Too many Braxton Hicks

After managing to 'fight' off the low Hb, SOB and heart palpitations, G held the hope that the rest of third trimester can pass smoothly...

Had the third (and probably last) ultrasound scan and J & G are both excited to see XXM blinking! XXM is now estimated to be about 1.8kg, and Dr estimate XXM to be about 2.8 - 3kg at full term.

The past few weekends have been occupied with shopping for XXM. All of the clothes are now laundered and neatly folded...toiletries for XXM are more or less all bought and even the containers to neatly hold all of XXM's barang barang have been bought, cleaned and filled almost to the brim.

Perhaps G didn't manage to get enough rest or for some unknown reason, she has been getting frequent Braxton Hicks...as frequent as every 10 mins...worried that the contractions will squeeze XXM out, G saw the OBGYN yesterday. Not true labour contractions, cervix not dilated though XXM has started to descend...Dr advised rest and also prescribe a medication to decrease the frequency of the contractions. If frequency still remains as high, G may need to be hospitalized. To say that G is worried is an understatement...33 weeks is too early. Hopefully the contractions will ease off and XXM can stay in-utero for another 4 weeks to reach full term

J is also getting anxious and worried that XXM will arrive too early...not everything is prepared for the little one's arrival...

As each day passes, both J and G are getting more nervous and excited at the same time...the one thing very different from preparing for a baby vs preparing for a wedding - you just cannot count down to The Day for a baby because Nature has its own timetable which no one else can see

Third Trimester

Today marks week 30.

J commented that sometimes it feels like G has been pregnant for so long, yet it also feel so fast cos XXM is coming very soon!

G cannot agree more. While it feels like G's been pregnant for ages, the impending arrival of XXM is causing some serious freaking out for both J and G.

But what will come, will come...and the best way to deal with freaking out is to get the control back. So, J and G went baby shopping over the weekend...and finally, on this 3rd (and hopefully final) visit to Expo, they bought the sarong frame and a baby cot (that comes with the cutest bedding set!). Over the next couple of weekends, time to start buying the other stuff...

On a more serious note, G hasn't been feeling too well the past week. Shortness of breath, heart , palpitations and giddiness plagued her daily...and finally, she put in a call to NUH Women's Clinic and got an appointment to see her OBGYN. Diagnosis: anemia. The drop in Hb is from 13.1 to 10.9, and although 10.9 isn't a very low value, it seems to be significant enough to cause the symptoms. Dr prescribed another supplement with higher iron content, and G is supposed to stay at home and rest for the week. Hopefully, with the rest and change in supplement, G will start feeling better soon.

XXM is definitely growing and getting more active. The bump is seem to get bigger everyday, which has caused poor sleep for both J and G...and G is still trying to capture a video of XXM doing the moves. 2 more weeks to the scan...J and G are both looking forward to it!

And so, the countdown begins as the number of weeks left dwindle to a single digit...

Bump likes to move it move it

G's been trying to capture a video of  her bump doing the hooky-pooky when XXM does the kicks and punches, but it's like XXM has a 6th sense that there's a camera awaiting and will stop moving...until G switch off the camera and then back it comes with the acrobatics. Sigh...

XXM is getting increasingly active, including doing somersaults of some sort inside G's womb. G once witnessed the crest of her bump shifting from the right to the left! Maybe XXM is doing a 'kallang wave' inside

Boy or girl? XXM remains as an 'it' for now...so many people has been asking until G is tired of answering. However, G did have this nagging fear that as the sonographer did not scan the private area for XXM, J and G has no idea whether 'things' are developing properly or not. So at the last Dr appointment, G asked the OBGYN if it is necessary to scan the area but no, don't let J and G know the gender. Dr gave a reassuring smile and said that if something was really wrong, the sonographer would have said so. So...no news mean either a healthy boy or a girl.

So...boy or girl? The answer will be out in August...in the mean time, stop asking G cos she is really tired of saying 'Don't know'

Updates!

Tomorrow marks week 25 for XXM. All the movements are getting more pronounced and J has finally managed to see the action when G's belly actually twitched from XXM's kicks and punches. So far, movements are more pronounced at night...usually when G is enjoying the 9pm drama serial...or when it's time for food.

G is now undeniably bumpy and her wardrobe is almost completely packed into boxes except for the baggy tops and elastic bottoms. Won't be long till her entire wardrobe will be replaced by nursing tops and yoga pants.

J, G and G's mum went for a short trip to Malaysia...one last holiday and visiting relatives before G gets too big to travel. When XXM is born, will have to find a suitable time to bring XXM into Malaysia and be exposed to kampung lifestyle.

Not sure if it's the weather was too hot or just the change in environment, G actually lost 200g (instead of the usual gaining 1kg) over this week. J made a careful observation that G did not have any McDonald's this week...looks like french fries, cheese burgers and hot cakes are potent weight gain stimulators...


On the other hand, the hot weather seem to have lead to perpetual dehydration that caused fluid retention in G. This might possibly have led to the development of pregnancy-induced carpal tunnel syndrome in G's left hand. The Dr have no solution as X-ray for investigation is not possible and drugs are not allowed, so there's nothing that can be done except to brace and rest the wrist and hope for the best...

And baby shopping has begun! J is beginning to see how much this little thing is going to cost him. Luckily for J, G is not the kind who goes gaga over cutsie baby clothes which she must buy...so far it has been "aww...so cute!!!" and then back it goes onto the clothes rack. Nonetheless, a trip to the Baby Expo and Ikea burnt a little hole in J's pocket which he cannot ignore...another month or so and it will be an even bigger hole when the bulkier items need to be bought...

For now, XXM has its own little storage shelf on wheels! For now, all 3 drawers are rather empty...only the 2nd drawer is half-filled with bb clothes...G must say that it takes alot of determination to not buy more. All the little pieces of tops, bottoms and onesies are so adorable! Even G's mum caved to buying more despite repeatedly warning G not to over-buy as these clothes will only last about 3 months or less

Guess it won't be long when all 3 drawers will be filled with stuff (and J will be groaning from all the money spent...)

Ultrasound scan again

J and G went for the second ultrasound scan to check on XXM's progress.

Everything checks out. XXM is growing nicely, except that femur length is a little below average. Looks like XXM has inherited J's genes. G is horrified at the result and has resolved to increase calcium intake in the hopes of boosting XXM's femur length. Will it work? Results will be posted here in a few weeks.

On to the next topic, XXM is moving a lot more now. J can clearly feel some of the movements. G claims that some of the movements can be seen as XXM stretches her tummy. J has yet to see this and is looking forward to seeing it.

At the same time, G has not really been having cravings for exotic foodstuffs. She remains partial to a good old McDonald's cheeseburger and some fries. Must have something to do with her mum who works at McDonald's. Hopefully, this will not go on, or J will pack on some pounds from eating McDonald's before bed.   Also, it is not the healthiest food for a pregnant woman.

Cravings......

G just had her first craving, after 21 weeks.

At this point, J had been lulled into a false sense of security, that maybe he had lucked out and got a wife without cravings. Thanks to a Channel 8 show, G suddenly had a craving.

So, what was G craving? Some exotic food only to be found in the far reaches of the globe? Thankfully, her craving was for a rather more mundane item. French fries.

The silver lining for J is that there is a McDonald's within a 5-minute walk from home. And it is open 24/7. If this is what G will be craving, no sweat. :-)

In other news, G has been feeling little movements from XXM over the last couple of weeks. These movements have gotten stronger and this morning, even J felt something. Things are set to get more exciting as XXM makes ever bigger movements.

Half-term report

And we're half-way through the pregnancy as the twentieth week approaches.

It has been a fairly smooth journey so far. G's BP is still hovering at a fairly low level(as measured at home). But at least she no longer gets sustained bouts of giddiness.

G is getting a bigger and more noticeable bump. At least now people are giving up their seats to her on the MRT. And if she doesn't get a seat, well, she can always stroke the bump (and shoot murderous looks at whoever refused to give up their seat).

Earlier on, G was worried about the lack of weight gain. Now, as she starts gaining weight steadily, she's all worried about gaining too much weight. J thinks she should not worry too much as there aren't really many times when a woman is allowed to gain weight and be proud of it.

Baby is supposed to be able to hear external noises now. A week ago, only G's voice and heartbeat would have been audible. Maybe it's time to start on the Mozart, eh? Or perhaps, it would be better to give Baby a more varied exposure. Time to dust off all those classics and books and do some reading to Baby. J will make sure Baby gets bilingual exposure right from the start. Hey, it's a competitive world out there.

J & G are looking forward to the next appointment with the doctor. It comes with an ultrasound so J & G can see Baby again. Hopefully, the ultrasound will not ruin the surprise.