31 week update

How Far Along: 31 weeks (8 more weekends of sleeping in)

How big is our little bean: size of four naval oranges

Total Weight Gain: Hard to say with xmas last weekend (and some dessert to go with it — small slices but slices I shouldn’t have).  My belly is definitely growing.

Maternity Clothes:  Some tops are getting tight now!  Time to put away some work shirts.

Sleep:  Still uncomfortable and lots of strange dreams.  I am back to 8-9 hours of sleep and still feeling tired (sounds like 1st tri again).

Other Symptoms: The little one has shifted and my pain in the butt has gone away!  Yay (for now).  It magically disappeared last thursday.  No other real symptoms other than my linea negra is getting darker and now it’s also above my belly button (before it was only below).

Best Moment this Week: Lots of hiccuping from the little one and when I lie on my side, I can feel a lot of her if I put my hand under my belly.  I can feel the little creature inside me moving around.  Love it!

Movement: Lots of activity.  Last night, DH and I watch her move across my belly.  It was pretty cool to see how much she can displace my belly.    Still our little kickboxer carrying some serious punch.

Food Cravings: No change — still always hungry and now craving dessert.  Had a fix of strawberry shortcake as a xmas treat that was really yum.

What are You Looking Forward to this Week: One more week until our next scan.  We’re nervously hoping that she has grown and the femur measurements were a fluke.  We’ll find out next tues.

Antenatal class #3 and #4

Antenatal Class #3: Breastfeeding

The lactation consultant for the hospital conducted the class.  Overall, it wasn’t the most useful class since a lot of the questions were answered by “we’ll show you once you’ve delivered” or “we’ll take care of it”.  I don’t think it eases the stress of trying to breastfeed and hearing how hard it can be.

I did have a few take-aways though:

• The baby’s stomach is the size of a marble when born – so not much is needed per feeding but a lot of feeding is necessary (upto 8x in 24 hours)
• Colostrum can be collected ahead of delivery — being careful not to cause contractions while extracting.  Apparently this is recommended in Australia.  Usually it’s only a few drops.
• Babies should have full cheeks and no dimples when breastfeeding.  Dimples = sore nipples.
• Recommended pump is Medela pumps. She also recommended Ameda (check)
• 2 weeks after delivery is a good time to start pumping – both to stock up and also to keep up supply

I think the rest was stuff I could read from books.  The best moment of the class was having a close-up video when they showed the difference between a proper latch and a nipple latch.  It was great to have milk squirting at us.

Antenatal class #4: Labor day

Definitely a lot more useful.  Signs of impending labor are lightening (baby positioning downwards) and thinning of the cervix.  The one thing most books failed to mentioned is the color of the water.  Although the water only breaks 10% of the time, if the color is a light golden or pink color, there is no need to rush to the hospital as long as you’re there within the hour.  However, if the color of the water is dark yellow or green or have green chunks (meconium), you need to go to the hospital immediately as the baby could be distressed.

Other good tips – if the water breaks and you feel pulsing in your parts, there is a chance the cord has prolapsed (ie. cord coming out first).  You’ll need to either go on all fours with your buttock tilted high and head down or lay on your back with 4 pillows under you.  You’ll need to be transported to the hospital by an ambulance and can only deliver through c-section.

Also, the water bag not breaking could be a good thing.  It doesn’t happen very often but the easiest delivery is if the water bag comes out whole with the baby inside!  It doesn’t cause the baby any stress and because it’s not oddly shaped, the delivery is very smooth.  Of course, this has only happened once in the lecturer’s 30 years experience as a nurse.

Finally, if one must have a c-section, then its best to have a partial anesthesia so your partner can be in the room with you.  Also, your DH has the option to cut the cord, as long as the dr is aware from the beginning of the surgery and he’s given sterile surgical gloves.  Your DH has to make sure he doesn’t panic with you lying opened up and then drop the scissors into your uterus.  I’m more worried that we could have a “daddy is down” situation.

30 week update

How Far Along: 30 weeks (9 more weekends of sleeping in)

How big is our little bean: size of a cabbage

Total Weight Gain: Not sure if I’m still packing on the weight.  Now that I am on a 1800 calories diet but I have cheated a little since it sounds too little to me.

Maternity Clothes: Some work pants are getting tight.

Sleep:  Not so restful with literally a pain in my butt and freaky dreams.

Other Symptoms: Severe pain in my left butt.  Seriously.  I think I have sciatica and my left buttocks have had these severely spastic pain that hurts when I walk or sit or when I’m in certain positions (including sleep).  It got better over the weekend and turned for the worst yesterday.  I suspect it’s something to do with work – either my chair or the fact that I’m sitting for extended periods of time in front of a computer.  It was so bad I couldn’t walk around without help.  One useless dr I saw said that there is nothing to be done – until the baby is delivered.  Trying to get Dr. N now for his opinion.  In the meantime, I’m talking to the little one to please ask her to shift positions so she’s not on top of my nerve.

Best Moment this Week: Knowing our little one is as active as ever. She’s seriously a kickboxer now.  Love it!

Movement: Lots of activity.  She’s usually a kickboxer in the morning and evenings.  Tapdancer in the afternoon.  She’s definitely developed a distinctive personalilty.

Food Cravings: No change — still always hungry now made worst that I think about food all the time when planning my carb intake for the day.  I crave juices and sometimes dessert — only because I can’t have them.

What are You Looking Forward to this Week: Every week is one week more for her to grow stronger. We’re hoping she is healthy and it was a fluke in the measurements or something. Still fingers crossed.

Antenatal class #2

This class was about different pain management techniques.  About half the class was going for epidural – which surprised the lecturer since she claimed that only 30% of patients use epidural.  I think her number is a tad bit low.

For sure, she was anti-epidural.  She showed us the epidural needle, how it goes in and everything in its gory details.

Anyhow, we also went through some breathing techniques and received a nice massage with tennis balls on the back from DH. 

Looking forward to next class: breastfeeding techniques

29 week update

How Far Along: 29 weeks 

How big is our little bean: size of a butternut squash (est weight: 1.1kg @ 29 weeks)

Total Weight Gain: Weighing in at +12 kg (a bit overweight although my belly is not showing it — it’s probably going to by behind which I can’t see) 

Maternity Clothes: New set of maternity bras to replace all the “upgrades”.  Going for comfort over style — poor DH.

Sleep: 8+ hrs and still feeling tired (just like 1st tri) – no change.  More and more leg cramps in the middle of the night with one nasty one that I had to wake up DH to help me stretch and massage out.  Usually, if I pull my toes towards me, it’ll make the cramps go away but not this one.

Other Symptoms: Mastitis! (ie. plugged ducts in the breasts)  I had a swollen lymph node and was diagnosed as mastitis.  Likely caused by my bra (underwire and too fitted – hence the new bra wardrobe).  It explains some of the fatigue I’ve been experiencing. 

Best Moment this Week: Knowing our little one is as active as ever.  Seeing her sweet face during our growth scan this week.

Worst Moment this Week: Seeing the little one measure low.  Her head is normal, slightly smaller abdomen, and significantly shorter femur (leg) length.  With the inputs, her weight came out at the 10th percentile at 1.1kg.  Placenta and cords blood flows were normal.  The Dr suspects possible growth restriction and suggested rescan in 3 weeks (at 32 weeks) to see if she still tracks at 10th percentile.  If she falls off the curve, there is a possibility that she’ll need to be delivered earlier since outside is a better environment for her than inside.   While we can’t wait to meet her, we want her to bake as much as she can in the oven – provided it is helping her. 

Movement:  Lots of activity still and I’ve started my kick counting.  Some days she’ll manage the 10 kicks in 1 minute but generally, it’ll take around 20 minutes for her to manage the 10 kicks.  She’s currently in breach position but we suspect she’s rotating non-stop.  She also found my bladder and decided it was fun to use it as a trampoline yesterday.

Food Cravings:  No change — still always hungry but now need to watch what I eat while providing enough to the little one.

What are You Looking Forward to this Week: Every week is one week more for her to grow stronger.  We’re hoping she is healthy and it was a fluke in the measurements or something.  Fingers crossed.

Gestational Diabetes

I failed my glucose test. 

Not only did I have to go through the glucose test  (and was sugar adversed for 2 days after) – the fasting, drinking the super sweet orange liquid, and getting poked 3 times, I didn’t pass.

To be honest, I was a bit surprised when they told me on monday since we generally eat quite healthy, not a big sweets person, and we been consciously eating more greens, proteins, and fruit.  My grandmother was diabetic but it just didn’t occur to me that I might be at risk.

 We saw a dietitian today and found out things I didn’t realize:

• Milk is a carb because of the lactose — and here I am trying to get more calcium in my diet
• My “healthy” breakfast of special K, banana, milk, and calcium fortified orange juice is 50% over the carb limit for breakfast — due to portion sizing
• I need to cut out fruit juice.  The ironic thing is that I cut out my diet soda and substituted with juice since I thought it was healthier (less artificial stuff)
• My afternoon snack of cut fruit to go with my iron supplements (Vitamin C helps absorption) is equivalent to 3-4 servings — I need to scale down to 1 serving
• I have a general lack of understanding what a serving size is and will start measuring everything (I’m so type A)

So, the meal plan starts today.  I’ll need to cut out all sugar (cookies, ice cream, fruit yogurt, etc.) and be on the balanced plan (3 meals, 3 snacks).  I’ll have to start weekly testing for my blood sugar as well before and after each meal to send to Dr. N for review.

I’m hoping this is temporary and have no impact on the little one.  I’m terrified that I’ll fall into the 50% higher risk group who end up with type II diabetes later in life.  It’s not the sugar I’ll miss but the freedom to eat the sugar whenever I feel like some.

Antenatal class #1

DH and I went to our first of five antenatal classes last night. 

It was one of the standard classes held at one of the private hospitals here.   Considering how many pregnancy and childcare books we have read so far (book review another day), we found the class quite educational.

First off, the instructor was quite entertaining and she wasn’t shy using specific words and pointing/grabbing/rubbing/whatever-else with her different body parts to demonstrate. 

Second, we learned some prenatal exercises that we can start practicing from here on out.  I’m glad that we are actually attending the Dec and not Jan session suggested by the hospital – this means that we are able to get 4 more weeks of exercise in.  I seriously can’t imagine trying to do the exercises at 37 weeks (one of the ladies in the class is at 37 weeks) — since delivery could be any day.  There was a series of exercises to tone the labour muscles and for the life of me, I can’t squat with my feet flat on the floor without tipping over. I blame it on the shift in center of gravity (yeah right).  I guess I’ll be working hard on these exercises in the hopes that I can reduce down the number of hours in labor.

Third, it was quite interesting to hear what we can do to induce labour if due date rolls around and it’s time to send the eviction notice.  Apparently, the placenta has an expiration date – of around 40 weeks.  After that, the placenta starts to deteriorate and isn’t effective in providing nourishment to the baby – hence the need to induce the baby.  Well, her tips to avoid induction were (1) sex; (2) walk a lot; (3) rubbing the nipples.  Yep – sex!  Can you imagine trying to bump around at 40 weeks!   Apparently, one of the pills they stick up there to induce labor is this testosterone pill at S$100 (US$75) a pop and possibly upto 4 pills.  Semen has the same male hormones.  Good to know.

Last, buying expensive belly cream may not help on the stretch mark department (consistent with the books).  Just ask your mother.  Guess who I’ll be calling soon?  Otherwise, if you still feel the need to moisturize, cheaper oil by the oz like olive oil, vegetable oil, etc. might work just as well (ie. not work if you’re pre-disposed)

I’m looking forward to the next session — daddy in labor — where you get to train your husband to be your slave for labor day.

Hello 3rd Tri – 28 week update

How Far Along: 28 weeks 

How big is our little bean: size of a chinese cabbage (ie. 37.6cm).

Total Weight Gain: No idea but definitely close to +10kg.

Maternity Clothes: A few maternity pants are getting tighter by the day.

Sleep: 8+ hrs and still feeling tired (just like 1st tri).  Having a lot of dreams at night but good thing they are most forgotten by the morning since some of them are bizarre/disturbing. 

Other Symptoms: Heartburn is back – worst than ever.  Also, my stomach is smaller so I’ve reduced my portion size to help ease the heartburn.  Lots of water retention (could be the heat) below the knee.  I’ve also started noticing Braxton Hicks 2 weeks ago — my belly gets super tight and it feels odd – like I’m trying to work on a 6 pack (ha! too late for that)

Best Moment this Week: Feeling the little one goes nuts every time her daddy is home — she definitely gets excited when he’s around and there is a noticeable difference in movements.

Movement:  Lots of activity but generally on the right side of my belly and sometimes on the lower left side.  Nothing so far near my ribs so likely our little one is lying sideways and the little one definitely loves my right side since I can feel her trying to squish into the space there.  Also, there was a few serious hiccup episodes a few days ago that was just too funny – it was softer and timed at the same interval to not be hiccups.

Today, it was all about drumming or bouncing to celebrate 28 weeks!  Last few days, I’ve been able to feel her limb when she’s moving about – like little bones and flesh – amazing!

Food Cravings: No change — still always hungry although I can’t eat much.

What are You Looking Forward to this Week: Growth scan next week to see our little one.

Not Looking Forward to this Week: 3 hr glucose test this sat starting at 8am.  Not sure why but dr ordered the 3 hr test straight away – so much for my sat morning!