Prizes received

Received 2 cool prizes this week from the contests that myself and Sky entered earlier. He won a book by John Grisham 'The Broker' (Times Bestseller) and myself a Gameboy Advanced SP (Black).

Perhaps Lady Luck starts to 'shine' on us. Hope the coming Dog year will be another lucky and smooth year for us and the baby.

32 weeks - Baby's growth

Wonders about the development of the baby this week?

(with reference from www.Babyfit.com)
The baby is now able to register information from all five of its senses, but certain senses, like smell, will not be used until outside of the womb when air is breathed. The baby's brain has also increased dramatically in size but is folding in on itself now as part of the development process.
Other changes that are happening:
The baby's pupils are opening and closing now in response to the amount of light.
The baby's toenails will be completely formed by the end of this week

Baby favorite position

Last week and this week, the baby's movement are the most active. And this week, some 'strange' incident happened where out of a sudden, my tummy is one side bigger than the other(the weight suddenly rest on one side of the tummy). A bit hard for me to explain it and it does not happen in all pregnancies.

It is the baby, 'cuddle' in such a position at one side of the tummy (usually the right side, but i donno why..)When i put my hand on the tummy, i can feel it very 'hard' and as though i can 'touch' the baby( i still wonder whether it is the head or rump?)

Perhaps this has something to do with genetics. My mom said when she was bearing me, the same incident happened and she would lie down and let me 'relax' and later on 'swim' back to the middle of the tummy...:)

Stem cell collection

Why save stem cell? (excerpts from StemLife)
Thousands of families are banking their newborns' cord blood because it contains stem cells that are unique to the newborns, and genetically related to their families. Cord blood banking enables parents to preserve these precious stem cells for their own potential use for the many developing applications of stem cell technologies, such as its use in treating heart disease and Alzheimer's. It also serves as a type of safeguard in case of future need for treatment of cancers and blood disorders that are already being treated with cord blood stem cells.

First Gift to Our Baby

On 21 Jan, we signed up with StemLife(www.stemlife.com) the umbilical cord blood collection. We were given the blood collection kit; which i have to bring to the labor room and pass to the midwife/doctor to collect the blood from the umbilical cord.

We believe that with the advancement of science and technology esp biotech, it gives insurance to the baby and us, the parents.

Mild diabetes during third trimester

I was diagnosed to have mild diabetes (at the borderline). Strange though as i dont consume a lot of sweet stuffs throughout my pregnancy. Nevertheless, being diagnosed so, need to be more careful with diet and need to exercise more.

Never had i in my life been so conscious about food consumption. NOw though say diabetes at the borderline, i eliminate all sweet stuffs from my life; chocolates, sweets, most types of fruits, fruit juices, sweet drinks etc etc...

Cut down on rice and other starch food. My snacks now are cereals and oats products like biscuits and bread. If this happen to me not during my pregnancy, sure i will lament and complaint "How to survive by eating only these food?" Being a Mom now, nothing is more important than the health of the baby..:) Kasih Ibu ...ohhh!

31 weeks -- Too early to pack my maternity bag?

Of course it is early.. emm.. but lemme do a checklist on the stuffs i required.
(Thanks to Ice for the sharings made on the checklist)

1. Kain batik/sarung
2. Loose clothing
3. Socks (Chinese pantang, must not catch too much 'cool' air during confinement)
4. Maternity pad
5. Maternity bra
6. Stem-cell kit (to sign-up by this month)
7. Toiletries
8. Baby's stuffs (clothes, bottles, towels, mittens, cap)
9. Maybe for convenient sake will get some disposable panties
10.What else do i need? (anyone to share?)

Sudden urge to pee...

Starting this week, there are times when i must stop all the things i am doing at the moment and rush at once to the loo to pee. Haven't got such strong urgency to pee before.(of course earlier i did mention about the frequency to the loo which has increased).

The feeling was 'Oh No, please dont pee now, wait till i reach the loo'. It was as though the next moment , the bladder will burst! From what i read from the internet, it is due to the positioning of the baby( as now the baby's head is 'heading down') and might have hit the bladder with the vigorous kickings and movements.

I can feel that i grow pale, loss of words, cannot concentrate at all until i release the 'tension'.
Ahhhh.... and then feel very very relieved...:)

Baby, you are so naughty!

Unforgetable memories of Narnia...

For us, the memories associated with Narnia would be unforgetable. First we won 4 tickets to watch the Narnia premiere, but cant attend due to myself not feeling well (urine infection). Then both Sky and myself won the First Prize of Narnia contests (Malaysian Today) and won 6 limited edition Narnia mugs each.

Later, we managed to get the movie and we watched it at home. It was supposed to be exciting and full with action and thrill, but the movie we watched was otherwise. The siblings were 'old-fashioned', the beavers were actually human wearing the animal suit and etc. After watching about half of the movie only we realised that we were watching the old version of the movie(think was filmed in the sixties or seventies) . Sure the baby was laughing at the silliness of his parents ..:)

So we are sourcing for the 2005 version of Narnia. We watched the trailer, and compared to the older version that we watched, ha! ha! ha! Computer graphics and animation brings wonders.

Wait Till You're Older

Watched this movie starring Andy Lau, Karen Mok and Wong Yat Wah. About Xiao Guang(Andy) acted as the main star, a 12 yr old boy who was not in good terms with his dad and step-mom. He stole a 'magic potion' which can make him grow up faster.

So the whole movie was abt his life journey from age 12 to 80 year old. About the vicissitudes of his life, as he grown older faster and the understandings he got over the matters that he misunderstood earlier etc.

I think it is every child dream to be able to grow up faster, to be able to do the things they want in life without so much 'supervision' from parents. Hey, i felt the same when i was small too. So i think the same will go for my baby.

And this film made me realised the importance of open communication between parent and child. Dont 'assume' that the kid is too small to understand what happened, the question is do we take the effort to explain to the kid?

Having a baby in Dog year will enhance my Feng shui?

As we are ushering into the new year (Dog year), there are many articles and coverage on the fengshui / luck of a person in this year. Having a Earth horse zodiac, i read that having a baby this year will enhance my luck tremendously..:) How i wish this will be true...hehe..

I am not only talking about money luck (of course it is important too, if i can strike the 4D or lottery), but of other kind of lucks ie health, relationship, career etc. These are of higher priorities and importance to me now since i become a Mommy. Money arr, as long as have enough to spend and a little to save, it is already a blessings to my family.

So my wish for this year: (and hope my feng shui luck helps)
1. Baby will be born easily (less labour pain for me)
2. Baby grow up healthy and 'can sleep well' at nights (less wake-ups for me)
3. Career advancement (and a promotion maybe?)
4. An overseas trip by end of the year when my baby is bigger (need to 'take a break' and come
back as a more 'energetic' Mommy)
5.

Leg swollen => Excess fluid in amniotic sac?

Yesterday my colleague commented that my legs were very much 'swollen'. It is normally due to water retention in my body. What scared me was when she told me that it might also caused the excess fluid in the amniotic sac( where the baby is living in now). Excess fluid in the amniotic sac can drown the baby and caused 'stillborn'.

The thought really worried me and at night me and Sky went to HUKM for a check. BP was normal , but sugar was detected in my urine(maybe because i just had my dinner and drank some sweet drink). Was linked to the fetal monitor to monitor the heartbeat of the baby. The heartbeat of the baby was very fast, and the sound from the machine was just like some waves/water sound.

Doc assured me that there was no correlation on leg swollen will cause excess fluid in the sac. Phew... at least now i am relieved! But since sugar was detected in my urine and again, it was acidic and looked 'cloudy', the urine infection that i had one month ago might striked back. Will need to perform some lab tests next week.

Anti-tetanus 2nd jab

Had my anti-tetanus 2nd jab this morning. The first one was one month ago, 14 Dec 2005. So now i have completed the 2 jabs for anti-tetanus(kancing gigi).

For my pregnant friends(1st time) , please check with your GP/gynae whether you have to take these jabs (for safety purpose ok).

Now feel a little 'numb' on my left arm, where the jab took place. Based on the 1st jab experience, the area will be a bit swollen and the slight pain will last for a few days.

Feng Shui in Dog Year

Few days ago, i went to a fengshui shop in town. Got a general fengshui guide for all zodiac. For me and Sky , the fengshui is very good generally. For baby, as this year will be a Fire Dog year, think it will be a 'hotdog' year for her/him...hmm Anyway, those who is born under the zodiac for that year will have 'average' fengshui.

My baby will be my 'ally' in this year as i need someone from Dog zodiac to 'protect' me. So seems like my baby will become my 'guardian angel' lor.. strange ehh? Mom protect baby and baby 'protect' Mommy... (nah, i am not that superstitious and into the fengshui thing, more for reading pleasure and for fun only)

Check-up at local clinic

I had check up at a local clinic near where i live this morning and the service is FOC. The waiting time was not so bad( thinking of getting free service, so usually had to add in the time element). Arrived at 730 am and i was done by 920am.

BP checked:110 /70
Urine: no sugar detected
Weight:72 kg
Baby position: The head is 'heading' down (normal position after 7 months)

Will have another check up at this clinic 2 weeks from now, on 26 Jan 2006.

The baby kicks are getting stronger, make me to think that perhaps the gender is a boy? Wah, if girl, then this baby is very 'masculine' lor, can kick so hard...

I had a dream

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Coconut drink

The feeling was just so nice and the drink was so... refreshing. After been grounded from taking iced drinks, 'cool' drinks for 7 months, now finally, i can consume the coconut drink(also not regularly) from this month onwards till deliver.

This made me pondered, sometimes, small things/cravings like this, once 'accomplished' would made us felt so 'guud'. Hmm.. perhaps a mother myself soon, now i begin to understand why my Mom always 'nag and nag' on 'Being happy with simple life'.

Tonite will boil red dates drink ..:)

Heartburn and gastric attack

While watching a drama at home with Sky on last Thu nite, suddenly felt the 'hardening of my chest'. I was 'attacked' a few times in duration of 30 minutes. We rushed to HUKM O&G Emergency Dept for a check-up.

Actually i started to have the slight pain after lunch that day. I ate banana leaf rice (which came in large portion).

BP(100/60) and urine checked. Both were normal. Weight: 73.5kg (increased 15 kg since pregnancy). After waited for about 20 min, i was called by the Doc. Did a 'check' on my baby via a machine which recorded the heartbeat of the baby. Normal.

With further diagnosing, the Doc said what i experienced was 'heartburn and gastric attack' which might be caused by indigestion. As the baby grown bigger and occupied most of the space, indigestion might happen, causing the 'acidic gas' from stomach rushed up up the abdomen causing the pain that i was experiencing.

Lesson learnt: Try to eat in smaller portion , more regularly.

Baby names

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Food for radiant baby complexion

Chinese says that consuming bird nests during final trimester will make baby skin more radiant and has a 'healthy glow'. Hmm, to me, it seems a 'luxury food' i hardly can afford. Thanks to my sis-in-law, she gave me a few bottles of instant bird nests in bottles which i can consumed directly.

So my regime to ensure baby still can get radiant skin is through consumption of enough plain water daily, more fruits and leafy green vege. I also boil the red dates( from 4 bowls of water, simmer until become 1 bowl of water, that is about 2 hrs). My confinement lady also advise to start drinking coconut drink @ 7 months onwards, will make sure baby will not get rashes easily.

Will hunt for coconuts during the coming weekends..:)

Reaching 30 weeks of pregnancy

30 weeks of pregnancy is one of my key milestone. Let's see, the vicissitudes of pregnancy life...

There are the ups and downs, more downs in the first trimester when the energy was 'zapped', morning sickness(though thank goodness that i don have vomitting and much nausea), lethargic, sleeping like 10 hrs a day and still felt not enough, midnight rush to the loo, 'forced' the Anmum down my throat until now i felt in love with it..:)

Second trimester... more excited, read more abt pregnancy and babies related stuffs, regained my energy, can go some night outings with friends, had urine infection (caused by germs and urine too acidic), more supplements to consume( acid folic, iron, calcium, B complex, Vit. C ); 6 pills each morning after my Anmum.

Third trimester.. here i come... gained i think more than 10 kgs, a 'cleavage' to be proud about though i think it is temporary, big tummy, expanding 'side-ways', leg cramps, swollen leg, frequent urgency to pee, new hobby that is lying on bed/sofa and 'massage'/talk to my baby and watching the baby kicking and 'somersaulting' in my tummy; making 'waves' and 'sounds'... too mystical to describe in words.

Bio-insurance via Stem Cell Collection

Have you heard about 'stem-cell'? If you are pregnant, you MUST find out more about it. www.stemlife.com or www.cryocord.com.my to find out more.

Special thanks to my good pal, Ice for sharing this info with us and now we are considering and comparing amongst the 2 labs (as above). In short, stem-cell is the master cell of the baby, if collected (extracted from the baby's umbilical cord and placenta) which later on can be used to generate the various type of cells, ie brain, blood, spinal etc to cure diseases like diabetic, high blood, cancer, leukimia and many more as there are more scientific breakthroughs nowadays.

Me and Sky are planning a lab visit to these places somewhere in Jan. Will share more about it later.

SMS surprise

Thanks to Hendry for forwarding the happy news of Mimi to me. She is our Shanghainese friend, now staying in Finland. She also just delivered a beautiful baby girl on 27 Dec 05, 3.2 kg, 47 cm.
So happy so receive so many good news from friends near and far on the delivery of their babies. If one day, we can 'fly' and visit each other, just as how easy we are now able to communicate via internet rather than snail mail, i will fly over and pay them a visit. (dream on...)

And lucky her, Finland government has policy where the duration of the maternity leave actually depends on your last year wages. Minimum 3 months and maximum up to 1 year, and i think (if i am not wrong), Mimi got 9 months off.

Hmm, as for myself, i am more than happy to have 2 months off. Also eyeing the Saturdays off to be implemented to banking industry soon, i will have more time to spend with my newborn..:)

Another pre-mature birth

On NYE, i received a lot of sms by friends to greet me HNY 2006. I was surprised to receive one special sms by my ex-coursemate, GK. She had just gave birth to a baby boy, at 34 weeks! Seemed like the boy is too eager to come out and 'greet' the world. (Well, thinking of can start school one year earlier and start to earn money earlier too, hehe)

Though pre-mature, the baby is 'big', at 2.4 kg and 49 cm in length. Looking forward to see some photos of the baby soon.