My pregnancy: Week 33

Week 32 had a lot of surprises in stored for me. I had never mentioned this, but for the past 2 weeks I have been having tummy cramp and belly pain. But last week was the worst. Since I don’t know the cause of it all, I decided ask my gynea, Datuk Dr Razif about it and have it checked out. The result was the biggest surprise of all. I was having contraction. Contraction??? Now??? I am just 32 weeks. I still have 4-5 weeks to go. Okay, some of you might be thinking, “why the hell I don’t know how contraction pain feels like since this is my 2nd born”. LOL… Guess what? I asked the question to myself too. May be because it has been 4 years and during that time I was on epidural during the whole process which numbs me from any sensation of pain (Thank GOD!!!!) whatsoever.

Due to this, I was admitted immediately (it was on Monday), but it was not for labor since my cervix has not opened yet, it was to reduce the occurrence of premature contraction which was at 6 minutes apart. I was given Ventolin drip for 24 hours. Throughout the night, I didn’t feel any changes at all; I was still having pain and cramps, and even the CTG still shows I was still having contraction at 6 minutes interval. Fortunately, it got better in the morning. I had less pain; it was such a relief to be able to move around without continuous pain and even a bigger relief that I don’t have to go through premature labor. I was discharge that evening (on Tuesday) even though my gynea wanted me to stay for another night (it must be due to my charm and the roundness of my tummy.. hehehe) just to make sure the contraction count has gone down. Still, I insisted to go back plus the fact I was just living less than a kilometer away and if anything does come up, I can be at the clinic in less than half an hour (it would be lesser if I walk, but I doubt I’ll be doing that). I am on Ventolin tablets for the rest of this week up until my next appointment with the gynae next week.
The next day (Wednesday), I went for my regular check up at the government clinic and just to have the record straight, I informed them what had happen. It was no big deal they say… But the result from the check up brings up another surprise; my hemoglobin count drop from 11 to 9 which is dangerously low. Aaaarrrgghh!! One after another it keeps on coming. Now I need to take Saferon tablets and I need to eat food that can increase my blood (while keeping track of my sugar level and blood pressure … how annoying). The nurses even made a visit my house last Friday to check and ensure the baby was still active and my blood pressure is under control. Ok to wrap things up... I had pregnancy diabetes, premature contraction and now low hemoglobin count. This time around it was not as smooth sailing as the 1st one, sigh!

My resolution after this delivery is to lose all the unhealthy fat and I want to make sure I’m free from cholesterol which I feel is the devil’s advocate for the whole shinanegan.

Your Pregnancy: Week 33
You're large, but you most definitely don't feel in charge, since the baby seems to be completely taking over your body. Up several times a night to go to the bathroom? It's all just practice for getting up in the wee hours for feedings, changings and general fussiness. The one difference: Cuddling that babe in your arms for a feeding is way better than heaving yourself to the bathroom for the sixth time—in the dark.
Wondering what's up with your body, your baby and your life this week? Read on ...

What You're Thinking:
"Isn't there anywhere you could stand besides on my bladder, baby?"

Your Body
At about this point you have probably begun to obsess over labor and delivery. You may have a vision of how you'd like the whole event to go: contractions are brief and painless and in one push out pops your baby to the background music of "Chariots of Fire." That fantasy is all well and good but it's important to be flexible and brace yourself for little surprises that may occur. Also, keep an open mind as far as medication and labor support go once you're in the thick of things.
Research your pain relief options. There are countless natural options in addition to medicinal options for managing labor pain. Now would be a good time to decide who you want in the labor and delivery room with you. We advise against inviting someone you may be embarrassed to see what's going on "down there."

You also might want to start thinking about what you are going to pack in your hospital bag. Don't forget your lip-gloss! When everyone wants to take a picture of you and the new babe, you'll thank us.

Your Baby
The big news this week is lung development—baby's respiratory system is almost completely mature. That means if your baby was born this week, odds are he'd be a healthy bouncing baby with a just a little help from his friends (aka, the NICU). Some of the specifics are:
Your baby can now detect light and tell the difference between night and day (of course that ability will miraculously disappear once he's born and up all night screaming). His pupils will constrict and dilate in response to light. If you shine a flashlight on your belly, your baby may shy away from the light as if to say, "Cut it out, Ma. You're soooo annoying."

The bones in your baby's skull are soft and are not yet fused together. In other words, now is not the time to teach him how to do a headspin while breakdancing. This pliability allows the bones to overlap; making that trip down the tight birth canal possible (and resulting in that surprising cone head look your baby will sport for the first few days post-birth. Don't worry, it's totally normal and that's what hats are for.)
Your baby will continue to pack on the pounds gaining around ½ pound a week from here on out.

Your baby weighs about 4½ pounds, as much as a grownup duck, and is approximately 17.5 inches long, about the same as a collarbone-length pearl necklace. (Did somebody say push present?)

Your Life
Birth announcements will be low on your list of priorities once baby comes to town (below showering, but above getting a pedicure) so have a plan of attack now. Create an email list so you can send out a blast—the easiest way to alert the masses about your new baby. Attach a digital pic of your new bundle so everyone can see whose eyes and ears your Mini wound up with.

Rather do it by snail mail? Consider making your own announcements. Or, if you're craft-challenged, pre-order announcements from a stationary store. Address the envelopes ahead of time, so all you have to do is lick 'em between feedings and drop them in the mail. (We won't even go into the thank-you notes now. ...)

And speaking of licking, go hit up the candy store at the mall for some gourmet lollipops and hard candies to toss in your labor bag. This occasion calls for better than your Granny's butterscotch stand-bys.

My pregnancy: Week 29

I can’t believe just another 72 days before my due date. Some say my tummy look cute and small but I can’t agree with that. Sleepiness night because the baby moving while you asleep and also feeling difficult to breathe in certain sleeping position wake me up most of the nights. Even thou some might think I’m stayed home mom so I can sleep whenever I want, unfortunately that’s not true. Since my younger day I never train myself to take a nap during the day so It’s kind of difficult to start it now. So even thou I’m at home in cozy raining day, I will not sleep during the day like some people dream of when they in the office.

The weekend most of it full with plan spending time as family. Take Aaron to the Zoo for the 1st time and also picnic at Bagan Lalang. Next project is to prepare Aaron’s room. He’ll be sharing the room with his new sibling later on. Still not sure what color we want to paint the room but chances very high it will be light green.

Let’s see what going on in my belly this week…. (kinda funny about the bra. I never imagine to have small bra through out my life thou)

Your Pregnancy: Week 29
Among the many perks of becoming a new mother is having someone other than yourself to shop for (a big plus when the jeans you like are $100, but a cute onesie can be had for a mere $6.99). So if you're feeling out of sorts about your ever-changing body but have a shopping itch you need to scratch, indulge in something mini and adorable for your new babe.
Wondering what's up with your body, your baby and your life this week? Read on ...

What You're Thinking:
"How can one pair of tiny little socks make me so happy?"

Your Body
Let's get right to the point: You're a bloated, water-retaining mess. Chances are good you can't get your sneakers on or your wedding ring off, so get comfy in your slippers. Your pants don't fit. Your shirts don't fit. And now, thanks to the swelling in your feet, your shoes don't fit. You can thank a wonderful thing called edema for that. Go edema!
Extreme swelling (as in "Oh my god, what happened to my hands?!") might be a sign of preeclampsia, so make sure to see your doctor. For mild edema, your doctor may recommend support hose—with plenty of room for your belly—and drinking plenty of water. Also, a low-salt diet may not be any fun (No potato chips! No soy sauce!), but it may help to minimize edema and water retention.
On the bright side, edema is a great excuse for sitting down, propping your feet up, and asking your partner to bring you a cool drink and this week's US Weekly.

Your Baby
Having a baby prematurely is frightening, no doubt. But here's a reason to relax: Due to the impressive advancements of medical technology, if your baby is born this week, she'd have a 9 out of 10 chance of survival, which is seriously great news. Other awesome developments:
Baby's brain can now control her breathing and body temperature. She can also cough, and her sucking abilities have been perfected. Look out, boobs!
Your Mini's skin is looking less wrinkled as she packs on the pounds. She's starting to look more like a Pampers model and less like a Depends model. She's now beefing up on the energizing and insulating white fat she'll be born with (unfortunately, white fat is not energizing and insulating for adults!).
And speaking of energy, your little Energizer Bunny is on fire these days. You're sure to feel your share of kicks, punches and elbows, especially when you're lying down. You might want to start keeping a kick chart to monitor your baby's movements, and also to later show your 13-year-old child what you endured for him or her. Ask your doctor how to count kicks and how often you should do it.
This week your baby is a little over 15 inches long—about the length of a loaf of bread—and weighs about 3 pounds, as much as a Macbook Air laptop.

Your Life
Remember those sexy little bras you used to wear in your former life? Chances are good you can't even get it around your ribcage these days. Sad to say it, but it's time to visit a maternity store to get advice on a new nursing bra.

A well-fitting bra will not only support your back during these last months of pregnancy, but it will help prevent mastitis down the road and allow you to breastfeed discreetly. You'll need one or two bras now, and a few more after the baby comes—when your body will have changed yet again.
Don't forget to buy nursing pads, because you will leak breast milk and wet stains on your boobs are never a good look. Also, get some lanolin to help with dry and cracked nipples once your baby starts her feeding frenzy.

This week, take a bath. One with bubbles, a trashy novel, a face mask, the whole works. Your big bod feels so much better and lighter in water, and what's more relaxing than a bath? Just make sure it's not too hot (under 100 degrees Fahrenheit) and that you're careful getting in and out.

Ignorance is bliss, wise to be folly?

No matter what how people want to interpret that but for me, it’s simply mean STUPIDITY! That’s my topic for today.

Have you come across when you were driving to find a parking in TESCO and some idiot parking his/her car at the yellow cross area (petak kuning)? That area suppose to allow us to cut to the next row so we don’t need to drive up till the end, right? I give you example of the photo I took.  As far as I know the yellow cross mean we can’t stop there. Whether on the road or in the parking lot. This was taken in Tesco Bukit Tinggi and it’s quite frequent happening. I’m not sure how many of my friends ever did this, but please stop! I want to say so many mean word to this action but it wise I keep it to myself.

Last week Rosnin spotted something weird while waiting for me to finish my check up. This lady was from Alam Flora cleaning up the road but what surprise us is how she just chuck all the garbage she swept aside of the road. And there are no big garbage can there either. May be the garbage truck would   come later to pick up the garbage that in the big plastic bag, but what happen to the garbage she swept just now? It will be accumulating every day, right? I guess that area will never be clean then…

My pregnancy: Week 27

I have not been updating my pregnancy status for a while due to busy schedule with cousins & relatives wedding. Most Malay trying to push the wedding within last month till July because fasting month is coming in August. I was coming down with sore throat and running nose early May and it was drag up to 3 weeks of suffering. How frustrated I was when I had to attend all the wedding but hardy I can taste the food because I lost my sense of taste when I got nose blocked. Only toward the end of May I started to enjoy the food and blow up my weight again, hahaha!

Something happen during my check up in early Jun at the public hospital. When I first got to know I’m pregnant, I wasn’t so sure of my last date of period so I just guess… Boy, am I wrong on the date.. I thought I will be in labor some where late August or early September. But the government Doctor spotted the accurate date  which is 18th Sep 2010, sigh! After the Eid Mubarak (Hari Raya Aidil Fitri) is my actual due date now. Since I’m doing check up with public and private hospital, now both of them take the latest date as my due date. At that time none of them can tell the gender of the baby due to the position.

But…. last week I did my check up with the public hospital and they confirmed it’s a boy. Not a girl as I suspected. Well no sweat! I wasn’t expecting anything anymore so whether it’s a boy or a girl it’s fine for me. I just want to know the gender so I can choose the name earlier.

So now, let’s see what is going on inside my body….

Your Pregnancy: Week 27
The light at the end of the tunnel is growing brighter for both you and your baby. With only 13 weeks left (give or take a couple of days), it's time to enjoy the ride because it's getting shorter. (This is the point on the roller coaster where you throw your arms in the air and wail like there's no tomorrow. Wee!)

Wondering what's up with your body, your baby and your life this week? Read on ...

What You're Thinking:
"Why does everyone turn and look at me when the Commodore's song "Brick House" comes on the radio?"

Your Body
As anxious as you are to evict your tenant so you can snuggle with the little bugger, he or she still needs a few more months in the protection of your womb. Pay careful attention to your body and watch for the symptoms of labor. Premature babies have a much higher risk of illness and even death due to low birth weight and underdevelopment, so if you see signs, contact your doctor.

If you think you might be in premature labor, try drinking several glasses of water and lying down on your left side. While doing this, feel your stomach for contractions, which will make your uterus hard like your forehead. Doing simple things like cutting out caffeine and eating right can prevent premature labor.

Your Baby
Baby's lungs and immune system are maturing this week as baby prepares for his grand entrance. If he were born today he would have an 85 percent chance of surviving as his lungs are capable of breathing air (with medical assistance, of course). Other exciting developments:
Baby's done a lot of growing over the past few months. His length has more than doubled in the past 15 weeks! And that's not the only thing growing—baby's brain tissue and neurons are all developing at a rapid pace. His brain waves are now firing away just like those of a newborn baby. If baby is a he, his testes will have completely descended at this point.

Your baby now weighs in at approximately 14½ inches and just over 2 pounds, or about the size of that roast you made last time your in-laws were in town. (OK, the baby is the size of that roast you meant to cook before you decided that ordering Chinese was a much better idea.)

Your Life
Unless you are married to Donald Trump, or Brad and Angelina are planning on giving you all of their hand-me-downs, you are going to have to do some smart, disciplined baby-gear shopping.

Registering for gifts at a few baby stores will help you develop a good list of basics and extras. Before you hit the stores or hop online, write a baby-gear shopping list to help keep you focused.

Consider registering at a local specialty store as well as a major nationwide department store so that friends near and far can have easy access.

Or if you're too eclectic to get your gear from just one place, you can register on Wishlist.com, which corrals all the booty you want from various websites to just one list. Truly brilliant.

Once registering has completely exhausted you, head to the movie theater, where you can strap on a popcorn feedbag and zone out to the wicked pleasure of watching Matthew McConaughey's abs. Too bad you can't register for him.

My pregnancy: Week 24

Your Pregnancy: Week 24
At about this time the reality of having a baby is definitely setting in (maybe it's the fact that you can't see your toes). Be sure to talk about how you're feeling with your significant other, girlfriends, siblings, parents, doctor, hairdresser, the person sitting next to you on the bus ... whomever! It's totally natural to be freaking out. Voicing your concerns about mommyhood will help you actually get used to the idea.
Wondering what's up with your body, your baby and your life this week? Read on ...

What You're Thinking:
"OK, seriously, where are my toes?"

Your Body
Hair growth during pregnancy is another one of those wacky symptoms you didn't expect. And though you may be wondering who's slipping Rogaine into your shampoo bottle, if you're among the lucky ones, you're relishing your new, flowing locks. It's the hair everywhere else that's a little troublesome.
You can thank your pregnancy hormones for your suddenly thick crowning glory. During pregnancy your hair's natural grow-shed cycle slows, leaving you with more hairs on your head at any given time. Now might be a good time to try out for one of those orgasm-in-the-shower shampoo commercials.
Unfortunately, all that hair growth isn't limited to your head. You may start to notice a random hair (or 47) anywhere from your cheeks, back, and belly to your upper lip and chin. If anyone dares to call you Black Beard, they'll totally deserve whatever's coming to them.
The good news is, tweezing, waxing and electrolysis are all generally accepted as safe during pregnancy. The bad news? All of them can hurt like, um ... like waxing. So feel free to skip the Brazilian right now. We promise, your OB isn't going to judge you.
Your Baby
Your baby isn't just sitting around (on your bladder) doing nothing, he's working hard preparing for life outside the womb—perfecting his lungs and packing on the pounds. He'll gain ½ pound this week alone. Other highlights this week:
Things are starting to get a little crowded inside the old womb as baby grows bigger and bigger. Your ribs are probably pining away for the good old days when they didn't have a foot permanently lodged between them. Hate to break it to you, but it's going to get worse before it gets better.
Your baby's ears are fully functional now. And since they are, you may notice that loud noises and sudden movements can startle the little bugger. He's getting used to the everyday sounds inside the womb: the sound of your heart beating, your lungs inhaling and exhaling air, the growling of your stomach because your partner promised he'd be right back with that double cheeseburger and he's taking forever! He'll even be able to hear your voice when your partner finally arrives and you ask him where the bleep he's been! So talk nice!
Baby's got a fully developed inner ear now. This means his sense of balance is working and he can tell whether he's hanging upside down or right side up. He can also feel you moving, so go ahead, pop in your favorite tunes and boogie.
Your little Wiener schnitzel is about the length of a foot-long Chicago hot dog and weighs about 1 1/3 pounds.

My visit to the hospital – Week 22

Not my luck yet to see the gender of the baby. He/she was facing the other side so what you are seeing is the back of it. I take liberty to mark which one is the head, heart & body so you won’t get confuse looking at it. May be I should go to the 3D ultra sound but…  I shall wait for another month. If still no luck then I might just do it :)

Another thing I was a bit upset was I gain 2 kg this month. Aaarrrggh! I have to control my diet. Doctor didn’t say anything because overall I just gain 3 kg from the beginning of pregnancy. But my mission is to gain less weight as much as I can. I guess more vege and avoid the fatty.

My pregnancy: Week 23

Your Pregnancy: Week 23
You've got this pregnancy thing down pat now: You feel good, you look great, you're eating well and drinking enough water. Everything is fabulous. It's like your birthday every day the way people fawn all over you, giving up their place in the bathroom line and so on. OK, so maybe that doesn't happen every day, but being pregnant makes you feel pretty special, even if that jerk on the bus didn't give up his seat for you.
Wondering what's up with your body, your baby and your life this week? Read on ...

What You're Thinking:

"You don't have to tell me I look like a yummy mummy in this empire waist dress. I already know it."
Your Body
Fact: You are carrying around several extra pounds of weight located not only in your belly but in your bra as well. Who's baring the brunt of all this poundage? Mr. Shoulders and Mr. Back. Don't suffer in silence. Get sweet relief:
Even in early pregnancy, back pain can be a real bother, and when you get to the halfway point, forget about it! Try lying on a cool ice packto relieve some of the strain. Some alternative approaches like acupuncture and massage can ease the pain. And if not, having someone rub you for an hour still feels pretty darn good.
If you're noticing severe pain, numbing or tingling in your lower back and hips, you might havesciatica. Check in with your doctor.

Your Baby
Your baby's got a while to go before her lungs will be ready for air and is practicing her "breathing" on the amniotic fluid—sucking it in and out of her lungs. Other highlights this week:
Fat production is in overdrive at this point (for the baby, not you! Well, OK, maybe for the baby and you). Your baby will basically double in weight over the next four weeks! You'll be happy to know the same won't apply to you.
Your Mini is starting to look more like a newborn as her skin becomes less see-through. Her body is looking more proportional now, although her head is still kinda big compared to her cute little body.
Your baby is about 11½ inches long and weighs 1 pound, or about the length and weight of a Harry Potter book.

Your Life
You and your partner's sleep-ins until noon will be but a distant memory once your new alarm clock arrives. And while getting him to sleep through the night will be a ways off, you can con him into doing a lengthy stretch by making his bed the most comfortable spot possible.
Your options are plenty: crib, bassinet, cradle, portable playpen, your bed, laundry basket (we're kidding about that last one). As you shop, do your research on the pros and cons different types of nursery furniture and bedding to see what will work best for your own crib (AKA your home) and lifestyle.
If you're willing to do the extra legwork and safety research, you can save money by shopping secondhand stores. Just make sure any gear you buy meets current safety standards and has all the necessary parts.
And speaking of sleep: Make a snooze date with your partner. Turn off all the phones, clear your schedule and take a nap in the middle of the afternoon or sleep in extra late on the weekend. Have breakfast in bed while you're at it. In 17 weeks you'll wish you'd spent the whole day in bed!