Like Father Like Son

My hubby told me once before, that in his childhood not so long time ago (if you consider 25 years ago is just a short interval in human kind's history), he always turned in his sleeping position. He started off to sleep in a certain position in bed, and woke up 180 degrees upside down with his head at the foot of the bed and his legs on his pillow.

Myself ? I have always been a sound sleeper. I hardly moved a muscle while I sleep. Well...I probably just exagerate a bit, but the most movement I made during sleep is to turn left or right...definitely not upside down. And it just become more prominent with this bulging tummy of mine, since lying on my back is not an option anymore.

So, having my baby turns head down again today in his latest scan of 38th week (last week he had decided to turn his head in up position = breech), anyone would have thought that he got it from his daddy. Would you not agree ? :D

Be a good boy now and stay in your position until you decide to come out to the world. Mommy will be quite happy that way. Shall I see you again next week in a scan monitor ? Of course if by that time you are still feeling content in mommy's womb... After all, you're not due until end of this month. Can't wait to welcome you my dear..

oNiOn BisCuitS

The good thing of having some time for myself, is to indulge with the long forgotten hobby of mine...baking. All the way back home when I still stayed with my parents, I used to try out all sort of things to bake. Cookies, pizzas, puddings, cakes, you just name it. And to give myself credit (who else will do it besides oneself.. hehe), I didn't use the pre-made pizza base one could easily find in a supermarket nowadays nor pre-mixed cake flour. I actually measured and prepared them from scratch. Hard to believe??


Of course some ended disastrously especially in the first try, but with a little bit of practice, I actually did well. And I had my whole family to loyally taste and finish each and every bits of what I made. The best thing about baking is, as long as one does not bake it to a charcoal like appearance (which will definitely make it bitter), the result is normally still edible.


So, back to my plenty time to waste at home while awaiting my baby's due, I managed to make onion biscuits or cookies that I love, mostly because of the simplicity of making them. I don't even need to bake them in an oven. Just need a pan and cooking oil to fry the dough, and voila!!...couple of hours later, I have a full jar of freshly made onion cookies.


Enjoy everyone...

Latest Baby Position

After being head down for a month or so, my baby stubbornly still wants to move around at his 37th week. I couldn't believe that he has turned head up in the last few days, or so says the ultrasound today. No doubt that was the reason of my really uncomfortable sensation in my womb few days back. He turned around !!

I wonder how he could still have enough room to move about like he did, but apparently he managed to. And now with his current position, at this stage of pregnancy, it is most unlikely to have him turn head down again as what he's suppose to, and there goes my hope of having normal delivery. Siighh....

We'll see how it goes a week from now when I have him scanned. Hopefully he will remarkably turn again in his 38th week, such a thin hope I have at the moment. But hey...who knows what the baby wants... But I do really hope he doesn't decide that it's high time to come out to the world in breech position. Finger crossed...

Last day surprise

I was thinking to have a quiet last day of work, which was last Friday, before I start my maternity leave, such a low profile person I am ;), and to say farewell to my colleagues, whoever I met just before I leave the office. I really didn't want to make such a big deal of my having 6 months maternity leave.

But my kind manager slash mentor of course wouldn't let me go unnoticed. He surely let me know that he needs to see me before I leave. I thought he still wanted to discuss some work related things. So I kept tidying up and packing some stuff from my office in the late afternoon before I leave, unsuspecting.

But when he come around bringing a pack of strawberry cheese cake from Delicious with all my colleagues just outside my work area, I was soo... surprised and touched. I knew what this is all about, immediately. I couldn't help getting red all over my face, which my colleagues of course noticed so easily.

With additional embarrassment of having red face in front of everyone, my last minutes in the office surely had given me a memory to cherish. Their concern and support for my upcoming labour is really touching.

Thank you my dear friends...

2D skyline

It was the first time I saw such a scenery of KL skyline. On my way back from the Curve, in a sunny road, we could see KL center skyline very clearly with its KL tower and twin tower KLCC. But despite the fact that it was sunny in our side, the opposite side was rather cloudy.

As a result, a 2D effect on the skyline. Having sunlight from my side of town and dark gray cloudy backdrop behind the towers, the scenery was like a 2D picture, as no texture could be seen clearly in such lighting arrangement.

Amazing...

One more week and counting

To be honest....I couldn't wait to start my maternity leave :( I still have to endure a little bit over a week before I could finally stay at home, relax, and prepare myself for the labour. Even though...I have planned to start my leave at 37th weeks..which still gives me some time before the due date, but still....I couldn't wait any longer.

The hard part is to wake up in the morning and walk all the way to the LRT station (which is actually only 10 mins away), then from the station to my office approximately 15 mins away (I guess with my state of condition at the moment, it actually takes longer than that), and knowing in my mind that I would need to do that again on my way back home.

These past few days, I'm so exhausted once I have arrived at home after the journey. Not that I do not need the exercise. I do need it of course. But doing it on the way to work and back is not really my idea of having an exercise.

Anyway...counting days now...couldn't focus any longer on my job since I know it will only take me another week before I start my 6 months leave (at least!!!). I just hope I do not need to visit client's office during my last week. FIngers crossed...

Good baby boy

What a good boy you are my dear. After several antenatal checks that showed your transversal position, you finally turned head down. It saves mommy from having to undergo a c-section, as long as you stay that way until your due date. I have started to worry when you haven`t turned yet.

Anyway, you have also grown just a little bit over the average, not too big for normal labour. I guess you actually want to come out normally, don`t you ? Which is good for me, as I don`t have to endure the post surgery pain.

It is now 6 more weeks before your due. Would you come earlier or right on time my dear ? Do you know that your daddy has started to get anxious about when you will actually want to come out. "Be patient daddy...let me grow inside mommy until I`m ready to see the outside world."

But I understand, your daddy is just worried if I am alone when the labour starts while he is away in Malacca. But such a good boy you are, I bet you would wait until your daddy has arrived at home to bring us to the hospital in time. It`s only 2 hours drive anyway. Right my dear ??

Consider ... and Reconsider

Just got news from my husband that his employment got extended until the end of February next year. Good news, yet it means:

1. I still have to go to work by train for another 6 weeks before I start my maternity leave. With my bump getting bigger and bigger the closer it is to my due date, the more difficult and uncomfortable my movements would be. My feet and lower back are killing me already while I walk. The pressure from my baby`s movements sometimes feel painfully. Should I drive instead ?? But the traffic is really terrible here, it will just give me more daily stress. Even though, it would make it easier for me to go anywhere.

2. I will be alone during my baby`s due date, and since this will be my first experience delivering baby...I`m not quite sure what to do. How do I go to the hospital, will I be able to fetch a taxi by myself or drive a car in between the contractions if the time has really come, or should I call an ambulance, or wait till my husband arrived from Malacca two hours away, etc. All these sort of things do worry me.

3. I will be alone taking care of my baby. Even though I expect my mom to help me out during the first month, but she won`t be able to stay for too long. So I will be left alone taking care of the households with a newborn baby on board. I don`t know how busy or tired I will be, but I guess I would be really exhausted. Should I hire a maid or should I not ? That`s another option I have to consider...and reconsider again and again. How I need the help, but if I do hire one, there`s more responsibility I have to endure. Surely I have to take care of the maid as well...

4. Daddy of my newborn son won`t be at home every day..and how I will miss him and need his support. Another option is to bring my baby to Malacca, closer to his daddy, but I would imagine more hurdle on my side. His rented apartment in Malacca has to be prepared for a baby. Access to laundry and kitchen is a must, which will be too much to expect in his apartment. In other word, too costly in general compared to staying at home in KL.

5. ....too many things to consider...and reconsider

Diet control

I was so confused when my doctor mentioned to me that I probably should control my diet more strictly. The reason being, is that my baby to be, in 26 weeks, has bigger size than the average in his age.

How big is considered big ? Well, his head diameter is similar to 29 weeks old fetus, his body diameter is 27 weeks, and his femur length is similar to 28 weeks. Wait until you know the weight. 1118 grams at 26 weeks. Just comparing his weight against the age he is at now, he is considered big, at the 95% from the upper statistical line of fetus size.

So, worried that I might get complication during delivery due to my petite body, the doctor suggested me to reduce my diet. But what could I reduce ? The baby will not stop taking what he needs from his mommy, and if his mommy does not eat well, then who will get the consequences ? The mommy of course.

But with my low Hb level, I could not just get rid of the multivitamins because I need the iron. What about food ? With my meal frequency at the moment, I also could not reduce it. As a pregnant woman, I consider myself not eating enough. I rarely had proper breakfast, my regular proper meal is only at lunch, and dinner often depends on my mood of cooking. But lots of fruit I had in between meals instead of some full energy knick knacks, which I consider quite healthy.

The only thing I could reduce is dairy product and rice. But it does not mean that I had too much of them either. I only drink a glass of milk daily, not more. And I eat less rice since the bump becomes bigger. No other reason than because of the much limited stomach capacity. But I guess I could try to reduce these some more and see how it looks like.

But all in all....I just feel glad that my baby boy is growing well. What mom would not ? Keep growing well and healthily my dear...

Trishaw for three

Back in Malacca, too tired to walk back to the famous "Red Buildings", my sister and I hired a trishaw for RM10..just for half an hour trip from Port A'Famosa, around Jonker street, and then to our final destination at Stadhuyst to hail a cab.

Just fitting both of us in the small trishaw was quite a struggle. I should have realized that I have grown more than before, and we were not only two there on the trishaw, but three with my little one. Good thing the trishaw charged by time, not number of person :p

Look how fitted we were in the seat from the picture below.

And I guess you will definitely notice how I have grown by checking the first picture on top, taken after a hike from St. Paul's hill. But I grew to love this bump of mine...

Second pregnancy

Anyone who aren't up to date with my news would be surprised that this 5 months pregnancy is actually my second one this year. I lost my first one earlier this year at the end of February, before my birthday. Such a sad and unhappy moment for both me and my hubby. Probably it's too soon after the surgery, and the baby couldn't survive. It just stopped developing at 8 weeks. Who knows what was the reason. I had a mental breakdown for a week or so after I had D&C procedure to take it out. But my hubby kept supporting and cheering me up, so I managed to let it go and continue my normal life, even though it would never be the same again. Everytime I remember that moment or any miscarriage news that I heard, my tears threatened to come out so easily. I keep reminding myself that it's a phase in my life, and life keeps moving on. So that's what I should do as well..move on.

A month after, once I got my reguler period, I managed to conceive again and so far my baby has been growing well inside. Alhamdulillah...

I have been wondering when my next period was late for few days. After a week late, I took a pregnancy test without my husband knowing it, and the result was so positive. SInce I only got one pack left and none to reconfirm the result, I asked my husband to buy some more. He was wondering why I need so many packs. But I only told him after I got it reconfirmed in the second test. We were surprised of course as it was too soon, yet happy and expectant.

I only managed to book and see my doctor 2 or 3 weeks after, when she confirmed with an internal ultrasound scan that there it was...a new life growing in my womb, 6 weeks old with a strong heart beat. No twin expected by the look of it. At the end she had to give me some pills to strengthen my womb due to previous miscarriage, but so far there was no bleeding or any complains at all. I don't even feel any morning sickness, just like my first pregnancy. But hey...I guess each baby has its own character. Or is it just me who likes to eat :p

Anyway...second scan and visit to my doctor indicates that the baby was already very active, no problem detected so far. Heart beat was still normal and strong. So I continued my normal activity and work without any restriction. Eventhough my hubby refused to let me swim in the first trimester. Hmm..did he realize that I swam in the first month before I realized I have conceived, yet nothing happened ? ;p

Third scan at 14 weeks were really exciting for both of us, and I guess for our baby as well because he kept moving and moving everytime the ultrasound probe was moved. He even did sommersault that amazed me. The doctor could guess by the look of it that it would probably be a boy. Such an easy indicator that gender has ;) Anyway..that will only mean my husband has to search for a boy name instead of plenty girl names we had alrady prepared. It really doesn't matter what gender this baby has.

And finally, after discussing with my doctor, my hubby allowed me to swim again. And really girls, swimming is the safest and most convenient exercise for pregnant women. I also walk regularly now of course, ever since my hubby got this short term opportunity to work in Malacca. At least I walked back and to the LRT station and client office daily. So no problem getting myself exercised. Except that I really need to start having stretching exercise nowadays, since my body is really growing, especially my middle part. Such a big bump a have now. In 5 months, I have gained 5 kg.

I had to go alone in the last scan at 18 weeks and most probably until the baby is born. Too bad for my hubby since he really wants to come. But no choice for him. He couldn't just leave his work in Malacca at week days, and the doctor is fully booked in Saturdays until 2 months ahead of time. I could however book for Saturdays two months before. We'll see. I heard after it reaches 7 months, I need to see her twice a month, so I guess I could book earlier now.

I had to rush from Brunei to get to the last appointment though...luckily I could make it. I wouldn't miss it for anything, especially work. My flight to Brunei has a different story all together though. I felt the baby's first movement before the plane took off !!! I guess he's excited as well.. And after not seeing me for 2 weeks, my hubby saw big difference in my appearance. The bump got bigger in Brunei ;) It has shown quite pronouncely after 18 weeks and I really needed to switch my clothes to maternity ones. So lots of shopping I did. And real justification I had since none of my normal clothes fits me now.

The next scan which is only few days away will be at 22 weeks (5 in a half months), again without my husband. Can't wait to see you again my little one. Hopefully you are well and healthy inside mommy. Saved video file will have to do for daddy, no other choice, right ? ;)

Holiday with my baby to be

Well here I am again, writing in this page after a while gone AWOL. Actually there're lots of things that I could update here, but first things first. I'm in the middle of my one week holiday, well..almost at the end but few more days actually, in a cloudy and rainy day in Malacca resort lobby, with my growing 5 months old baby to be, which keeps me accompanied during a day like this.

My hubby of course couldn't leave his work while I'm here, such a short term job he has. But so far I've never felt lonely with him inside me. Yes...it's a boy, and we somehow knew it since the beginning. And such an active boy he is, keeps his mommy feel his movement everytime he's awake.

It reminded me the last time I had him scanned with an ultrasound, 18 weeks old to be exact. Too bad my husband couldn't come with me. He's so cute and adorable..I fell in love with him since, my cute baby boy. Luckily the doctor could save it into a file so that I could share his adorable face figure with his daddy in Malacca. His movement has already been restricted by his growing body in my womb, but I could see he still actively move around. A month before this last scan, he still could sommersault inside there which amazed both me and my hubby. I couldn't wait until the next scan which is only few days away. Grow well my dear boy...

Meanwhile, we can still have fun in Malacca. Eventhough your uncle and auntie has returned back home, but we still can enjoy Malacca with daddy close to us. Mommy just need to figure out where else we could go in this small yet historical place. We've visited Jonker Walk and the Heritage Trail plenty of times by now, I could navigate easily without any map. We still haven't managed to board the river cruise though. Do you still want to try it dear ? We'll see how the day goes by. It still rains at this moment. We can't even swim in a warm pool water like yesterday. It was very sunny yesterday that kept the pool water warm until dusk. Such a very nice swim we had. I bet you like swimming once you have born. Most babies do like waters. It probably reminded them when they were still inside mommy's womb.

Anyway...we need to go now...we'll write more if we have time...right dear ?

A Mom To Be

Alhamdulillah, finally I'm pregnant. Not long after the doctor removed the cyst that blocked my fallopian tube, I managed to conceive. Too long we've been hoping for this to happen. After I realized that I missed my period time which is normally very reguler, I waited for few more days just to be sure that I was not getting any period. The fifth day, I couldn't wait any longer, and I tested my urine. POSITIVE!! I didn't even have to wait 40 secs as per intruction in the test pack's box. The result showed right away, with no doubt, that it's positive. Of course I and my husband couldn't believe it , but our hope bloomed. We bought 3 more different test packs. All the results were positive. Alhamdulillah....it was really a miracle for me after this time.

Unfortunately it was Saturday, and my reguler Obgyn wasn't open. I went straight to her on Monday afternoon, to check if I'm really pregnant. She was so surprised to know that I'm pregnant as she didn't expect it to be so soon and so easy after the surgery. Well...that counts two of us, but I would never regret it.

Anyway, I've never known what's the procedure to confirm pregnancy once the test pack result said it's positive. So I always thought there would be another lab test. But I was so appalled that the procedure was so simple. My doctor just used an ultrasound to check. I was surprised again to know that at this early stage, we could even see anything in that machine. It turned out that I could already seen the sack where the embryo develops. It was a small thing, six weeks old according to the size of it. And ever so weak, we could see what's to be the heart. We both, me and my husband were so excited to see this little miracle.

So now, a confirmed mom to be I am, I really have to watch my food. Lots of protein as the doctor said, less carbohydrate, and sufficient folat acid supply needs to be taken by my body, for the baby's sake. I have to reduce eating too spicy food (which I love), less fried foods or gorengan (which is my favourite past time food) and less tea or coffee (well...no objection there as I'm not really a coffee affeciando).

I just hope, as all parents hope, that my baby can grow well and healthily inside my womb until the due date, which will be at Ramadhan month.