Difficulties breastfeeding

Here're some new photos of Joni.

Note the one breastfeeding photo: this was one of the rare times when Joni actually latched on and suckled for a while. We very much believe in the goodness of mother's milk.

However, Joni isn't sucking well, not even on the bottle. We are managing to get her to drink the milk put in her mouth, however, and the pediatrician says she's getting enough nutrition and not to worry. But it does mean double work for Juliane -- she has to first pump out the milk, then feed it to Joni in a bottle. We've had lots of friends give advice, including folks from BreastfeedLah and a professional breastfeeding expert, who told us Joni doesn't seem to have a good rooting reflex.

So do pray that she'll suckle.

Joni & Winnie

Here's a little photo-comic story of Joni Chai & Winnie the Pooh's latest encounter.

Be sure to read the captions below the photos to follow the story! (You need to click on the thumbnails to see the full-sized photo with the caption.)
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=21480&l=12322&id=560951671

Here's a Youtube version:

Auntie Susheela's lullaby

Auntie Susheela is an old friend of Juliane's -- she comforted her when her mother passed away while she was still in university. Here, she sings a lullaby written by her grandmother to baby Joni.

[Watch the video]

It's a girl!

Joni Chai 蔡仲妮 was born at 2:31 am (GMT+0800), 30th October, 2007. She weighed 3.06 Kg at birth and was 47 cm long.

We had a scare because her pulse rate suddenly dropped so the gynaecologist decided to do a caesarian. I had another scare because she wouldn't start breathing at first, and everyone except the gynae and one nurse rushed over to the baby. But praise God she started breathing eventually and is now fine.



Apologies to the late Conway Twitty and his daughter Joni Lee for "stealing" their song and modifying the lyrics to better suit my Joni. This video is also available at YouTube.

Here're some photos of Joni's first day.
Here're some photos of Joni taken later.