When Shern Was Inside My Belly!

I thought I lost all my photos during my pregnancy and Shern's early months due to the burglary in mum's house last year.
Boy, I was wrong! I found my old memory card and in it were a few videos (yes, videos!) of me when I was 9 months pregnant...when I was almost due!

My belly was huge. And I saw Little Angel a.k.a Shern kicking and punching my belly. I guess he was looking for more space. I quickly uploaded the video in youtube and here you are...watching Shern kicking his mummy from inside my belly!

Shern Inside My Belly

2 June 2009

Noticed the left side of my belly kept on protruding in and out? That's Shern's doing!
And that vertical line on my belly is called Linea Nigra - a pregnancy trademark (which is fading off by now).

And for those of you who feels icky watching it...well, shoo off. I post it here because this is my personal blog ;D

Lost

I lost 2 things in 1 day.

1st - my glasses.
2nd - my Cooler Bag.

Went for a quick shop to Island Plaza with mum & Min yesterday.
While trying on a dress in Somerset Bay in Metrojaya, I accidentally left my glasses in the ladies' changing room.
When I realized I left it there half an hour later, it was no more there.

I was shocked. Shocked because I never imagine someone would steal my glasses. They are not sunglasses. They are normal glasses with power.
I mean, even if they take it, they won't be able to wear it. So why take it?

I was feeling very disappointed after that, because i need my glasses. Need them to watch tv. Need them when I am driving.
And I am not a contact lens person. I just want my plain old glasses back! ;(

Then later at night, I realized I lost my Cooler Bag - the one which I use to store my expressed breastmilk (EBM).
It was no fancy cooler. Just a cheap KFC Cooler but it serves its purpose.
And my 2 blue-ice (ice replacement/ice pack) which I put inside it are gone as well.

And well, I really need a cooler bag so I had to rush to the supermarket and got myself a new cooler bag and also blue ice
Bought the Simple Dimple Cooler Bag for RM29.90.
Bought Rubbermaid Blue Ice (big) for RM12.00.

Simple Dimple Cooler Bag



Rubbermaid Blue Ice

39 weeks - Little Angel is now as big as Peter's favourite fruit

Watermelon is Peter's favourite fruit. He can eat half the watermelon if I allow it.

This week's growth chart shows that Little Angel is the size of a mini watermelon. I doubt the 'mini' part though.

Went to see Dr. Eric again today but he says Little Angel is not ready to come out yet.

His head is low but then he is not facing downwards yet. He is still facing left which is still not a sign of near labour.

And my cervix though soft but not 'soft enough' yet.

So his advice is to wait.....'til my EDD next Tuesday 9th June 2009 to be induced.

But what I am worried about is that Little Angel is growing bigger and bigger as days go by. As of yesterday's ultrasound scan, his head circumference is 107.5mm (normally should be ~95mm) and weighs 3.8kg - Little Angel is BIG!

I am afraid I might have a hard time to push him out with his broad head and he is such a big baby. I am in no favour of a c-sec if possible.

But I don't want to induce him out unless it is absolutely necessary. I want him to be ready to make his appearance into our world!
Even if c-sec is needed, then I have no choice. But I am aiming for a natural delivery.

Please pray for me!

Photo taken from: Baby Center

I am ready and can't wait to POP!

Just came back from seeing Dr. Eric.
Through untrasound, Little Angel now weighs 3.36kg. His head is still broad - 2 weeks 5 days broader.

Little Angel is now ready to greet the world. At this point, the average full-term newborn is still building a layer of fat to help control body temperature after birth.

Dr. Eric says my cervix is soft now but is not dilated yet. And my amniotic fluid is beginning to thin down.
However, I am likely to POP sometime within this week. But if I do not pop yet, I may need to be induced. Will see how it all goes.

It is like a waiting game from today onwards......when? when? when?

37 weeks - Full Term Baby

This means that if Little Angel arrives now, his lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb, even though my due date is still two and a half weeks away.

This week, most of the downy coating of lanugo is shed and the vernix caseosa - the cheese-like coating that covers Little Angel in the womb and protects his developing skin - starts to disappear, though some may remain at birth. Little Angel swallows both, along with other secretions, and all will stay in his bowels until birth. This blackish mixture, called meconium, will become his first bowel movement.

Dr. Eric said that by Little Angel's size and week growth, I may be in labour ANY TIME now...but then most probably still won't be for another 2 weeks. Phew....

36 weeks

Little Angel is already 2.9kg as of last Thursday (35 weeks then) when I went to see Dr. Eric. Wow...he is indeed getting big and strong.

According to babycenter.com, he is comparable to a crenshaw melon in size (whatever it is!).

His movements are different from what I felt last time. No more sudden punches and kicks. But instead, I can even feel him when he rolls about in my womb. It looks like waves. I guess he has little space left and thus I can feel every movement he makes now.

And when he decides to give his mummy a little punch and kick once in a while, I am sure to shout 'Ouch' coz it is now real painful.

I couldn't help but to post this pic below!

end of week 35 - 10th May 2009

Look at how big my belly is. This dress of mine (not a maternity dress) makes my belly look very obviously big (but that shows how big my belly really is underneath my clothes!)

Also look at how off-balance I now stand?
My belly is getting so big that it is really difficult for me to do anything.

My appetite is also growing. I seem to be able to eat more food at each meal (weird...coz my bible pregnancy book tells me that I am suppose to have trouble eating a normal-size meal).

Photo taken from: Baby Center

35 weeks

Went to see Dr. Eric today. Told him I want to try ala-naturale delivery. He gave me some encouragement.

After peeking into 'Lil Angel's world thorugh ultrasound, Dr. Eric said he is still 2 weeks++ bigger. He still said it is normal and will see how it goes.

But I, being the super-worried-mum-to-be asked Dr. Eric if bigger babies have a more difficult labour. As you know, I am really terrified about the labour and delivery.

Dr. Eric then said 'Yes, they may have a more difficult time but bigger babies are easier to take care once they are out into our world'.

In my head, I was thinking 'Well, firstly, I need get him out of my womb first!'

Anyway, take a look at the mummy - ME!

Pic taken inside one of the ladies' changing room at Parkson @ Gurney Plaza - 3rd May 2009.

If you want to see a pic of me taken by professional photographer, then pls click Kee Sitt's blog. There are 6 nice pictures of me! ;D
I look so much better there!

32 weeks

Went to the gynae yesterday. Little Angel is now 2.1kg. Want to know roughly how big is he now?
Well, he is about the size of a large turnip and he is taking up a lot of space in my uterus.

He now has toenails, fingernails and I can even see his hairs sprouting out on top of his head in the ultrasound image Dr. Eric showed me.

I am also experiencing lower-back pain nowadays...especially so when I retire to bed every night. The whole day of activities finally unwinds and leave me kind of breathless and tired at night. Even so when I spend the whole day shopping with my mum. Hehe.

Anyway, Dr. Eric asked me to walk more. So no harm doing more shopping, right?

Photo taken from: Baby Center

Pregnancy Ultrasound at 20 weeks, 24 weeks & 30 weeks

I just realized that I did not post my visits to the gynae at week 20 and 24. And in a blink of an eye, I am now 30 weeks++ pregnant dee.

Let us see the milestones that Little Angel has gone through at that stage:


Little Angel @ 20 weeks @ 5th month

Little Angel's had been busy. At 20 weeks, his testicles have begun their descent from the abdomen. In a few months, they'll drop into the scrotum (which was still under construction at that time)

Little Angel @ 24 weeks @ 6th month

By 24 weeks, his face is almost fully formed - complete with a full set of eyeleashes and eyebrows and a good sprinkling of hair on his head.
Actually, little angel's head is still snow white in colour, since there is no pigment in that hair just yet at 24 weeks.

Little Angel @ 30 weeks @ 7th month

Little Angel is getting bigger by the day - also getting bigger is his brain, which is preparing for life outside the womb, and for a lifetime of learning.

This is where I am now..into my 30th week of pregnancy.
However, at the last scan which was 2 weeks ago, Dr. Eric said my Little Angel is growing on par with my pregnancy calendar except for his head which is 4 weeks bigger!

But rest assured, Dr. Eric said this is normal as sometimes the head grows faster than the body. At the next few scans, the body may continue to grow while the head growing may slows down. We won't know 'til the very end of the pregnancy.

But if the head is indeed bigger, then I may have a harder time pushing Little Angel out!!! *ooohhhhh......pray hard*

27 weeks old

Interesting foetal factoid: My little angel has more taste buds than he will have at birth (and beyond). Which means that not only is my little angel able to taste the differencde in the amniotic fluid when I eat different food, he might even react to it.

My pregnany book tells me that some babies might even respond to spicy food by hiccupping. Or some by kicking.

But this mummy likes and eats spicy food quite regularly (but not too spicy ones). And I feel that little angel is kicking me all the time...so no difference! ;P

22 weeks old

My little angel is developing his senses - touch, sight, hearing and taste. He may now even grab onto the umbilical cord (there is nothing else for him to grab in there, right?) and practise the strong grip that will soon be clutching my fingers!

Do you know that our little angel can perceive light and dark? Even with fused eyelids and even though it is dark in the uterine cocoon. My pregnancy bible tells me that if I shine a flashlight over my belly, I may be able to feel little angel squirrming away from the 'bright' light!
I haven't tried it yet though....

Little angel can also now hear his daddy and mummy's voice, my regular heartbeat, the whoosh-whoosh of my blood circulating my body, those gastric gurgles, and even the dog barking, loud TV (Peter's Iron Man and Ben10 cartoon noises), etc. He can now basically hear what I am hearing.
So now is time to play the Mozart!

I Felt His Kicks and Punches

Today is another day of 'first' - I felt our little angel doing some kicks and punches inside my belly!

Actually, Dr. Eric did asked me whether I felt the baby move during my most recent gynae visit. I said 'No' as I felt nothing and even thought it is much too early to feel anything. I was like thinking that I may only feel it when I am 6-7 mths pregnant.

But then when I felt little angel doing somersaults in my belly, I felt so, so, so good. My sis, Shu-Min happened to be in our house and I let her feel it too. And of course little angel's daddy also felt him showing off his acrobatic skills.

It is such a contented feeling - such a miracle to feel our creation moving inside me. I think no one will ever know how I feel like.

Happy and amazed and contented.

17 weeks old

My little angel is about palm-size now, with a crown (or top) of the head to the rump (or bottom) length of about 5 inches.

This week, little angel is all about practice, practice & practice in preparation for birth. One important skill my little angel is practising is sucking and swallowing - to get ready for that first suckle at my breast.

Minor yeast infection / 16 weeks 5 days old

My checkup appointment was not due yet until 2 weeks later but I had some itchiness in my vagina area and thus wanted to seek out treatment before it got really bad.
And sure enough, Dr. Eric said there is a minor yeast infection. He said it is nothing serious and a tablet will clear it.

Little angel is now 16 weeks and 5 days old according to his size during the ultrasound. Dr. Eric saw his willy again. I couldn't see it as my eyes were not trained to read the ultrasound screen and when Dr. Eric tried to point it out to me and darlin', little angel got shy again and crossed his legs.

My blood test results are out and everything is normal which I am happy. :D

It's a BOY! - 14 weeks 3 days old

Dr. Eric showed us little angel's willy today. He spread his legs apart and we could see it clearly and it looks huge to me. ;0)
Then when I asked to see it for the 2nd time, little angel turned shy and crossed his legs and refused to show us anymore.



Mum said it is pretty early to know the gender as little angel is only 14 weeks 3 days old. But I guess it is easier to detect a little boy compared to a little girl as boys have willies.

Peter is so happy. He said he is gonna pass down all his cartoon DVDs (transformers, masked rider, iron man, pokemon, etc) to his son.
Dad should be happy too to have a grandson to accompany him to play pingpong many years later :D

Dr. Eric also scheduled me for a bloodtest for antenatal screening (he already instructed me to go fasting during the last checkup). The nurse at the lab is very good. Usually my blood veins are very slim and it is difficult to find it, but he did it after awhile (not long in fact!). Great job!

12 weeks old

Little angel has more than doubled in size during the past 3 weeks and measuring (crown to rump) about 2 1/2 inches.

Little angel's digestive system is beginning to practice contraction movements (so that little angel will be able to eat) and the bone marrow is making white blood cells (so that little angel can fight off those bad germs).

Miraculously, the pituitary gland at the base of the brain has started producing hormones (little angel will one day be able to make babies of his or her own!). WOW!!!!

10 weeks 1 day old

Time to visit Dr. Eric again. This time the ultrasound shows that Little Angel is 10 weeks. Dr. Eric now uses the normal ultrasound where the mouse-like thingy is placed on my belly (no more vaginal probe).

I always feel at ease after my gynae visit. Don't know why. Maybe it's because of the reassurance I get after having a chance to peek into Little Angel's world.

After all, my stomach is still so small and I can't feel that I am pregnant at all. Oh ya. I lost another kg. From 47kg, i now only weigh 44kg.

However, Dr. Eric says this is normal as I have nausea. He advised me not to eat things that are too sour (laksa, pineapple, tomyam) for the 1st trimester and also no bak kut teh and other herbs food for the meanwhile.

9 weeks - Foetus

My little angel has by now officially graduated from embryo to foetus. This week, tiny muscles are starting to form which allows little angel to move his/her arms and legs.

Change Gynae to Dr. Eric Soh / 7 weeks 2 days old

One of Peter's doctor friend recommended gynae Dr. Eric Soh to me. She said he is very gentle and patient and competent. As I have no comparison at all (as I only went to Dr. Nicholas Loh), I decided to give Dr. Eric Soh a try on my 2nd gynae visit.

Made an appointment and was one of the first few patients in line. The moment I see Dr. Eric, I felt so comfortable. He asked me many questions and was so thorough with me. (I like it! I like it!).
He asked for my health report, family health history, etc etc etc. He took his time talking to me and he didnt give me the feeling that he was busy and can't wait to say TATA to me.

Oh ya...because the pregnancy is still early, he did a vaginal ultrasound (endovaginal) for me. He 'probed' something which looks like a big pen inside me and - hey voila! I can see Little Angel - just a tiny dot with a loud and strong heartbeat. ' Lub dup lub dub'.
Dr. Eric said my ultrasound shows Little Angel is 7 weeks 2 days old.

I mentioned my breast lump to him and he said there should be no worries to leave it after my pregnancy - unless it grow really big and is troubling me.

I felt so on top of the world and feel so happy after this gynae visit that I'm sure Dr. Eric Soh is gonna be my gynae from now onwards.

1st visit to the gynae / 5 weeks old

We decided to go to Dr. Nicholas Loh from Loh Guan Lye Specialist Centre. A few of my friends recommended him after I told them I want a gynae who is not only competent but also friendly.
Dr. Nicholas turns out all right.

Dr. Nicholas say I am roughly around 5 weeks pregnant. My baby is about 5mm. the size of an orange seed.
He did an ultrasound on me and I saw a tiny black dot growing inside me. That is supposed to be my little angel!
I looked the the screen in awe...admiring the miracle of God. This tiny black dot is going to be our baby! Wow...