Maternity Wear

Being in my 5th month, hopefully, this will be my one and only maternity wear.

Breakfast

A bowl of porridge never fails to kickstart my system for the day. One morning, my mum surprised me with this multigrains porridge. Rich in fiber, iron, vitamins, carotene, it consists of Australian Brown Rice, Job’s Tear, Sorghum Rice, Barley, Buckwheat, Pearl Rice, Gordon Euryale Seeds, Millet, Wheat, Oat, Black Glutinous Rice. Slow cooked with chicken bones, pieces of chicken fillet, goji berries and peanuts for wholesome taste. I feel like I can have this for breakfast everyday!!

I’m starting to wonder what my mum is going to whip up for my confinement. Have I ever mentioned to you for the 2 weeks I had chicken poxs during my teenager years, she fixed up grilled pork chop with boiled potato and a glass of milk for dinners? It was alternate with grilled salmon with melted cheese and broccoli. While others was losing weight on daily plain porridge, I actually became rounder.

20th Week Detailed Scan

We went TMC for a detailed scan and was assigned sonographer, Miss Zhou YH. The 25 minutes alone with her inside the room seems to feel like forever. There was 2 times I caught her staring and frowning at the screen. That got me holding my breath. Thankfully, reassuring seems to be part of her job scope. 2 times, she told me “So far so good”.

Jr was awake the entire session but I think I didn’t nag at him long enough the day before. The usual 15 minutes session took 10 minutes more because Jr refused to face the screen. He made it worst by hiding behind my full bladder. I went to empty it before Miss Zhou tried to coax him again. She shaked my tummy and hasten him to turn. I saw the image on the screen wobble like jelly, with Jr trying to brush off the disturbance. A peek-a-boo 45 degrees was what Jr gave us. Certainly not enough to be captured. I sliently spoke to Jr. Telling him to quick co-operate so that his Dada can come see him. It, didn’t work.

Moments later, Miss Zhou gave up and called Dada in. She started showing us from toe to head. When we were at the HEAD, Jr flashed his full frontal face proudly and yawned. I wonder if Jr should have been born in the year of an Ox(STUBBORN!) instead. He is SO stubborn to insist on his Dada’s presence before shedding his camera shy image. Miss Zhou quickly took the chance to label lips, nose etc.

*speechless*

==Results: No obvious signs of fetal anomaly were observed. However, placenta is slightly low on the right. EDD by ultrasound is 4 March 2010. However, by date is 10 March 2010. And I saw Jr’s birdie which they labelled XY. Jr’s head circumference and legs are slightly smaller/shorter than average but it may change during the next 20 weeks of gestation. Anyway it is a mean percentile they are using.==

==Results for 2nd urine sample tested ok with no bacteria. Swab turns out to be candida yeast infection.No strepB detected.==

Eileen & Needles (Wk20)

Antenatal Package: 3rd Visit (Week 20)
Blood Pressure: Normal
Urine Test: Normal
Weight: 49kg (9kg Weight Gain)
Foetus Weight: 360grams

THE DAY. Today is the day for the postponed triple blood test (alpha-fetoprotein, HCG, Oestriol, HIV) and urine lab test. I was not allowed to eat 3 hours prior yet she has to draw THREE TUBES of blood! Now you know why they call it TRIPLE. Missy Jenny looked at my 2 arms and decided the vein on my right is thicker. Next, she decided the vein at elbow is not visible and looked at the WRIST! She slapped, coaxed and swabbed the vein at the side of the wrist. Abruptly, I pulled my arms back…

Eileen: Are you going to extract blood from the wrist?!
Missy Jenny: Yes. Dun worry.
*Eileen refuses to give her my arms like a small kid*
Missy Jenny: It’ll be over soon.
*Missy Jenny grabs Eileen’s arms over*
*Eileen’s hands become clammy. So wet a drop could be squeezed out.*
*Missy Jenny was ready to insert the needle when my arm inches backwards slowly*
*Missy Jenny laughs and Eileen decides to close her eyes and muster every ounce of bravery to get it over and be done with*

Missy Jenny says yesterday there is this lady who cried until entire face wet when she is to draw blood. Guess she is trying to make me feel better coz I didn’t shed a tear. Surprisingly, the inserting and extraction did not hurt! But after that, the site felt sore and achy for half an hour. I already feel so vulnerable from the blood drawn, being hungry made me crankier. I became a soppy little girl demanding for a toy(Read: Branded Bag). I told Eiji I feel so brave and he laugh!

Dr Koh gave us a letter to travel for our USA honeymoon next month. I suddenly feel like a small girl asking a guardian to sign a consent form so that I can go on a trip. Haha. Dr Koh reminds me to buy compression stockings and get up to walk every hour or two on the plane.

Dr Koh likes what he sees on screen. Heartbeat is strong. Placenta is not low. He confirms again it is a boy. From the way things are developing, EDD is likely to be 3rd to 10th March. As Eiji is travelling in early February, Dr Koh gives him the go ahead, mentioning the chance of premature birth at that point is probably 5-10%. It increases as the term is nearer. I’m gona drink plenty of water and sleep early to reduce the probability!

=Results: Normal for everything except Haemoglobin level is 11g/dl.(Ref Range:11.5 to 16.5). They found bacteria in my urine which I was asked to send another sample for testing. Dr Koh checked and I got a slight fungal infection in the canal. Was given pessary to insert and cream to apply for 3 consecutive nights.=

 

The First Dip – 19 October 2009, 8pm

Swimming and walking are the 2 most ideal exercises during pregnancy. Yoga crossed my mind but being notorious for ”nua-ness”, I’m not sure if I can handle the to-fro journey and the inflexibility to attend lessons when I feel like it. I decided against it. I’ve been pretty successful at brisk walking but advises poured on swimming. Although the pool is as far as taking an elevator down, I was contented to sigh wistfully and imagine myself in it. Procrastination became my middle name.

7 weeks into my second trimester, I finally took the first plunge. All my mum had to say is: “There’s this lady who swims everyday when she is pregnant. All the way till she give birth. Now that her confinement is over, she looks so slim.” She added on an easier labour if pelvic muscles are strong. It’s only a day but we need the stamina yeh. Although hesitance lingered, that did the trick. Seeing the pool with only my mum in it, I changed into my bikini and went down. Mum watched me as I swam 2 laps. My tummy hardened and became cold and I stopped. She asked me to walk back and forth the water. When I was out of the water, I strut to basement to rinse myself before heading up for a shower. People stopped and stared at my tummy.

I felt good. I was chirpy for the rest of the night.

To He Who Belongs to E+E

Hey Little Cub,

We have reached the halfmark milestone! Moma drank a glass of milk tea(1st in 4 months!) to reward myself. A bouncing jellybean you were from morning till night. Were you high on caffeine?

With each passing day, you become more of an individual. A unique personality you have developed. One night, Moma placed the pillow too close to tummy. You probably felt compressed and moved a lot to let me know. In my eye shut state, I moved the pillow away so we could both get some sleep. The other day, Moma was cutting Zen’s nails when he kicked you. You waited for Moma to carry Zen against my body before giving him a kick(or punch) back. Dada exclaimed how can you 2 boys fight even before meeting each other! Boise is still pretty much clueless about your existance.

Being the first grandchild and great-grandchild, I’ve got you to thank for the care and concern I’ve received. Bird nest, chicken essence, tonic soups. Thank me later though. I’ve been taking in brown rice, asparagus, broccoli, salmon, pomfret, milk(all which Moma dislike) for your sake. Granny A says it is good for both of us.

Be healthy. Be safe. We love you.

Love,
Moma

Prenatal Soups

爱心牌汤 For Preggies’ Second Trimester

White fungus with Wolfberries Chicken Soup
Lotus Root Pork Rib Soup
Winter Melon Pork Rib Soup
Black Bean Pork Rib Soup
六 味 Pork Marrow Soup
Salmon and Tomato Ginger Soup
Bird Nest Ginseng Rock Sugar Soup
ABC Soup

Morning Sickness

I hope I never have to talk about this ever again. My dreaded memories of MS lasted from Week 3 to 14.  Simply thinking of it makes me want to throw up. Imagine having to face a white bowl many times everyday. Oh, the barf bag comes in handy sometimes. No barf bags? No problem. There’s always the pavement/road/grass to throw up on. Thou has been there, done that. One word to describe the entire experience: H.O.R.R.I.B.L.E! It’s like, you want to die, but you can’t. You wish you could be knocked out and hooked to a drip, although I’m not sure if swollen veins are any better. Just when you think MS has left you for good, it comes back with a vengance. One man’s meat is another man’s poison. You say sour plums work for you? Well, a whiff of it will send me running to the loo. Methods I have tried aplenty. From sea bands to vinegar chips to water spiked with lemon to tiny intakes, none made it any much better. It’s a wonder how I managed to put on 7kg during this period. As a wise friend tells me: “You just have to wait for the day you see the miracle.” And so I did, after 12 weeks. Pregnancy is beautiful, without the MS, that is.

A Letter to the Little Person

Hey Little Person,

Today marks the start of Week 18! We are almost reaching the halfmark milestone. As the days grow, everyone waits in anticipation for your arrival in March 2010.

Are we telepathic? You seem to know what I want you to do. I, on the other hand, seem to know how you are feeling. This relationship is more amazing than I have dreamed it to be. I wish I can start sharing the amazing-ness with Dada. Give me your first proper kick soon ok?

When Moma first called you Junior, Dada asked me why I named you so. Moma could only shrug. Maybe inside I knew you are a boy but I was misleaded by an old wives’ tale which I intepreted incorrectly. Junior isn’t frequently used on a girl, isn’t it?

Since we knew you are a boy, there has been a debate over what to name you. Dada came up with an insane idea of calling you Tiger Chung, after Tiger Woods. It seems apt especially so that you are born in the year of the Tiger. Why not call you Tigger Chung instead, after Moma’s favourite PoohBear series? Or Pius, after your Pisces zodiac? Naming you seems to be the hardest decision to make. I wish you to have a memorable childhood, a name would probably start you right.

I feel great knowing you are mine. My son.

Love ya loads,
Moma

A Great Read!

With topics such as “Month Two: The stick, the stunning, and the start of a stupendous adventure” and “Month Six: Duncan/Dylan, Dagmar/Daisy, Ditziness and Dreams“, you wouldn’t be expecting a regular book telling you pregnancy is like this and this is what you should do. Instead, this book gives a preggie hopes and ideas to deal with a situation from someone who has been there, done that.  I giggle so hard I think I’ve almost hyperventilated more than once.

Presenting my latest read: When the belly pops, the baby’s done by Lorilee Craker

See extracts:
“Here’s a story that made me cringe for the poor woman: A kmart cashier was violently nauseated………This poor pregnant woman did the only thing she could: She knelt down right where she was and heaved into a Kmart bag…….Think of this story each time you’re hurling your guts in the privacy of your own bathroom–and count your blessings.”
“The hormones swirling in your body, making you morph from Tooth Fairy to the Wicked Witch of the West on a dime, are also working magic on your libido.”
“Brown is beautiful…Remember out brief discussion about irregularity–one of the all-time great euphemisms–and pass up the Wonderbread for some nutty twelve-grain. If you still balk, I have one word for you:hemorrhoids.”

She warns that hair could grow in the wrong places like chin*wince* and even around belly button*wince wince*. On occassions, she brings us to reality that when the feet do grow a size up during pregnancy, it may never go back to its original size. You feel like this book are letters to a friend on a woman to woman basis. You gotta read it!