a hole (perforation) may develop in the intestine, allowing bacteria to leak into the abdomen and causing life-threatening infection (peritonitis). Because the infant's body systems are immature, even with quick treatment for NEC there may be serious complications.
Other factors seem to increase the risk of developing NEC. Some experts believe that the makeup of infant formula, the rate of delivery of the formula, or the immaturity of the mucous membranes in the intestines can cause NEC. (Babies who are fed breast milk can also develop NEC, but their risk is lower.) Another theory is that babies who have had difficult deliveries with lowered oxygen levels can develop NEC. When there is not enough oxygen, the body sends the available oxygen and blood to vital organs instead of the gastrointestinal tract, and NEC can result. Babies with an increased number of red blood cells (polycythemia) in the circulation also seem to be at higher risk for NEC. Too many red blood cells thicken the blood and hinder the transport of oxygen to the intestines.


Diagnosis and Treatment
The diagnosis of NEC is usually confirmed by the presence of an abnormal gas pattern as seen on an X-ray. This is indicated by a "bubbly" appearance of gas in the walls of the intestine, large veins of the liver, or the presence of air outside of the intestines in the abdominal cavity. A surgeon may insert a needle into the abdominal cavity to withdraw fluid to determine whether there is a hole in the intestines.
The majority of infants with NEC are treated medically, and symptoms resolve without the need for surgery. Treatment includes:
stopping feedings
nasogastric drainage (inserting a tube through the nasal passages down to the stomach to remove air and fluid from the stomach and intestine)
intravenous fluids for fluid replacement and nutrition
antibiotics for infection
frequent examinations and X-rays of the abdomen.

The baby's belly size is measured and watched carefully, and periodic blood samples are taken to determine the presence of bacteria. Stools are also checked for blood. If the abdomen is so swollen that it interferes with breathing, extra oxygen or mechanically assisted breathing (a ventilator) is used to help the baby breathe.

If the infant responds favorably, he may be back on regular feedings within 72 hours, although in most cases feedings are withheld and antibiotics are continued for 7 to 10 days. If the bowel perforates (tears) or the condition worsens, surgery may be indicated. Severe cases of NEC may require removal of a segment of intestine. Sometimes after removal of diseased bowel, the healthy areas can be sewn back together. Other times, especially if the baby is very ill or there is spillage of stool in the abdomen, the surgeon will bring an area of the intestine or bowel to an opening on the abdomen (called an ostomy).

Most infants who develop NEC recover fully and do not have further feeding problems. In some cases, scarring and narrowing of the bowel may occur and can cause future intestinal obstruction or blockage. Another residual problem may be malabsorption (the inability of the bowel to absorb nutrients normally). This is more common in children who required surgery for NEC and had part of their intestine removed.

Caring for Your Child
NEC can be extremely frightening to parents. Parents who are deprived of the experience of feeding their babies will certainly feel frustrated - their infant is so small, it just doesn't feel right to stop feeding him. As important as it is to be able to hold and bond with your baby, this may not be possible while the baby is in critical condition.

My baby comes home

Being a mum is joyous and there is this connection with your baby that words cannot describe. Being a premature baby, Nelson was in the hospital for 2.5 months and underwent two major operations during the period. I sometimes wonder how cruel can life be.. this little baby so fragile and yet was constantly poked with needles.

Every day I travelled from Hurstville to Randwick to be with Nelson. I stayed in the hospital from 9am to 7pm 7 days a week for the full 2.5 months. Just seeing him and holding him in my arms makes me happy.

When the doctors announced that he could come up, my heart leapt with joy. Finally I could experience the "real motherhood".. my baby is coming home and in time for my first Mother's Day!!

I must admit the first 2 months was not easy and I vomitted when I first changed his soil nappy. Nelson used to cry every nappy change and I felt helpless. But now.. he couldn't stay still, kicks me and rolls around every nappy change!!

After the 2 months, I finally got the hang of sleepless nights. I now understand when my friends tells me "Its a really enjoyable and joyful experience being a Mum"... before I was thinking how can it be... but now I know.

The joy of Motherhood

I never used to picture myself being a mum nor having the patience to attend to little chores. However, all of these changed when I fell pregnant with Nelson. It was an amazing experience and I guess all first time mum to be would experience the same joy of having this "little life" kicking and turning inside you..



I was always excited when Nelson kicked me... He would kicked me when I was stressed at work letting me know to relax myself.. and most importantly at night as I laid down on my back with my Nintendo DS clutched on my hands playing Super Mario Tetris!! Nelson would always kicked and turned around when he heard the sound.... I guess I have successfully trained him to be a "Games Addict" when he grows up.



Anyway... things didn't turn out as expected. My water broke at 30 weeks and I was hospitalised with the hope to retain the baby for another 6 weeks.. Well boys will always be boys, Nelson managed to stay in my womb for another week and at exactly 31 weeks he was born. Not to mention he shared the same birthday as Kung Kung (my dad!!).



Seeing the little baby for the first time was very emotional experience... I held him for the first time and said to myself "he's finally in my arms"..



Going through all the long hard and emotional road since Nelson was born has made me realise the importance of life and to cherish every single moment there is with your loved ones. I cherished every single minute I spent with Nelson now and love him unconditionally. He will always be my number one priority.