The most memorable gynae visit (so far)...

Today marks the last monthly visit to the gynae and back to the bi-weekly visits till birth day. ;)

During the next visit at week 32, the clinic is going to collect the delivery fee! The heat is turned up further as the hospital has sent me a "pre-admission" form.

I am still as cool as a cucumber- baby clothes, breast pump and almost everything else is still in the store room. Nothing is washed/dried. Newborn diapers are still on the supermarket shelves... I wonder if that's how mummies prepare for their subsequent births! LOL!

Complained to my gynae about my cough that has been persisting for the last 2 weeks. The green phelgm is gone and I am super glad that I didnt need to take the GP prescribed anti-b. However, the persistent cough gave me the most memorable pressie this afternoon. After a hearty, fulfiling lunch of prawn noodles and ngoh hiang which I craved for, we headed to Vivo to get my lozenges. While in the carpark, a burp came up together with that cough. The unfortunate combination triggered a small "merlion" event. As hubby was shocked and concerned, my subsequent coughs triggered two larger "merlion" cycles. I think I was in shock too - trying to not ruin the car (too late) and was unable to puke outside the car (as i was still buckled). *roll eyes* To my horror, my face and eyes were all red and teary (yeah i look drunk alright) from the coughing and lack of air caused by the puking episode. Actually, I had two similar mini accidents prior to this. Now, i'm so freaked out, I have a plastic bag on the ready...

Also, asked my gyane whether "baby bump vibrations" were normal... During week 26-28, I felt my baby bump/baby vibrate. It was queer- like having swollowed a vibrating mobile phone. It was a "cute" but worrying sensation since common descriptions are usually flutters or bumps and kicks from the inside. Gynae laughed and confirmed that it's normal as the baby is having some natural reactions (like a shiver up the spine type of reaction some kids have while/after pee-ing).

Having decided to donate my #2's cordblood to SCBB again, I sought my gynae's support in collecting it after delivery. I will have to call SCBB after week 32 of my preganancy to get the paperwork done. ;) It's always better to donate than discard, since it could help save someone's life.

Other updates would include my suprising (under?) weight gain (only 5kg so far). Tummy size is normal (1cm per week progressed). Baby is still head up but gynae says it's ok since there is still some time to go. Ending off this post with a "spine" ultrasound photo which gynae took. :p Can tell?

My TTC journey :)

I am about 18 weeks now and this is just a record of what had happened for #2.

The TTC journey is a long one this round... Comparing it with my first pregnancy which took only about 6 months with the help of Clomid and ovulation monitoring.

This TTC journey started 2 years ago when we started planning for a "Rabbit baby". The Rabbit year came and went. Enter the year of the "Dragon"... The months to try for a Dragon were coming to an end. Not that Dragon matters but it's almost 2 years of trying! Medical attention was definitely needed...

I went back to SGH's CARE which helped me conceive back in 2008. The doctor recommended two cycles of Clomid. After failing one cycle with Clomid, the doctor ordered an additional trigger shot during the 2nd cycle. Having read the side effects of long term Clomid usage, I did not want to be on more Clomid. So, I went back to the gynae who delivered my #1. There, I relied only on ovulation monitoring (i.e. ultrasound scanning and LH test kits). Just when the gynae asked if we would consider IUI during my next cycle, since my "natural" attempts have failed, we hit the jackpot!

This attempt was no different from the other cycles. The only difference was that we tried alternate days just before, during and after the LH surge. I remember during my TTC journey, there was a lady who blogged about her LH test kits and it was called - pee on stick. For memory sake, I actually took pictures of the LH test kits and put them side by side for comparison. So here there are  - the photos of LH test kits used in this successful cycle. My gynae confirmed that the positive test result should be the 3rd stick and not the first. As to why the second kit looks so negative, he couldn't quite explain. :p

The #2 pregnancy was also a Mothers' Day gift. I tested positive the day before Mothers' Day. Was 4-5 days late and I wasn't holding up much hope since it was normal for my cycle to be late up to 5-6 days. But positive it was. :)

Will be blogging more about the pregnancy in the next few posts! :)

Will this be my last gynae visit???

Today is my week 39 appointment. It is also the first gynae visit without my husband. I took a cab from home to the hospital and the taxi uncle decided not to ask me what was my preferred route!!! He chose to cut through Orchard Road... I could not help but sigh each time we stop at the traffic lights. Not that I was impatient but I really running late!

Back to my appointment... The following were what I learnt from the nurses at the clinic:

a) My glucose and protein test stick came back as normal;

b) My blood pressure reading is usual (i.e. "normal");

c) My weight actually dropped!!!! I am back to 61.9kg (i.e. my week 37 weight). I read online that sudden weight gain can be caused by water retention. Further to that, my legs' water retention problem seem to have changed for the better. Hence it could be possible that I lost about 0.9kg of water!

When seeing the gynae, I asked him about the cramps/pains that I have been having. He said they were Braxton Hicks contractions and that I would have them more and more frequently until baby is born. Sometimes, I wonder if I am mixing up contractions, adominal pains and pelvic pains. Are they all the same? My doc also annouced that baby is head down and fully engaged. So it's a matter of time when baby will arrive. The doppler played the baby's heartbeat "Wow! WOw! Wow! WoW!", the prognosis - good!

In the end, no vaginal examination was conducted. I am glad since I heard from the many mothers to be that it can get extremely uncomfortable and painful. The worst after effect is bleeding! *Geez*

I do however wonder if this will be my last gynae visit. I really want to see you... my little angel! Don't you want to meet me and daddy too?

The count down starts... NOW!

Looking back, it did not seem like such a long time back when I first tested myself positive on the two pregnancy test kits which my husband bought from the pharmacy... I am officially into week 38 + of my pregnancy.  Which means I will be meeting my little angel pretty soon!

At the moment, I am loading myself up with things which I want to eat! For example, I had my first 2 half boil eggs for breakfast this morning. A lot of pregnancy books do not encourage pregnant ladies to have raw or semi-cook food. According to my dearest gynae clinic's weighing machine, I gained 0.9kg in one week! *GASP* I sure hope that baby is gaining most of that 0.9kg and not me. Having gained more than 12kg throughout this pregnancy, I turned to my hubby and asked "Do I look 12 kg heavier? i.e. bigger arms, etc.". Hubby did not blink an eye and he said "Nope! Can't tell!". Wonder if he is just getting himself out of trouble by giving me a politically correct answer.

Other than the 0.9kg I put on, my blood pressure seem to have gone down to the readings I get during the first part of my 3rd trimester (which is a good thing). My legs look like pig trotters in the morning, then they turn into elephant legs in the evening. Yes, my legs started swelling on their own last week. The water retention is confirmed since my skin does not jump back up after i press it down. *Tsk Tsk*

I asked my gynae if he has any idea when I will give birth. He only say that it is hard to tell since this is my first pregnancy. Of course, he did not do an examination on me to see if I have dilated or not. I will be seeing him again next tuesday! I really hope baby will make her birthday on 8 Dec 08. Isn't that birthdate just plain wonderful? 8 is my favourite number and I won't need to use my annual leave too! I am intending to take leave starting next week (i.e. from 9 Dec onwards).

Although I have been talking to baby on coming out next week, I will leave her to decide when she wants to say hello to mummy and daddy! 

Yippee! Week 37 already!

It has been such a long time since I updated this blog isn't it? The past two weeks has perhaps been the longest count down to full term. Starting this week, baby is officially full term. So no more pre-mature baby bad dreams, etc. 

On Monday, me and hubby went to see the gynae. I gained another 1.6kg, bringing my total weight gain to 12kg! After 2 appointments (i.e. one month) of not doing an ultrasound, I decided that I wanted to do an ultrasound so that my gynae could estimate my baby's weight! Baby has an estimated weight of 2.8 kg (a good normal weight) at Week 37. This time we forgot to ask the doctor for baby's heartbeat rate. During the measurement, the gynae said that baby is moving around. I must say the heartbeat always sound different on the doppler.

During the ultrasound, the doctor confirmed that all is well - including the amount of water in the waterbag, placement of the umbilical cord, etc. *Phew* While measuring the circumference of the baby's head on the ultrasound, I noticed that baby was turning her head from left to right - left to right - left to right... At this moment, my gynae said something along the lines "See your baby is turning the head from side to side! baby is trying to drill down!". Then he laughed. Both me and my hubby did too. It was indeed a memorable quote from my gynae!

Today, my baby's cot is nicely set up in the baby's nursery! I can smell it's "new"-ness from the living room right now as I am blogging. My hubby also used his creatity when putting up the little flower wall lamp (which we are using as night light) from Ikea. Thanks sweetheart! Now the nursery seem so complete! *GRINZ*

As you can see on the right, I also bought a second-hand playpen (which will be baby's afternoon bed at my MIL's place) from my sister's colleague. It's pretty much in mint new condition so I got it for quite a steal of $70. But I had to buy a mattress so that my baby can zzz in it. Hubby spent a little more to get a better mattress so good for baby! *Baby thanks Papa!*

Last week, I went to the Tollyjoy sale at Changi Industrial Estate. I was quite dissapointed by the offerings because the supposed cheap clothes were kind of clothes with defects or stains. I took a pretty long time before finally deciding on 2 pcs of clothing for baby's first new year. My hubby and I both liked the design (so that was a real plus). Other than the clothings, I also bought 2 4-oz plastic bottles at $1 each and cloth diaper liners.

Tummy Pictures!

Went for the first of the every 2 weeks gynae visit on Saturday. This time, we did not do the ultrasound, Dr Tseng said that it won't be necessary since we just did it 2 weeks ago! He measured my tummy size and it is on target (i.e. 34 cm for 34 weeks). Then he pressed the tummy and annouced that baby is head down (good! I hope baby stays that way!). Next he measured baby's heart beat... It used to be 160 (in first and early second trimester), then it was 140 (about wk 28), now the heartbeat is 130 at wk 34. The baby's heartbeat will slow as the weeks passes as it grows.

So far I have gained about 11kg already! From my pre-pregnancy weight of 49.5kg to 60kg... I can see the "fatty" lines on my thighs... Really hope all these weight won't stick to me for too long. My colleague told me she lost about 7kg after giving birth (depending on weight of baby, water bag, placenta, etc), so she told me not too worry...

I went to the hospital tour at Thomson Medical Hospital yesteraday and it was pretty eye opening. Seeing is believing! I was amazed by the single bedded (renovated) rooms. They look super tempting and nice!!! But I am sticking to my initial choice as the stay won't be that long. I rather spend the money staying in a hotel with hubby and baby!

Anyway, I promised some of my tummy pictures right? Here they are... The tummy has gotten bigger (exponentially since the end of 2nd trimester). And the most obvious: The protrusion of the belly button! 

 Wk 15 (The starting of a little bump...)

 Wk 20 (Growing a little more)

 Wk 23 (Did it grow? Seems like same size as Wk 20!)

 Wk 28 (Just 5 wks and u can see part of my belly button sticking out like a shelter)

 Wk 33 (The belly button is officially "blown" full size! n popping out like a little mushroom...)

 

 

 

Wk 35

 

 

 

Wk 36 (More expansion underway!)

 

 Wk 37 (Is it me? The tummy seems heavier at the bottom!)  

Week 23...

I was Week 23 and 2 days when I went to see my doctor again. Asked doctor why I have been getting pains near the naval area and he said I may have had too much bean products which will cause gases n hence the pain...

I won't be uploading the ultrasound photo here until my next summary for 2nd trimester ultrasound pictures. According to the doctor, my baby is already 650 grams (weight of 2 cans of coke)! The last measurement at Week 19, baby was only 270grams (weight of a Yeo's packet drink). The measurements are usually an estimation based on measurements of some "key" areas of the baby (e.g. size of the head, size of adomen, size of femur, etc). While it may not be 100% accurate, the doc says the size is normal... YEAH... And no umbilical cord around the baby's neck too!

Here is also a little update of my "clothes" spree for little baby... Spent a total of $80! I should have asked the aunty for discount - but i did not! 

   

6 sets of pyjamas (long sleeve & long pants)

 

6 sets of day wears for home (short sleeve & shorts)

 

6 sets of booties and mittens

First outing clothes for my baby? - 1 set of outdoor wear (brown little bears)

12 pcs of cloth diapers

(lazy to take photo lah...) 

AND... 6 pcs of towel (adult size ones)