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 ?