2nd trimester milestones

2nd trimester came in a flash and I am currently into the last leg of my pregnancy! As promised, I will be posting the ultrasound pictures which were taken during my 2nd trimester.

The trimester is the most comfortable as compared to the 1st trimester. Though there was no morning sickness, I guess I got used to the raging preggy hormones. So feeling more energetic and feeling over the moon was definetely something great! But the 2nd trimester was a period of time where the gynae loves to say "See you in 4 weeks". Seriously this means spending lesser money but it also means a long wait before you get to see baby! 

2nd trimester esentially starts in Week 14... But i didn't get to see baby until I went to do the detailed scan in Week 19+ which I blogged previously. So here are the pics:

BABY's ESTIMATED WEIGHT: 271 grms (a small packet of tetra-pak soft drink)

@ 19 weeks 3 days

[Above 2 pics] Here u can see the different measurements that were taken by the sonographer to ensure that baby is well within the normal range of babies of the same age.

[Above] Ohh... can u see bb's hands? they are clenched thou... and held near the face...

[Above] Nicely formed spine! You can even see the nice little bits and the spine fusing at the tail.

[Above] Erhmm... I wanted to mosaic this photo actually but u can see the sonographer has decided "GIRL" in less than 5 seconds after she complained that the bb's leg is closed n she can't see a thing. Very experienced sonographer?

BABY's ESTIMATED WEIGHT: 650 grms (2 cans of coke already!)

@ 23 weeks

[Above] Seriously, this is one of the most interesting ultrasound pic my gynae gave me... He explained what was wat in the picture but now i can't remember. I only remember that it includes the baby's heart... What else? Maybe u can guess n let me know what is it that's being shown. Gynae says that the umbilical cord is not around the baby's neck which is good.

BABY's ESTIMATED WEIGHT: 1000 grms (2 bottles of mineral water already!)

@ 26 weeks 2 days

[Above] Seriously, you can figure whats in the pic? The left is the back n tummy with a little bit of the face. 

During this visit, I told Dr Tseng "Can we see baby's face in the ultrasound?". Dr Tseng said he will try. So after rolling the equipment all over the tummy and not capturing any facial features, he gave up. In my words - Baby is looking out for my back! 

There baby goes again! Shy uh... Close legs when checking gender and now baby shows me the buttocks when i want to see the face. If u note in the ultrasound, the baby is facing the bottom part of the picture - indicating that baby is looking at my back.

Baby's heart beat has slightly slowed (i.e. from 160 to 140). Dr Tseng says its normal too since baby is growing and that explains why... Baby's head is also not head down yet and that too is normal as Week 26 is still way too early and there is time for the head to slowly turn.

Lastly, Dr Tseng told me to cut back on carbs and sugar as I am tested postive for glucose. However, no glucose test was ordered for me. So from today onwards, lesser rice, pasta, etc.

In conclusion, I really hope to keep my sugar in control... Dun want to be diabetic... Praying for a smooth sailing 3rd trimester!

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)

1st trimester milestones!

It's time for a little recap of how the "little one" looks like on the ultrasound. Presenting to you, a series of my "little one" ultrasound photos! Enjoy!














Week 4: There is obviously nothing to see from my ultrasound photo! Doc says the black patch is quite a thick lining. Good for baby and it is possible tat I am pregnant.

Week 5: See the little black dot? *haha* First signs of being pregnant. The fertilised egg is implanted to the lining.

Week 6, 3 days: The little black dot seems to have expanded? You can see from the ultrasound, the doc has made a mark for "fetus". Now the baby is officially a fetus!

Week 8, 3 days: See how much the fetus has grown! It's now bigger than just a little dot on the ultrasound picture and can see the body and head! *Wow* The second pic shows the fetus and the heart beat! The gynae turned on the sound and we can hear the baby's heart beating! Fast n strong! Gynae's only comment: "Very good!".

Week 13: Erhmm... now there is no need to squint at the ultrasound photo! There is little baby. To help you with your imagination, the head is on the right, the body is on the left (*dur*). Can you see the two little dots on the left hand side? It's the baby's feet! The gynae is happy with progress of baby.

There are some other scans such as the Oscar (which is to test for down syndrome) and the detailed scan (for Anomaly scan -20 weeks). Will take some pics of the 20 weeks scan and post it up with the photo of my little one during my gynae visit next week.

Detailed scan results!!!

Finally, the day for the detailed scan came! It was a long 6 weeks of wait. With anticipation and hope that the baby has good readings would definelty be an aim any mother would hope for.

Hubby and I mopped around in the house till we had little time left for travelling down to the hospital. So we "dashed" to the hospital just in time for my appointment. The sonographer this time was more experienced and she was really quick in getting the readings. I am Week 19 and 3 days during the scan.  Readings and observations were taken for the vital organs - for example: the circumference size of the baby's head, the functionality of the heart, the length of the baby's body, the thigh and the legs. 

Throughout the scan, the sonographer would take measurements and each time she says its within the average, I was going like "Phew". She also took a look at the blood flow from the heart as well as the umbilical cord - There were blue and red portions! This means that the flow of blood is two-directional. She had also checked for both the upper and lower lips + the fingers (5 knuckles n 1 thumb). Baby has been clenching the fist, putting the hands against the face and even crossing or closing legs!

She tried a few times to get a good look at the gender but bb was simply closing legs. Sonographer could only say "Oh baby is so shy... Covering face and legs" Finally the songrapher managed a shot! The annoucement, "See those lines? Girl!". Hmmm... My feelings are mixed! On one hand I was elated that the baby is healthy. On the other, I was hoping this baby would be a boy. Partly, my grandma is old and I would really like to give her a male grandson (she has 3 grand daughters only)...

Nevertheless, girl is of course good. I believe father of girls will be prosperous and happy. So girl is good too (definetely, my dad is a purr-fect example)! Well, my gynae previously thought the baby was a boy. So he said, we'll see in 4 weeks to confirm the gender.

I have gone for a little window shopping trip... Saw NUK bottles selling at $13.80 which includes the teat... I am choosing NUK baby bottles since they are proven to prevent nipple confusion. Since I will be doing both breast and bottle feeding, why not invest in something which would confuse the baby least? Other things which I have shortlisted includes, steriliser, food warmer, one more cot bedding set, manbe a few pieces of clothes, etc. These could burn up a little hole in the pocket - so gotta spend less and save up some money for shopping...