No Hurry, Mummy!

So the doc checked and said that I'm still dilated at 1cm. It's been days and we are still at 1cm, so I'm pretty thankful that we didn't opt to break my water bag earlier as I would not be surprised if I were to end up with a long labour process.

I was advised to walk more. Seriously, after stopping work, I've reduced my movements significantly. Most days were spent at home and I hardly trot around for fear that my water bag might burst at some random place. Haha! So right after the consultation, I went shopping and bought 2 bags from Cath Kidson. Just couldn't resist their sale! Bought the 2 bags at 50% discount. Just the right size for bringing him to the park or a short walk in the mall, I reasoned!

The hubby might have to put up with more random shopping as long as the little one continues to stay comfy in me. :D

So, any effect? Well, the long walk yielded me some more head drilling by the baby which resulted in slight discomfort and also some shooting pains down my thighs which didn't last for long.

Let's continue with the journey tomorrow!

That all so familiar sticker

This is the first time I've thought of taking a picture of this sticker for my routine tests. Could it be the last time as well? :D

Anxiousness while waiting to see the doctor.

Oh yes, I think I'm officially as heavy as the hubby. 

Waiting Game

We are almost at the end of the race, patiently waiting for the arrival of our little one.

It is likely to be a week earlier, says our gynae. A week earlier to meet you, our precious.

Undeniably, my heart is filled with anxiousness and worry, but you are worth every ounce of it. :)

Daddy and Mummy love you. ♡

The Hubby on Being Daddy

I must say it has been an interesting journey observing how the hubby has changed throughout my pregnancy.

At the initial stage, he was really rational about things and tried to play down my excitement level, which made my feel slightly disappointed. You know how TV would always show dads-to-be in an ecstatic state, like they would throw confetti and do a unicorn dance if they could. Well, hubby was happy, but not THAT happy. HAHA! Hence, the early stage was threaded with caution, with the hubby advising on when I should see a doctor and nagging at me to eat my supplements, etc. What got him really pumped up (in a bad way!!) was be my refusal to eat. Dinnertime would sometimes be such a dread as it would end up in scolding sessions as I didn't feel like eating and I was losing weight.

In the mid-stage, it was pretty much the norm for me. I recovered from my morning sickness and I went about the days like I would when I was yet to be pregnant. No special treatment from the hubby. BLAH! Again, the practical side of him took charge, forbidding me to make any baby purchases until we knew the gender and even after that, no purchases were allowed until I clear my crap (things I no longer use) to make way for the new items. And even then, I wasn't allowed any big purchases (e.g. Pram, car seat, cot) until the later part of the pregnancy as he reasoned that we don't have much space at home. Raaaaah!

The bigger changes in him were observed to take place in the 3rd trimester. We started to take a concern in baby stuff and he was actively giving me his inputs based on practicality and his past experiences. He would tell the kids to help me out whenever we had to carry more bags of shopping. Towards the later stage, he would also not allow me to carry any heavy items. I would often insist on helping to carry a few items, but he would always nag at me to enjoy the privilege while it lasted. Yes, indeed. Getting him to carry my bag in the past was soooo tough but he would readily volunteer to carry my bag nowadays.

Towards the later stage of the pregnancy when my tummy started to grow bigger, he started to take an interest in playing with my tummy, and my non-existent belly button. He would take the initiative to rub and feel my tummy, putting his ears against my tummy in the morning and asking if the baby was active for the day. He would also wait for me as we walked, taking the initiative to hold my hand, ensuring that I was doing fine. What more, he would also voluntarily take charge of a lot more household chores, ensuring that I do not get over exhausted or strain myself. It is a very different him, as if it finally hit him that a baby is on the way. It's a very nice change which I cherish and appreciate. =)

Recently, his radar for babies seems to have heightened! He would take a look whenever he hears a baby nearby and would make comments like it would be how we would be like / life be like when our baby is out, etc. Upon hearing that I'm likely to give birth very soon, he immediately suggested that we go buy a pack of NB diapers as standby (he was so reluctant to buy any just a few weeks earlier) and also purchased a thermometer suitable for the baby. It was almost heart-melting and cute to see him take a second look and studying the baby items at stores that I feel this stage of change in him is too short!

Well, I don't want to make it sound as if the hubby was uncaring and indifferent in my earlier days of pregnancy. In fact, he does so many things for me on a daily basis, even since pre-pregnancy which I don't even talk about. I just want to document the change in him for my personal relishing, just so that I would be able to look back and remember this part of my pregnancy with a smile on my face. It has been an amazing journey so far and it certainly would not have been possible without my hubby by my side.

I love you, hubby! <3

Into the last lap!

Yesterday was the first day of work in the new year for me and I found it quite torturous already. Despite being able to sit down most of the time, my body condition wasn't too kind. However, I am extremely thankful that even at this stage of my pregnancy, I am able to move about easily and be engaged in normal activities. The highlight of the day was going to the hospital for my scheduled gynae visit.

How do you mark your visits in your calendar? I tag them in my mobile with 'Hi, Baby!' =)

So anyway, the scheduled visit was pretty late in the day and the hubby and I had the luxury to have lunch together and rest a little before making our way down. Times like this are always welcomed and cherished, especially when I am about to give birth soon. Hubby wasn't able to accompany me on the last few visits due to work but I am thankful that he was able to make it for the session yesterday.

I was checked for dilation. Not the most comfortable thing, but it wasn't as bad as I imagined it to be. Sometimes, reading about other people's experiences can instil quite a bit of fear and insecurity within me. :X

As of yesterday's check, I was already dilated by 1cm and the cervix is thinning. WOW! Maybe it was due to the check which I was nervous about, or even the fact that I wasn't ready to hear that I was dilated. I was in shock. Fear, anxiousness and uncertainty filled me but thank goodness the hubby was pretty happy and excited. We were told that I would be giving birth soon and the doctor scheduled for me to return for checks in a few days.

Truth be told, like I mentioned earlier, my immediate reaction wasn't that of bursting excitement and happiness, which I expected myself to be in. I guess, I am really anxious about the whole thing. Wish I could be more cool about it!

Am really happy to see hubby's excitement and he was in his usual "ok-I-think-this-should-be-done-next" mode, advising me to inform my immediate boss about my possible earlier delivery, texted his boss to request for urgent leave for the next check up and texting my mum to update her about me.

We then adjourned to the admissions office where we were briefed on our available options and their costs. The officer was very helpful and soon, we left with the completed documents and a info. package on Baby Bonus and CDA application, etc.

It is all getting too real!! HAHA!

Well, the fact that I went to bed at 1am and woke up at 5am and unable to fall asleep again says a lot about my current state of mind. I am feeling very anxious but thought I should blog about the important news that came our way. I just hope that my anxiousness would not affect baby and my impending labour.

All will be fine! =)

36th Week

We are 9 months into the pregnancy and I must say BEING PREGNANT IS AWESOME! :D

I enjoy feeling the wriggles of my little baby within and it's awesome feeling him grow within me. :)

I was down with stomach flu on Monday. I suddenly felt very tired and wanted to sleep in all the time. After a brekkie of cereal with milk, the nausea kicked in. I wasn't very worried as I thought I just had too much gas within and it could be the return of the first trimester kind of feeling. What more, I read that a few fellow mummies on my local forum also vomited recently and they felt better thereafter. So I went along with my plans for the day, meeting my friends for lunch. Perhaps it was the joyful feeling of meeting up with friends that brought me through lunch, but I really couldn't eat much. The bulk of my lunch was left untouched. I managed to make my way back and slept the remaining afternoon away.

Most of the time, I would be perspiring in my sleep if the air conditioning isn't switched on. In fact, it would be best if we could have both the fan and air conditioning switched on at the same time, but that would be too wasteful of electricity! However, that afternoon, I was shivering in my sleep. Something's not right, I thought to myself. I walked around to settle a few things in the house before returning to rest on the bed. Before long, I dashed to the toilet and has my 1st Merlion moment of my pregnancy. It's kind of disappointing as I thought I could stay vomit-free during my pregnancy, but it was not to be. Thank goodness I went to see my GP and recovered by the next day. <3

Hubby was really sweet during the ordeal. He accompanied me at the GP's, bought me porridge, cut fruits to keep me hydrated and helped with the chores. <3 He isn't usually particularly affectionate towards baby. And that means you wont catch him talking to the little one or singing to him, etc. However, the very next morning before he left for work, he placed his ears to my tummy and tried to hear the baby, before putting his hands on my tummy to feel for movement. I was sleeping but I felt what he was doing and was secretly pleased. HEHE! <3

I've been feeling more tired these days and my energy level is definitely getting drained faster. The nights are also getting busier as I make more frequent trips to the toilet. It's really tiring but I guess it's part of being pregnant, especially in the 3rd trimester.

Hubby has been very concerned about my appetite. He compared me with two of his colleagues who are also pregnant and are at the same stage as I and he said that I'm eating very little in comparison. I admit that I am not eating a lot; sometimes, even lesser than pre-pregnancy, but I really can't help it. There are times when I just don't feel like eating much, especially during meal times. :(

We are almost done with my preparations but I always think that there isn't such a thing as being 100% prepared and I think there is no point in us fretting too much as we can always seek help from our family if there are more things to be prepared when the baby is out. As of now, we still need to buy the showering tub, the changing pad, baby bouncer and play mat. Not all of them are super urgent (like the play mat), so we shall just see buy the items as we go along or when we see them. I still need to get myself some pyjamas and pack my maternity bag. We will be placing the bag in hubby's car so that he wouldn't need to go home just to get the back if he's already out.

Okay, that's a lot of random updates for today! Till the next one! :)

Week 35 and Counting

Currently in the 35th month and counting. 1 month-ish to go! Hang in there, mummy and baby!

So, how has the late 3rd trimester been so far?

Doctor visits: Doctor visits have become more frequent so far. From the initial once monthly, we are now having visits every fortnightly. Soon, I believe, after my next visit, we would graduate to once a week. Doctor has been assuring and positive during our consultations. Baby is in  good weight range; around 2.4kg the last time we checked. Well, I'm very curious about how the baby's weight is gauged as he would tell me the weight after feeling the baby. It comes with experience, I guess! Doctor also mentioned that my placenta has shifted up and I'm able to try giving birth naturally. The only thing he cautioned against was the carrying of heavy items. Pretty standard, I guess!

How the mummy feels physically: I would say I feel pretty good! Apart from the usual fatigue which comes in easily, I'm fully functional and very mobile. Aches are usually found at the shoulder areas and the back is spared from much discomfort. Mum warned that water retention and swelling would come in or get more serious as the Big Day draws nearer, but I pray that day would not come! I could generally rest pretty well in the night. On most nights, I would have to wake and empty my bladder at least once, but on nights when I'm exhausted, I could sleep through. However, there were a few occasions when I woke up exceptionally early at around 4ish or 6ish and couldn't go back to sleep anymore. I would feel a burst of energy which would dwindle quickly after a few hours. After that, I would be like a grumpy dead fish, wanting to crawl back to bed.=(

How the mummy feels mentally and emotionally: I feel more anxious and uptight. Yes. Surprisingly, it's not about the baby, the pregnancy or what. Rather, (putting it in a nice way), I put a lot more thoughts into the people and things that are happening around me and sometimes, they make me upset very easily. I tend to fault more fault in people and things and I admit, it's not very nice. Apart from that, I tend to worry too much about things. Case in point - I check with the hubby if he has locked the car every.single.time. RAAAH How annoying can I get? How do I make myself feel better? Most of the times, I would casually remind myself that it might just be the hormones taking charge and tell myself to let it go. On days when it really grips me, I pray about it and I would also distract myself with other activities like watching TV or going online. I figured that it's most important that I am aware and accept it could be part and parcel of being pregnant and be more forgiving towards myself. Most importantly, I feel that its important that I take active steps to make myself feel better and happier on days like these. Beating myself up after feeling so lousy would not help.

How have I changed physically: The tummy is feeling really stretched these days and my belly button is half popped out already. The tummy area doesn't look pretty as the skin is pretty dry. I have since gained around 7-8kg and I do feel a little whaley already, due to restricted movements.

Little Baby: As the space in my tummy gets lesser since little bub is growing, I can feel his movements more intensely. In the past, the movements would likely be described as a ballet dance, but now, it feels more like a dragon dance! :p Most of the movements are still felt on the right side of my tummy and the little one is still having frequent hiccups. Sometimes, the movements would cause a little pain and I would have to talk to the little one to remind him to go easy on me.

Our Preparations: I would say we are almost done preparing the items for Baby Y, but seriously, how fully prepared could we really be? From what I can remember, we are still lacking the baby carrier, bath tub and diapers. Skills wise, hubby was initially insistent that we attend parenthood courses to pick up necessary skills to prepare ourselves, but I am not too keen as

1) Hubby has attended it before previously (Although he claims he has forgotten everything) and he has 2 grown kids! Instinct would probably kick in for him; and

2) I believe my instinct would kick in pretty well too! =P Nah.. truth be told, I didn't want to attend the courses and end up being too fixated in doing it right. You know, like how I may have learnt something and become unforgiving when I still can't get it right? I would leave it more to trial and error and learn along the way.

3) Nowadays, help is everywhere. Apart from the net, which offers a truckload (maybe two truckloads!!) of information, I believe the doctors, nurses and consultants would be able to attend to me and guide me along (e.g. breastfeeding, breathing techniques, etc) where necessary. Ha, I highly suspect I may not even remember much after the courses given that I have really bad memory nowadays.

4) My mum is helping me to care for the baby and I am very assured with her by my side. =)

5) The stingy self in me feel that the few hundreds of dollars could be spent on other necessities. :D

But, at the end of the day, if the courses are for free.... BRING IT ON! There's no harm in knowing more and I believe there's always the fun factor a couple could count on during the learning journey.

Alright, that's all for this post. Will be updating a little more on my trips in my next few posts. =)