M.Y Pregnancy and Baby Blog

Baby learn how to flip!

2008-08-19T19:00:00.000+08:00

Today i manage to persuade one mummy to take out her space for me to put my pump bag. Another mummy teach me how to compact my bag space so i dun have to carry the bottles bag, i manage to squeeze everything into the pump bag. It be less heavy for me since i have to carry it to and fro work.

At the end of the day when i go back to mother in law house, M told me that baby has just learn to flip on the sofa! But i missed seeing it.. so sad. Then as we talk, baby flip again! So amazing because he is only 2.5 months old and flipping is an advanced stage at this moment. He has been trying to flip last month but always not successful. Then he is so happy that he succeed, he flip again when we fetch him back home on our own sofa! But i end up so worried he will flip on his bed when sleeping and not safe, i cannot sleep well. Middle of the night around 1am when i woke up to feed him, he is in semi flip position. I guess i must quickly take out the sleep positioner and wash it for his use so that can restrict his flipping at night since we won't be able to check on him so often while sleeping.

Going back to work

2008-08-18T22:56:00.000+08:00

Today my maternity leave finish and i have to go back to work. So sianz. I worry too much and missed my baby so much, i only manage to fall asleep around 1am. Early in the morning i wake up at 4plus am to feed baby so basically i only sleep 3 hours. Then dressed myself and bb, pack the thaw milk into cooler bag and pump bag then M drove us to his mum house to reach by 7am since our car is a weekend car. We reached there past 5minutes, hopefully won't be caught. Then we eat breakfast at his mum house and then M drove me to Braddell MRT using his dad car since he took leave today and tomorrow to help out his mum to familise with taking care of our baby.

I prepare all my stuff for pumping milk at work, our office has a mummy corner specially for pumping. However a lot of mummies are using and the room is very small, the slots left are not many and i took the following 3 slots - 8.45am, 12.15pm and 3.15pm. There isn't space in the cabinet for my pump bag and stuff, i have no choice but to put under the sink. Later in the day i realise that the sink area has chemical smell and i am worried that putting my pump there is not clinically safe since i am using that to express milk for my baby. I think next day i try to talk to the rest of the mummies to squeeze 1 space for me at least to put my pump bag. The bottles bag i will carry to and fro from my cubicle. I dun want to carry my pump bag to and fro the room as I dun want my boss to know i am expressing milk in case he make things difficult for me.

First day go back work, i reach office around 8.20am then went to put my pump bag in the mummy room, went back to my cubicle to show my face since work start at 8.45am, then went down to pump around 8.50am.

my colleagues told me today is budget deadline and they haven't done my projects as boss ask them to wait for me to come back. So depressing but i guess boss doesn't expect me to finish by today since i just come back. anyway i end up chatting with colleagues as we got a lot of things to catch up, esp baby talk. I got 1000 emails in my mail box, i just read some recent emails, dun tink i can clear them. Then with expressing milk 3 times a day, i been missing from my desk 3 times. Even not enough time to finish my work. Somemore i need to go back to fetch my baby so i dun want to work overtime. Anyway just try to relax, dun want to overstress myself.

After work i rush back to my mother in law house to fetch baby, missed my baby so much. M says today everything is fine. I lost my way when going to my mother in law house, heee.. me always lost my way. So tired cos only sleep 3 hours today, but end of day see baby feel happy.

Maternity leave ending soon

2008-08-10T11:22:00.000+08:00

My maternity leave ending soon next week. Most of my work clothes i still cannot wear as my waistline has been thicker and due to breastfeeding i also need to change my top. So i went to Orchard road for 2 shopping trips over the past weeks, so tiring as i need to rush back in time for feeding (i leave 1 bottle at home but i cannot skipping pumping/feeding beyond 6hours or else supply may reduce). I haven't complete purchasing yet. I guess i go Ang Mo Kio hub to buy some more clothes. Luckily got bonus so enough to change the wardrobe. I buy enough for 1 week wear. also need to change my shoes but can't get satisfying ones.

At first wanted my mum to help out only during confinement. But baby still fussy and hard to cope, so i ask mum to extend her stay to another month. Then end of 2nd month, I ask her to extend again and so she stayed for my whole maternity leave except weekends she go back to rest and do her housework. I didn't have chance to go out often though, my mum cook our lunch and dinner and i help take care of baby during the day then night time my mum take over so i have some time to enjoy. M enjoy the best, he play game everynight.

During my leave me and mum quarrel at times mainly due to baby stress and also my mum got complaints on M often so we always end up debating. Nevertheless i am thankful for her help if not i guess i get hysteria cos at times baby keep crying non-stop no matter how i pacify. Then he also need me to carry him and walk for 1-2 hours. so tired.

Full month celebration

2008-06-30T11:31:00.000+08:00

Due to too much stress during confinement with baby always fussy and me struggling with breastfeeding and also our house is terribly messy, i didn't want my mother in law to visit us and she was not happy. I was near depression during confinement.

We decided to hold our full month celebration in a restaurant. I invited some of my close friends. So worried that baby will be fussy but luckily he was fascinated by the stroller for quite some time then only at the end of the dinner he cried. But my mother in law give us a black face throughout and mum isn't happy. I guess she cannot understand our reason for not letting her visit us during confinement. She is also jealous over my mum i think. My mum even try to pacify her by letting her hold and play with our baby throughout the dinner.

The day before we distribute cakes to relatives. We order sweetestmoments and it is wonderful. Anyway my mum said when she drop by my mother in law house (cos M drove my mum to my grandma house to distribute cake then halfway drop by his mum house to pass some cakes), my mother in law didn't invite her in and was quite rude.

I wasn't pleased with my mother in law in fact unhappy over her attitude towards my mum.

The next day i distribute cakes to my colleagues, end up spent 1 hour there chatting cos they have a lot of things to ask me. Then i meet up with my insurance agent.

Breastfeeding and post delivery

2008-06-14T15:10:00.000+08:00

I was discharged on Monday 2 June. I didn't have a good rest in hospital as the hospital bed is very uncomfortable and too short (my legs was dangling most of the time). In addition my stitches and piles pain are both giving me problem that i can hardly sleep. The nurse at Thomson also pile me with 2 to 3 pads at one time and its very uncomfortable. Moreover, the pads are Kotex brand and very hard.

We tried to bring our baby to our ward room as much as possible, since i am staying at a single ward room. At one point we have to bring baby back to nursery because our temperature at ward room is too cold. I tried to breastfeed but has no milk in hospital, so we always resort to feeding formula milk to baby, even though nurse say no need to let baby drink any food because he should have some "stored food" from pregnancy but our baby keep crying so we succumb to giving him formula milk.

Many people visited me in hospital on Sunday 1 June and i received several hampers. Mostly are baby items or tonics. Maybe because of my baby head size and forceps, my stitches are quite long and painful. I wasn't able to walk properly on discharge day, however i do not want to extend anymore because its very expensive. So I struggle like crab walking. In the end, M get a wheelchair to get me to the hospital entrance. We manage to attend the baby talk by Parentcraft before we left. It is quite useful as the nurse teach on Breastfeeding and baby bath.

Tuesday:- I manage to have some colostrum, tried to breastfeed baby and top up with formula milk - 90ml. Stitches still painful and unable to walk properly.

Wednesday: Start to have engorgement and very painful, cannot sleep. Have to use cabbage leaves to relieve engorgement. Nurse at TMC said we cannot use more than 20mins or else it will reduce milk supply. I also pump a lot and latch baby for as long as 2 hours during 1 feed. Cried as mum cannot understand breastfeeding and keep asking is it some problem.. then stitches pain and breasts pain..

Thursday: Went back to TMC for gynae and PD checkup. Initally i wanted to postpone the appointment cos i thought i won't be able to walk properly, but manage to walk properly on Wednesday. The queue is quite long for the PD but the nurses try to slot in earlier for us. However, bb is not v co-operative as he poo immediately once we reach clinic. Then after cleaning the poo, he wants milk again though he has eaten 1 hour ago (but he only eat half dosage tat time). So end up we wasted time in the PD clinic. PD said our baby has mild jaundice and require sun bathe (around 105 jaundice level). Then we went to see my gynae and she told me my wound is longer bec' of my bb head size and forceps. Told my gynae abt the horrible water retention at my feet but was told tat it is normal and i have to wait for weeks for it to clear itself. Engorgement of breasts, my gynae also say i have to bear with it for 2 weeks or so and there is no medicine unless it reduce the supply. Only way is to pump and feed regularly.. so i get my bb to latch on for nearly 1 hour plus, he wake up and sleep and wake up and sleep, so many pauses in btw.. sometimes i nearly fall asleep feeding him. But coming to like him a lot now.. heee. Btw i finally sit on swimming float, its much better now.

Friday- Sunday: Engorgement suddenly disappear. Milk supply increase but still need to top up with FM, around 60-80ml. Then reduce to 20-60ml. I almost wanted to give up on breastfeeding, so torturous and baby not co-operative (he gets impatient with no milk) and we always have to top up with formula, its quite troublesome. But M said partial breastfeeding is also ok since formula milk has some nutrients which breastmilk does not have.

Monday: Me finally receive some reward on my BF. Just now when i go to nap then i wake up suddenly my t-shirt is soaked with milk. Then i finally able to feed bb twice w/o using any FM! Heee so happy. Yest i been reading some articles and realise tat the speed of flow of milk could be my problem and tat i can use the hand compression method to make the milk flow faster. So am doing tat and the latching time seems to reduce too.

Tuesday: Toking abt post-natal depression.. yesterday M bring up the topic tat MIL want to visit bb during confinement.. third time tat hb bring up the topic and i ored told him i dun want.. then yest dunno why cannot tahan then i breakdown and cry and cry. Was worried abt my eyes, then worried abt bb cos he always cry non-stop for few hours at nite due to no reason, then worried i can't bf him for long due to eye problem..then my mum also not happy with my hb n complain but yet dun want me to clarify with hb if not she wanna pack up go back home. Then M so busy with work recently that he hardly had time to tok to me or spend time with bb at home..me feel so neglected Me v pei chey.. dunno why M cannot reject his mum's request then feel so bad for rejecting her.. cos i really find it inconvenient for ILs and their family to visit me n bb during confinement esp with my mum and brother at home, then my bb also not easy to take care one.. if got disruptions he will kick a fuss and refuse to sleep. M like very easy come home after work no need to do anything just play game n relax, then i got breastfeed like siao and rotate with my mum to take care of bb. Dunno if u all hb same same or not.. sometimes i tink we women sacrifice so much for delivery but hb like dun understand the pains we gone through.

Wednesday: M took morning leave to bring baby to see PD because he had heat rashes on his face and neck. PD said that our baby jaundice sis fine and no need to sunbathe. PD also gave some colic drops to relieve wind as our baby has been staying awake during night time and seems to have problem with wind thus cannot fall asleep during that time. My mum has to always carry him around for few hours so that me and M can catch some sleep. It is torturous.
After applying cream, the rashes seem to get better.

Thursday to Friday:- Baby continue to be fussy and refuse to sleep at night time for few hours. He will also cry and rant and require people to carry him. Sigh.. Loss of sleep..

My baby photos!

2008-06-14T15:02:00.004+08:00

Birth of my son

2008-05-31T04:59:00.000+08:00

Saturday morning 2am - Have severe backache. The pain is at the tail bone of the spine. The pain is to intense that it affected my spine, my thigh and whole leg such that i have difficulty walking, even around the house. I couldn't sleep and contractions is around 10min intervals and lasted for 2 hours. Finally at 4am, i can't sleep still and the backache is so severe that i cannot walk without support. Very convinced tat i am in labour although i am still 10min interval contractions, but i can't walk properly and in v horrible pain, i tot i must quickly go hosp if not i may not be able to walk at all! 5am - reach TMC and went to observatory room. The nurse at observatory room is quite rough in checking cervix, but she is quite nice to check with my gynae. She said i am only 1.5cm dilated so actually can't be transfer to labour ward unless gynae agrees. So she checked with gynae and gynae want me to be warded. So nurse give me the medicine to clear bowels and change to hospital gown. I was so painful tat time i need help to go toilet. after clearing bowels and changing i was pushed to labour ward.

8am - i ask nurse to check my cervix and still only 2cm dilated. I can't tong the pain and have to use the breathing method to relieve pain but the backache is very very horrible. Nurse see me in so big pain ask me to get epidural if not i am not last to pushing stage. I succumb to epidural (actually wanted to wait until 3cm dilation) and request even though gynae still haven't reach and check on me.

9plus - Anasethist reach and put epidural, i was then 2.5cm dilated. Peace came and i was in wonderland, it is so relieve!! Gynae reach around 1hour later, check and said only 2.5cm dilated, so she put induce medicine in my drip. She predicted i shd be able to reach pushing stage by 5pm.

Noon time (forget wat time) - nurse checked and only dilate 3.5cm. Nurse said shd be long labour considering that i am having 3 to 5min contractions for few hours but dilation is very slow.

6pm - checked and only dilate 6cm. Gynae said in this case may be dragged until 9pm. 7pm - suddenly dilation came very fast and i was dilated 9cm. Called gynae and gynae reach, then said she be back around 9pm to check again. 8.30pm - nurse checked and said i am 10cm dilated, ask me to push. I tried pushing but no avail. Then nurse went back home and another covering nurse came.

9pm - covering nurse checked and found that dilation is not 10cm (the previous nurse make a mistake) so she ask me to hold on to 30min for full dilation, if not i be wasting strength to push. HOwever, i have ored wasted strength when the previous nurse make a mistake. 10pm - Full dilation and try to push, but strength ored gone. Only able to push until nurse can see head, but not crowning yet. I ask for gynae, then found tat the stupid nurse never ask the gynae to come. she intend to wait until my bb head crown then call gynae!! i scared of tear and i want gynae to come imm, so i scolded the nurse! cos cannot tahan the pain and although i am on epidural, the pain is too big and i can't increase epi as epi dosage is ored v high. I can feel the pushing sensation and everything. I scolded the nurse so the nurse ask gynae to come and i can stop pushing just wait for assistance.

10.30pm - gynae came and suggest forceps cos i have no strength to push and bb head is big, 3.5cm. BB is out within 5mins of forceps, if i know its so easy with forcep i will request for forceps immediately.

10plus - my BP suddenly drop to 50 due to lack of blood and low pain threshold. Gynae and many nurses have to rescue me, nearly use Blood E transfusion. I was vomitting water and gastric juice towards the pushing stage, shivering uncontrollable at the pushing stage plus high fever and nausea. The high fever is due to epidural (maybe too much dosage). My shivering uncontrollably came during my contractions even without epidural as i have low pain threshold and my body cannot tahan the pain. Then later at pushing part also shiver uncontrollable but is due to epidural.

11.30pm - i was pushing to normal ward after resting awhile in the labour ward. Whole night cannot sleep well as the pain is too great despite the pain killers. My anus piles give me a lot of pain cos whole bottom swollen. The next day - when i walk down the bed to toilet, it was so dizzy and my feet is very weak. It was only 24 hrs after delivery, i.e. 9pm tat i can walk without dizzy. I was still on drip until noon and gynae ask nurse to check on my BP very often to ensure i am ok. Overall, i will say epidural is still needed cos the severe pain from contractions sap away my energy and there won't be strength to push anyway. Towards the pushing part, i can feel the sensation and everything so is able to push. The only problem is my dilation is too slow despite epidural and i starved from 9am ( i was permitted some porridge then) to 11pm so no energy.

Checkup @ 39 weeks

2008-05-29T23:46:00.002+08:00

Today morning 11am went for checkup. Over this week i had quite a lot of contractions but irregular and sometimes stop for as long as half a day. Nurse informed that my weight is still the same. She said i have to be strapped on to the CTG machine for 30mins as part of the routine checkup near due date. It is use to monitor baby heartbeat and contractions.

As someone is using the machine, we went downstairs to have our breakfast. After breakfast we came up and i was strapped on to the machine. After nearly 45-50mins on the machine, I asked M to check with the nurse whether I can be let off the machine. However nurse informed that Dr Wong was away from the clinic as she has to check on a patient for discharge. Thus i can only be let off the machine after Dr Wong comes back to check on me. Luckily she was only upstairs as the wards are upstairs.

Dr Wong came in and checked the machine, confirms that I do not have any contractions at the moment and the baby heartbeat is fine. She then check my cervix and exclaimed that I have already dilated 1 cm. She then proceed to extend the muscles around the cervix which may cause the muclus plug to come out. So the nurse told me that i may see some blood on my panties later due to the virginal examination. It was quite painful but i tried to relax so that it will be less painful.

Dr Wong advise that labour may came within these few days. If not, she wants me to be admitted on coming Monday 9am for inducing and delivery. If dilation is less than 3cm then she will insert pills for inducing. If dilation is more than 3cm she can then put me on drip and break the waterbag.

I have also told her about my left eye condition and she said the only thing that labour could bring is higher blood pressure to the eyes but my blood pressure is always on the low side. We didn't have much time to talk this checkup as Dr Wong has to rush to another place (she is off in the afternoon) and it was then 12.45pm.

Excited, me and M went to catch 2 movies in the afternoon because i am afraid that we won't have the chance to watch any movies soon when baby is born. Luckily i had put on a pad as the muclus discharge is quite a lot (dark brown in colour) but not over 1 pad.

Tonight i having some on and off contractions, this time really painful. Not sure if it is labour tonight? Anyway let me double check all my stuff just in case.

Brown stains

2008-05-26T17:01:00.000+08:00

Yesterday I had some muclus discharge with some brown stains, I wonder is this "show"? I checked some articles on the web and it says that muclus plug discharge or show can actually happen a few days before delivery.

Today I had more brown discharge than yesterday. But no contractions except some slight contraction (irregular) last night. So I decided to monitor.

Then M and me went to National Eye centre to check on my left eye. We went on emergency walk in so there is no appointment. Luckily my regular doctor Dr Yeo is coming in the afternoon today for another patient and the customer service gal arranged for him to see me too. Dr Yeo confirmed that there is a hole and bleeding at the left eye which is the same problem as my right eye. He suggest to wait until after delivery to check again on the left eye as there is no remedies for me now that I am pregnant. So I am to monitor my eye and see how. Hopefully, it will recover very soon after delivery by itself, then i won't need any treatment. I really hope to be able to breastfeed my baby for at least 1-2 months.

Irregular Cramps again

2008-05-25T14:48:00.000+08:00

Today I had irregular cramps/contractions, which is around 30min interval but over few hours. Does it really help in opening the cervix? I am not sure. It is quite painful and I think if real contractions persist for 5min interval at this painful stage, I will need epidural.

Again this is a trial run.. not real contractions as it does not grow in intensity.

Eye problem

2008-05-24T08:41:00.000+08:00

I went for a nap around 3plus today. When i woke up, suddenly I saw a dark shadow and discovered that it is with my left eye. When I see words it become twisted/crooked. So I suspect it is the same problem as my right eye which has occurred last year.

I am very upset as I knew I can't go for any eye treatment now when i am pregnant and as the National eye centre is closed (they are closed on weekends) so i can't get any doctor advice too. So i went on to read some website articles and realise that pregnancy can cause the retina to be weaker, also cause the eye ball shape to change (and thus vision may be altered during this period of time). In addition, it seems that the chemical that is used to treat my right eye (last year treatment) can't be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Which means most likely i may not be able to breastfeed as I have intended. This is very upsetting to me.

I was so worried that i cannot sleep well that night and lay awake until midnight. M and I decided to book an urgent appointment with my eye doctor at National eye centre on Monday.

Checkup @ 38 weeks

2008-05-23T13:54:00.000+08:00

Yest Went to gynae clinic around 11am. I though at least the cervix will have dilated after that night severe contractions. However, gynae said the cervix is totally close. I am so disappointed and moody for whole day. Even though i have been talking to my bb but seems like it has no effect.. a bit angry with bb but also not his fault right..

gynae said have to wait until due date in this case, afterwhich if no signs then have to decide whether want to induce or not. Alternatively we can also decide on next appointment which is 30 May (4 days before due date) since it doesn't make much difference. However gynae warned that inducing is very painful and thus usually epidural is used. Since i have already decide I will epidural this is not a concern to me. BB is 3KG already and head circumference is 3.4 and at term of 40 weeks likely to be 3.4KG, which i am quite worried because once head circumference past 3.5 it is considered big. However gynae said my size is big so 3KG or 3.4KG is no problem..

I had mild cramps for the whole day until night time but nothing like those with interval type so I dun think it is any issue for alarm. Then the study room light spoilt on Wednesday night and the whole light cover nearly fall onto M head (as he is sitting down playing PC game with me), we got a shock. So after checkup, M went to purchase a light fitting from a neighbourhood shop but the shopkeeper is so unfriendly and not helpful, doesn't even want to guide us on how to fix on the light. M still went ahead to buy because he want to fix the light asap especially with me alone at home. However we are unable to fix the spoilt light and thus M finally decided to get an electrician to come on this weekend to fix.

Today wake up, forummer F says she went for induce yesterday morning 11plus (she was in the same clinic as mine but different gynae) and inserted 2 pills but only dilate 1.5cm so she cannot tolerate the pain and will go for c-sect. She also recommend me dun induce unless already dilated.

I heard liao is a bit scared because I have been considering whether want to induce on next thu appt (30 May), now i dunno want to wait until 3 June my due date, but that will means I have wasted 2 weeks Maternity leave by then. However now considering the pain and effort (and possibility of c-sect which i am trying my best to avoid) of inducing, looks like it is better to wait!

I am still in a dilemma.. how?..

Severe contractions

2008-05-21T09:03:00.000+08:00

Yesterday was my ROM anniversary, me and M went to jalan around. We went to Labordar Park, then i walk just a while then already tired. So we sit at the restaurant "Olive" for drinks and later, candlelight dinner. Actually we have forgotten that it is our anniversary bec' we have already celebrated it last week in advance. Then after we eat the dinner then we remember hee.

Anyway throughout the whole day i have slight menses discomfort. Dunno is it because i done a lot of walking, around 10plus when me and M are playing game together, I felt sudden backache and severe tireness.

So i went for bed around 11pm. But i was unable to sleep and somehow I was constantly wake up by persistent backache and menses cramp like contractions. The contraction is around 10min interval and lasted around 30-45seconds. The backache is not like those that i encounter before, it is a dull ache. But i was very tired so i actually wanted to ignore it and go to sleep. However, when i lie on my back and right side, i get so dizzy and faintish. When i lie on my left, the backache is painful. So in the end i can't lie down at all. But yet i am so tired, so i intend to ignore all pains and go to sleep. I manage to fall to sleep around 1 hour later when the pains seem to cease. At the same time, it seems that someting is pressing my bottom to open up.. probably trying to open up my cervix or something.

Anyway today seems ok so far.. heee. maybe hopefully delivery soon this week.

baby room

2008-05-20T19:18:00.000+08:00

I just took some pixs of the completed baby room!

Here is my bb room, u can see my pump, bb cot, changing table and my hosp bag.

Here is my bb cot :)

Still not yet..

2008-05-17T08:07:00.000+08:00

Hi Me back from gynae clinic from my 37 weeks checkup.

Cervix is still close but gynae can feel bb head when doing cervix check. I also told gynae suspect tat infection not cure yet so she took my discharge for lab test. BB head is too low for the scan to catch. Can't see tummy and head clearly but gynae approximate measure, weight is around 2.8KG. My own weight gain is 1KG since last week.

Me and M considering to attempt induce if bb didn't come out by end of next week. Gynae said only need to insert pill for such case (no need to strap to machines) and can go home to monitor, if nothing happen then at most just cont with normal life no need c-sect. But if find out tat placenta has aged or water level is low, then if induce dun work then have to c-sect. Currently water level is still ok but can see is quite marginal ored and bb hardly have space to move. Poor bb all cramped inside.

Hospital Bag

2008-05-10T14:56:00.000+08:00

After collating from various sources, here is my simple hospital bag list of items

Important docs :-

IC and Admission letter - admission

Marriage cert - for registration of BC

Gynae receipts - for medisave claims together with hospital charges

Original bank book & photocopy of 1st page - for registration of Baby bonus

Other necessarities:-

1) Pyjamas x 2 sets - for wearing at hospital. Hosp only provide hospital gown which is open at the back, so better bring own clothing.

2) Camera! - for taking significant moments

3) Slippers and socks

4) Maternity pads - for containing locha after delivery.

5) Disposable panties

6) Hair band

7) Baby clothes, mittens, receiving blankets, hat - although hosp got provide a set but some people prefer to bring their own so baby looks nicer.

8) Shampoo, toothpaste and tooth brush, bath lotion, facial wash

9) Handphone and charger

Soon to deliver??

2008-05-10T07:30:00.000+08:00

Last week i felt menses like pain on and off. Then recently I also felt bb is pushing downwards on 2 subsquent days (each take around 1 hour). I suspect that bb has engage from various articles that i have read.

This afternoon i went for my 36 weeks checkup. Not yet to deliver but gynae said expected to be very soon in 1-2 weeks time, as BB head has engaged and is very low now and those menses cramp feeling i faced are actually contractions. Cervix is still close when gynae do a VE. So it is really confirmed that baby has engaged last week!

BB is currently 2.7KG @ 36.5 weeks, gynae said better to give birth earlier than term bec' at term this can be 3.4 KG and will be hard to give birth naturally, so 1-2 weeks time is ideal. Gynae ask me to prepare everything, anytime can go liao. Me gonna take out BB cot tonight and do final preps.

Gynas also recommend me to take maternity leave from 20 May onwards (2 weeks in advance) instead of my initial planned date 26 May (1 week advance) since she thinks that baby may be out soon. However she also said this is not guaranteed. Nevertheless i decided to be on the safe side and will take maternity leave from 20 May as recommended.

More signs?

2008-05-10T01:44:00.000+08:00

Yest nite near knock off time, my boss just realise that i am going on ML soon. He is so shocked and panick then he quickly ask me to brief my covering colleagues.. so end up i have to rush to type emails on wat items to cover etc etc. Then this morn cont with my emails also.

Btw yest nite i have a very bad sleep because i suffered from menses cramp pain for around 1 hour or so halfway during sleep, it is so painful that i cannot sleep.

Then i have this bad dream that i rushed to TMC wanting to give birth but they dun have the ward and aneseticist for me then they ask me to come tomorrow, then i rush to another clinic but the doctor like v mercenary type want to quickly do the epidural to earn money, so i rush out last min then go back to TMC and insist tat they do for me, then end up TMC do a bad job and cause more bleeding.. so scary the dream.

I hope the menses cramp thing doesn't mean anything.. cos i had it on tuesday night, then thursday whole day at office on and off, then thursday night also. Then whenever i have the cramp feeling, i will feel nausea. Also the feeling of want to poo or extertion on V area. my mum said she also have the same feeling few weeks b4 my brother is born.

Checkup @ 34 weeks

2008-04-22T08:18:00.000+08:00

i just went this noon for my 34 weeks scan @ gynae clinic. BB is growing well at 2.3KG now and average weight. Head still at bottom and facing towards my buttock. My weight gain since the previous checkup (2 weeks ago) is 0.5KG gain, total around 12KG gain since pregnancy.

Gynae said my finger joint pain got no remedies, i have to ren until after giving birth. Also, gynae said my bb actual weight may depend on the weight of his bones so utimately his weight may be heavier than the machine prediction.

Next appt at 36 weeks gynae will do the virginal examination (VE) liao. and i just got my EDD letter and admission letter. Gynae told me to keep the admission letter with me always. My gynae also recommend Dr Ong EK as my BB PD and Dr Loh WK as my anaesthetist.

Third trimester woes

2008-04-21T17:54:00.000+08:00

Difficulty to walk

With the increased weight, i really walk slow coach.. and clumsy now. In addition, when baby head is down, he pressed on my bottom and whenever i walk, he will pressed on and my bottom feel so painful.

In addition, it is so hard to balance well as baby weight cause me tendency to lean forward, then I try to shift more backwards, and this act always cause me trouble and like want to topple. Sometimes i also feel my feet like want to topple and give way as the weight pressed on.

Later i gotten a maternity belt (Brand: Emma Jane)from mum & babes, cost around $30. It help to support my tummy weight and I find it much easier to walk with the belt. But the belt is not comfortable when i am sitting and also, some forummer told me that during her prenatal class, instructor said maternity belt can reduce the growth of baby and tummy, so i dare not wear the belt when i am at office sitting down. Thus usually i wear to work and remove it, then wear it back again when i am knocking off. I also didn't dare to wear it too tightly.

Because of the difficulty to walk, I am back to everyday taking taxi in the morning when getting to work. I will took MRT train to marina bay then back again to AMK when i go back to home from office.

I find that it is no point saving the taxi fare if really very tired. The problem with Mrt is not the 20-30mins standing (for my case lah). the problem is squeezing with so many people and poor ventilation, plus many people squeeze in and out w/o bothering and knocking me.. then got to watch out for them etc etc. a lot of energy need to spend to watch out for such things. Then i hate it when i go out at raffles mrt, it is so crowded that i have difficulty going out on escalator and walking through the underpass to my office.

Tireness come back

Yes the tireness come back, but mainly due to very poor sleep in the night. I have to wake up almost once or twice per night due to no reason, or due to urge to urinate, or due to baby kicking me, or due to rashes attack, or due to the sudden heat i feel from my baby. The end result is i am very tired in office but yet my boss does not understand and keep pressing me to perform well. sigh.

Rashes attack!

Due to pregnancy, i gotten rashes at my tummy at the last month of pregnancy (gynae said it is normal) but it is driving me crazy with the itchness and i am unable to treat it well because effective creams contain steriods and can cause harm to baby. I can only apply calamine lotion (can be purchase off shelve from any pharmacy) to reduce the itchness but it does not cure. I understand from colleagues that this is common and will disappear after giving birth. Luckily I only gotten it at last month of pregnancy as my colleagues who gotten it, some of them got it quite early and have to bear with it for a longer period.

Strange hormones and moodiness

Somehow, uncontrollable moodiness can overcome my mood at times and especially with the new changes and worries. 1st trimester i have ored feel uncontrollable hormones causing bad temper but this has change to moodiness since 2nd trimester but it has become worst in 3rd trimester such that i always quarrel with mum and feel like life is boring. Especially when i can't do my hobbies such as shopping, play pool, exercise. The tireness means i can't walk long during shopping trips, and the big figure means i can't buy nice slim clothes and thus no more shopping therapy.

My lunch mates do not understand, i think it is because they are single/dun have kids before and do not understand. One lunch mate even feedback that her mood get affected by my complaints and moodiness and she was hesitant to eat with me at times due to this reason. I was upset by her comment but can understand why she do not understand this as she haven't got preggy yet. So i didn't want to comment much also. Also i find it hard to communicate now that my stage of life seems different from them.

This uncontrollable hormones also caused frequent quarrels between me and mum. Of course we usually also quarrel before pregnancy but not as frequent. Mum misunderstand and thought that i dislike her now.. I managed to talk more to her recently and let her understand that those quarrels are mainly due to uncontrollable hormones and stress on pregnancy and coming baby. Sometimes the quarrels and in addition work stress caused by boss lead to severe braxton hicks contractions and pain/difficulty to breathe. I have to rest at bed or take some MC at home to rest and relieve from stress.

Boss keep throwing work to me to do.. I tink v sian, i do so much work then dunno worth or not, like putting my body to risk. Then my colleague J still preach and tell me tat i shd present my proposal better etc etc, when i am the one who help her to do tat bec' she said she is too busy and overburden with work. In the end i told J i can't cope with any more work because of the recent contractions which are caused by stress. So she also stopped giving me more work, but boss still continue to plague me! sigh wat to do.

Luckily M is supportive and listen to my woes often and making me thinking that i am not a freak after hearing my lunch mate's comment! Having a supportive husband is very important during pregnancy. I will try to be more optimistic and to "fight" this uncontrollable moodiness so as to avoid post-natal blues (known to be very common). I hope it will disappear soon after giving birth.

Fingers joint pain

Around middle of april, My fingers start to swell due to water retention and i have removed my wedding ring and swot to smaller fingers. M see me so pain ask me to remove the rings. After i remove the rings, the fingers swell improved but doesn't improved much as time goes by. As time goes by I have problem holding things and doing simple chores such as using staples in work (i have to use both hands to staple documents) and I can't hold plastic bags (fingers will slip as can't be close), often will feel pain at finger joints when doing daily tasks.

It is so irritating and painful and i have to ask M to massage for me at night if not it will worsen as days go by. After massage it will still come back but not as bad as not massage.

We decided to get a car afterall..

2008-04-20T05:09:00.000+08:00

M just got promoted recently! After serious consideration, I told M we really need a car to ferry our baby to and fro to MIL house and also when in emergency especially in the middle of night when we cannot find a taxi. As M salary has increased some amount, he thinks that it is viable now to purchase a car but likely to be a weekend car. Subsquently he has shortlisted the Kia car (model: Rio) which is $49,999 orginal price. After deducting $17K rebate from the government (as we got a weekend car plate), it is not very expensive. In addition, my father in law offer around $10K to help us with downpayment and thus reducing the monthly car loan to an instalment of around $200 each month. So we planned to go to the car company (Cycle and Carriage) on weekend to book a car.

Then just happen i received a letter and phone call from the traffic police that they require me to make a witness statement regarding the traffic accident. Thus we took half day leave and decided to go to the car company after making statement at traffic police station.

After i went to traffic police, dunno is it bec too stress up or wat, when me and M took cab to the car company, i realise that my pants are all wet! and its quite wet Me and M had a scare, we tot waterbag burst liao cos i dun recall i sit anywhere with water. We quickly called up my gynae and my gynae told me if waterbag really burst, i must be hospitalise immediately and she ask me have i pack my hospital bag or not. I really panicked then my gynae told me to monitor for awhile if water cont to leak out means is waterbag burst, if not means i really sit on water liao.

Luckily yest i got put a pad in my bag, then i put on the pad so tat i can test whether the water got cont to leak or not.. end up nothing PHEW so its a scare afterall, dun tink is waterbag.

So then we proceed to enter the car showroom to book the car, but i guess the car sales man saw we talking outside anxiously, he thought we are discussing about the car heee.. (actually we are panick about the possibility of waterbag burst). The process to book the car is smooth, we didn't even do test ride as M is tired after work and the scare, so he just booked the car. We didn't even negotiate much with the sales man, in the end he throw in freebies to us instead.. quite nice the sales man. We chose the car with a boot behind (instead of hatchback) so that we can put in baby stroller etc. The colour is orange colour :)

But give me a scare so yest after me and hb book our car, we went to Kiddy and i purchase maternity disposable panties and other stuff for hospital bag so that my packing is almost complete except for impt docs which i haven't make copies.

Baby shopping

2008-04-19T03:40:00.000+08:00

We decided not to take hands me down clothes and items from friends because I dun think it has any effect based on what i understand from my mum.

I bought 70% of baby clothes through the overseas spree at motherhood forum. My colleagues recommend not to buy too many new born clothes but to get those in 3-6months as babies grew very fast and will outgrow new born clothes very fast. It is hard to get nice boy baby clothes as less variety, most nice ones are girls clothes. So I also didn't buy a lot of baby clothes.

I gotten my shopping list from various sources and combine them.

Here are my postings at the motherhood forum on my shopping trips:-

Posted on Saturday, December 29, 2007 - 5:24 pm:

I am back from "sightseeing trip". Went to Robinsons but couldn't find the pump. So i guess it is all sold out. But anyway i wasn't really tinking to buy pump, just want to take a look. The cot at Robinsons sale is quite a good buy, original price $500plus then now sold around $399. There is another bigger cot. We quite interested in the cot but the person say cannot deliver in 2 mths time so long and my hb dun want to put the cot too long at home to collect dust.
So we just look around all the items and prices. Interested in a bathtub set that cost $70 and suitable for all ages (can expand). Brand is safety first. Then we went to Toa Payoh Kiddy Palace and it is really very big. Got many cots to choose and they are around $150 to $300plus and also look v nice.

hb said dun want to squeeze for sales so most probably we will just go kiddy palace to buy. He didn't want to buy so early to collect dust, so tink we may buy in few mths time as for the pump, i not sure whether want to wait until give birth then buy or buy before give birth. Bec' not sure got energy n time to go out to buy pump + need to take care of bb too. Also, i read tat 1st mth may need the pump sometimes if bb refuse to latch or if there is excess milk need to pump out. it may be inconvenient to get my hb to buy pump for me when i cannot go out of the house during 1st mth.

I also keep looking at bb clothes but hb keep saying no rush to buy now and no need to buy so many etc etc.. I tink i will settle big things like cot, stroller, bathtub, steriliser then i buy bb clothes. Pump due to warranty maybe will buy closer to EDD. bb clothes i tink just buy a few pieces nice one (those $10 per piece type), then buy many pieces for daily wear from neighbourhood shops - $10 for 3 pieces. I saw disney infant wear selling at $10 per piece.

In the end I didn't buy anything, hb dun let me buy anything. He keep saying now buy is v early. Anyway i see many preggy people but they are all around 6mths stage one. My tummy is the smallest among there. So i also paisay, didn't buy anything. Actually wanted to buy the sterliser but also didn't buy any in the end. hb keep saying dun buy too early cos need to put around for 6mths then collect dust not v good. Robinsons not v crowded around the bb corner (but crowded at women and men section). I do buy some stuff for home use but no bb stuff.

Posted on Sunday, February 24, 2008 - 10:01 pm:

Btw, I saw bottom spray selling at this shop Moms essential at suntec city. Are u the one asking abt bottom spray? U can see their website http://www.starhealth.com.sg/Product.asp?Category=Earth%20Mama%20Angel%20Baby%20Series&Rnum=24215818

I went to suntec today and bot some clothes from Spring sale, then also bot a number of Pigeon stuff from Carrefour. Got Pigeon steriliser, original price around $118, got 20% discount. Then me and hb went Robinsons and bot more bb clothes using my Robinsons Vouchers.

Posted on Friday, February 29, 2008 - 11:55 am:

bad news... the pigeon steriliser i got from Carrefour.. guess wat. carrefour person say there isn't any warranty for those steriliser on sale bec' pigeon dun intend to give warranty for these special promo items. So my 20% discount is offset against the warranty! shucks! I suspect those sterilisers at taka sale for pigeon may be the same, no warranties. so pls check the box before u grab them during any sale..

(Note: Later Carrefour managed to send in the warranty card but it is around 3 weeks later,i.e. after the 14 days warranty card period. They only send in after i wrote an email to complain about the matter).

Posted on Wednesday, March 05, 2008 - 9:22 am:

HI all, Yesterday i went to JL sale at Somerset outlet. The diapers are not a good bargain as it is only drypers and petpet and fitti brand. However the rest of the items are on 20% discount, except Toys, Pigeon brand, Avent brand. The strollers are also on 20% discount. We bought a Capella stroller original cost $348, after discount $279. It is a bit big (10KG) but hb prefer big stroller cos he feel it is more comfortable. It got reversible handle and can adjust to reclinable position or upright position. We did saw the same model which cactus bought selling at JL.

Then i also bought the following items:-

1) Breastfeeding pillow - original $89

2) Safety first bathtub set - Its is a small box, so u have to look carefully to find it. Left only 2-3 sets i tink, but maybe they have stock in storehouse.

3) Johnsons top to toe

4) 2 bb Pants - each $6.90

5) Nipple cream

6) NUK milk bottles x 3

7) Dish rack - original $8.90. i regretted buying the safety1st brand one, shd have get the prince lionheart rack, looks better.

In addition, the Medela pump is also entitled for 20% but they are not selling the PIS model. Avent brands - only certain items are on sale (not 20% but a discounted price) and they are displayed in basket. Got Tollyjoy wipes on discount but same price as the Carefour bb sale. Other wipes are on 20% discount.

Overall, the bb section is quite small but there are several items worth to buy. Can still pop by. They got free delivery for purchase above $150. I am not sure if my Robinsons card can give me additional 10% rebate but 20% discount is quite good to us ored.

Posted on Thursday, March 06, 2008 - 11:55 pm:

The sales person confirm to me that no discount for Medela PIS.. and i tot got good deal..haiz.. Just tat i walk too much today.. v tired. I walk to Robinsons at Somerset at 6plus.. then realise no sale for PIS, then i walk to Somerset take MRT to orchard to meet my hb, then dinner, then we walk to Taka only to realise the sale is not good, then we walk to Centrepoint Robinsons to buy some other stuff. If i know no good deals for PIS, maybe i won't piang down to Robinsons.

(note: My colleague J told me that Taka baby sale is very worth going and thus since January I have been waiting for the sale. Finally it is here but then we got a disappointment as the prices are not very attractive and it seems that there are more sales exhibition than good prices)

Posted on Friday, March 07, 2008 - 3:37 pm:

Forget to update what i bought yesterday. Here are my buys (pardon me if i forget the price):- Robinsons @ centrepoint

1) Pigeon Warmer - $60 + 20% discount

2) Baby sling (cloth carrier) - $40++ + 20% discount.

3) Pigeon towels x 3 - each $8.90 + 20% discount.

Taka baby sale:-

1) Pigeon wipes with box (1 only)

2) Kotex maternity pads (1 string and 1 paste) - $14.90 each.

3) Huggies NB diapers x 1 pak - forget to get the free shirt cos if buy maternity pads and huggies diapers can get free bb shirt.

4) Pigeon milk bottle - small size

5) Pigeon breast milk storage bottles - 3 for $15

6) Pigeon bag to maintain warmness for milk

Posted on Friday, March 14, 2008 - 11:52 am:

I have shorten my shopping list to half now. Previously it is double side but now only 1 side. I am going to Kiddy Palace again tmr and also courts to see got any storage furniture. But hb want to buy furniture stuff in April as he got company benefits which is only effective in apr. But i dunno if got time to wait until apr cos not sure abt delivery time etc. So i tot go reckee first then ask abt delivery time etc, more info. For bb cot, we have not bot yet. We have shortlist 1 cot at Robinsons, cost $399 but looks v nice, got cow pictures around. Another place will be Kiddy Palace which is cheaper but hb and i felt tat the cots there look quite normal. My bb room is still in the midst of clearing. I left the job to hb but he is laidback. So i am setting target time for him, else he will never do the job.

Posted on Monday, March 17, 2008 - 12:31 pm:

Sat noon, me and hb went to Toa Payoh to look at Kiddy Palace. We saw the same cot as the Robinsons one, but the price is higher than Robinsons as the price does not include cot mattress. So we considered and decide to go back to Robinsons. There isn't much bb dresser at Kiddy. So we went to Courts and saw a nice dresser with drawers shelves and its sold $199 only (original $799) though it is display set but end up their warehouse got spare stock so we took warehouse one. We also bot a mini sofa (one person) for me to use for breastfeeding, price around $200.

Yesterday we went to AMK neighbourhood shop. Initally wanted to buy a small table to put in the kitchen cos i dun have space for put bb stuff (steriliser etc). In the end, hb said we can re-use our small ikea table and i will re-arrange some of the appliances to clear a space. I guess i need to do some spring cleaning.

Posted on Friday, March 21, 2008 - 4:23 pm:

Me and hb just went to buy new rice cooker and some appliances. Courts got philip sale now. Btw, For those who are looking for Ameda pump. Yest at Robinsons i saw Ameda Pump selling at $388 but got 20% discount. Card member can get an extra 5% rebate i think.

Posted on Friday, March 21, 2008 - 4:25 pm:

Oh ya, then me bot 2 more PJ at Robinsons. They are of the same brand as NTUC one, Karma brand. But the robinsons one got shirt and pants PJ; and one whole piece dress PJ and of slightly thicker material and more designs. Cost $14+ to $25+. The NTUC ones are still ok and cost $9.90.

Posted on Monday, April 07, 2008 - 12:11 pm:

Btw yesterday i went to Ikea (the old branch) and bought the baby changing table which you all have recommended, the $39 one. The changing table is quite good. But the Ikea branch is undergoing partial renovation and things are quite messy, me and hb grab the table and go back home liao, didn't want to loiter more.

http://www.ikea.com.sg/products/product_display.asp?id=157

Then later at night we go Kiddy Palace to buy cot mattress and bed sheets. Quite expensive, each bed sheet around $20-$30 and we bought 4-5 for change purpose. For cot bed sheets, should we get fitted sheet or bed sheet with zip? Becos my hb tink fitted sheet seems better, he bot quite a number of fitted sheet, but i understand from my colleague today tat bb may pull the fitted sheet away when bb grows older.

Posted on Friday, April 18, 2008 - 12:40 pm:

ioio, I bot too many pads. At first i bot Kotex loop x 10 pieces, then i understand tat stick is better so i bot kotex stick on x 10 pieces. then colleague told me kotex is no good and i shd buy madame brand, so i go buy madame brand but they only have big packet, so end up i have a lot more pads liao. i tink waste again but being KS so i comfort myself on the waste lah.

Maternity clothing for 2nd and 3rd trimester

2008-04-18T19:50:00.000+08:00

After trying out on Spring and Perfect mum, Theme maternity and Carrano (a neighbourhood shop at Toa Payoh), here are my comments:-

Spring @ Amk hub

Their clothes are more on the high side, usually around $70 and above. The best time to buy is to wait for their sale, and to get the member discount card. Their bra is however quite cheap, usually around $29. Dresses and clothes are generally quite nice and trendy, and shop assts are not pushy.

Perfect mum @ The Arcade Raffles Place

Their clothes are quite trendy and modern and best thing is they have alteration services. However the shop asst is quite pushy and i always end up buying more than i need. Their bra is not very comfortable I find. But the maternity pants is quite comfortable especially with the V flap in front and is more comfortable than Spring pants. Pricing is slightly cheaper than spring by around $10 but i understand that recently they have increased their prices.

Theme Maternity @ bugis junction

Clothes are less trendy, and doesn't look that interesting. Sales asst is not pushy.

Carrona @ Toa Payoh Central

It is a neighbourhood shop near Jubilee & world of sports. Cheap as most items cost around $20/$30. But it is also flimsy and not ideal for long term wear as one of the pants I bought, the band broke just within 1 week when i bought it. However the tops are worth even though the material look flimsy, but since I also won't wear it for too long so also ok since it is cheap. The sales asst is pushy and keep pushing clothes in while I am changing. Quite irritating.

Baby head has moved down!

2008-04-11T08:25:00.000+08:00

At first i notice is my bb movements have changed since week 29. He has less kicking movements but he shift around causing "ripples" on my tummy, can see the ripples.

Then around sometime during week 28/29, there is a huge movement by bb one day, where he move a lot, tink was massive shifting around. I can see his spine (got shape) on my tummy and a lot of shifting movements. After tat day, no more of such big shifting liao then i start to feel virginal area pain (which my gynae said is bec of bb head pressing down on virginal). Later i realise it is bec' he has shifted his position to be head downwards. now his movements are still significant, gynae said still got space for him to move his hands and legs and body.

Lets hope he keep his position head down all the way to delivery :)

Braxton Hicks Contractions(1)

2008-04-01T05:21:00.000+08:00

I understand from Pre-natal class that it is common to encounter false contractions (Braxton hicks contractions) during 3rd trimester.

I have just experienced it again last thursday.
I was rushing and faced the contractions again, feel breatheless and uncomfortable. This is the 2nd time i had such contractions liao. It happen when i am rushing to dentist to accompany my mum for her toothache, maybe i rush too much i had it while i was walking, uncomfortable and painful. Then it came back when later i walk back with my mum quarreling, maybe too stress up also.

Yes I have confirm that this is braxton hicks contraction bec' i also ask my gynae and she confirmed. The stomach will harden and relax and harden and relax and the whole process can be 30mins. But once it get to e.g. 5mins per stage or a regular count, it can be preterm labour.

So far the contractions are still quite painless but just uncomfortable.

Traffic accident

2008-03-29T01:16:00.000+08:00

This morn i was late for office cos the taxi i took got into an accident on CTE. Apparently some bikes hit onto the taxi and we have stop halfway at CTE, got 1 biker injured but seems ok. Anyway i am stuck at CTE for half an hour with no replacement cab and no cab want to stop at CTE. Then the police and ambulence come, then luckily the driver behind my cab also stop, then after he gave his details to police he offered to fetch me to City Hall. I manage to take another cab from City Hall to my work place. Was 45min late for work. Give me a scare but i wasn't hurt.

I did get a shock and has to stand at CTE for half an hour..imagine all the cars zooming by and i am stranded on the road.. sigh. And my hb didn't drive so i can't get anyone to rescue me also. I try to stay calm for bb sake. Luckily the person injured looks ok and i am more assure.

No Seats at Public Transport

2008-03-21T00:20:00.000+08:00

I tried to take less taxi during 2nd trimester when energy is good. However, I must say the public transportation during peak hours is horrible.

I guess nowadays people are getting more selfish. The horrible train crowd at peak hours give me problems many times. In the morning if i took train I will take around 8am. Frequently I have to stand from Ang Mo Kio to Raffles place without anyone offering a seat. This is 20min ride and still bearable. My colleague who is preggy and even when she is near due time (her tummy is really big and obvious), she has to stand from Raffles Place to Boonlay which is easily 1 hour ride, and no one offer her a seat.

Most of the time people will just pretend to sleep or read newspaper when it is obvious that they noticed the preggy mother. There is once when a slim gal (dressed in nice working clothes) actually try to snatch seats with me at Raffles Place, and can actually stare at me when i got the seat! Come on! Can't they understand Preggy women can't stand for too long?!! It is yet another horrible scene when i saw crowds of people at Raffles Place MRT pushed a preggy women. I must say the crowds at Raffles place is very horrible.

One day, I board at AMK and waited for people to give up seats but no one give up. Waited until Orchard still no one alight. Then i push my tummy to a lady reading newspaper. She look up and make noise, then resume to read her newspaper! Angry, i ask the other guy who is sitting at the seat for preggy/old folks "Can I have this seat please?" He is still sleeping but i dun care lah, since he is sitting at that seat mah. He woke up and so paisay looking "sorry, i didn't see" and he gave up the seat to me! Haa.. I tink next time i will ask the person sitting at the preggy/old folk sign to give up seat to me liao, dun want to wait stupidly for people to give up seats.

I advise all preggy mummies do not wait for people to offer seats. Because nowadays few people do such gracious acts. Ask for the seat if you are tired, dun wait.

So usually M will still get me to take taxi even though i insisted to take public transport. But taxi fares have increase recently and it is so expensive to take from AMK to my work place!

The worst thing is the recent act that government if forbidding taxi to stop at anywhere in CBD areas but can only stop at taxi stands. I mean, the nearest taxi stands are not very near my office and if I have to walk to my office, it defeats the purpose of taking expensive taxi rides. Some taxi drivers are still nice and do not insist to stop at taxi stands. However, a few insisted to stop at taxi stands only and I have to walk like 10-15mins to my office. Fine weather is ok but when it rains, it is terrible.

Luckily after much complaints, the act has been revised to allow taxi drivers to stop at small lanes. So in the end i got them to stop at Market Street carpark small lane and walk across 1 road to my office.

So much work stress

2008-03-20T02:15:00.000+08:00

Just now colleague say maybe i am too stressed up so bb also stressed up. Thats why the umbilial cord incident. Dunno is it true but i try to relax. Then my boss keep pressing me for someting, and keep asking me to rush. Very sianz, he cannot understand cannot stress preggy women meh. Now he let me eat my cubicle but he say must hide my food and cannot eat soupy stuff, so only bread allowed. Other colleagues eat like siao at their cubicles. SIAO BOSS!!!

Previously he dun allow me to eat anyting on my desk. Then after i quarrel with him, i didn't tok to him for few days. Recently we make up lah, he pai say and say i can eat lor but must still eat quietly lor, must hide the food lah so bread is preferred cos easier to hide. I dun want to argue with him. My other team mates are heng bec' their desk is not so near him so he cannot see. My desk is right next to his door, he purposely arrow me to sit there when we renovate our office last year. Last time i used to sit v far from him one. Sometimes i eat at a corner near the files section. Maybe he spot me or someone told him, now he told me can eat at cubicle but must still hide my food.

Anyway, I tink i really need to take advance ML. Cos my job now is getting more stressed as one mega project is going to obtain TOP and we are rushing now. If i stay in office i afraid i may get too stressed up.

Another scare

2008-03-19T06:59:00.000+08:00

Since last friday I noticed that bb seems to move lesser than usual. Even at his regular "kickboxing" time he has not been moving. I dunno is it because I have recently scolded him for waking me up in the middle of the night thats why he move so little.

Dr Wong did say that as bb is bigger so maybe less space to move around. She say got move 10 times or so shd be fine. I didn't count how many times bb move over the last few days, but i noted a significant decrease in the strength of bb kicks and also lesser kicks.

At first i tot is ok as long as bb move can liao. Over the weekend I went to Jeff Chang concert and he got move a little, but still less movements than usual. Then yesterday also not much movement despite me and hb keep poking and play with him. Then yest nite, he kick me few times during sleep. So i am really confused.

I guess i better go see gynae to have a peace of mind. I make an emergency appt in afternoon but likely to wait for more than 1 hr as afternoon fully booked.

So tired. Whole nite me and hb worried so didn't sleep well.

Scan at gynae clinic showed that baby is moving. However as the umbilical cord is near the baby neck, gynae suggested we go up to 4th floor for detailed scan to check the blood flow. As I am last min slot in (no appt), the detailed scan sect inform tat we have to wait around 45mins. So i go back to clinic and do a CGT test to monitor baby heartbeat for 45mins.

After tat, i went back to the detailed scan sect and do a detailed scan. Detailed scan indicate that the umbilical cord is just around my bb neck but not tight and blood flow is ok. Though it is a bit worrying but seems ok. CGT heartbeat test also indicate heartbeat normal.

Gynae told me to monitor baby movements everyday, though she say normally monitoring movements start from 32 weeks. Gynae also said if baby is found to be destress, have to immediately hospitalise and C-sect liao. I hear liao v worried, then realise i haven't even packed my hospital bag and stuff!.. Anyway the whole checkup at both places took 2 hours. I went back to clinic at 5pm. I am now 29 weeks. When gynae said if anyting wrong will need to c-sect, give me a scare lor. But all the nurses are v helpful and not much queue at TMC today. Even if so, all these tests took around 2 hrs liao.

We spent $48 for the emergency appt with my gynae, $155 for the scan test at TMC 4th floor, $50 for the CGT test at my gynae clinic.

Baby give us a scare today, guess i dare not scold him liao.. also must pack my hospital bag soon just in case. phew.

That nite i tok to bb and told him mummy like him to kick but when i am sleeping, i can't sleep if he is kicking me. bb seems to understand wat me and hb are toking to him.

After that incident, I have monitored bb movements for few weeks and all seems to be back to normal. bb also respond to us. phew.

Baby naming

2008-03-15T15:32:00.000+08:00

We decided not to have any English or christian name for our bb as we have already decided not to decide on his religion (leave it for him to give himself an English name and to decide his own religion) and thus we decided to think of one character each and combine them to a meaningful name.

I bot a book from popular bookstore, it has a section on calculating number of strokes to estimate whether the name is good or not. I tested our proposed name and seem fairly ok. The book also have a section on which animal sign is suitable for wat words, some words are not suitable etc. The book is really good. got many sects on chinese naming. First it suggest wat are the good ways to naming, how to ensure wordings and pronoucation is ok and doesn't sound repetitive. E.g. Wang is made up of "W" and "ang" and the other 2 words shd avoid having "W" and "ang" in hanyu pinyin. Then also got section analyse famous people and how their name mean etc. Also got section on most 100 popular names. Then got suggestion on good names. Whole list. A sect on which animal sign is good for wat words to use, and wat words to avoid. A sect on characters calculation based on strokes. Very comprehensive book le. The author is not really v pro on auspicious naming or wat.. he is giving a comprehensive view.. so tats why i tink the book is good bec a lot of other books emphasize too much on auspicious naming.

M family also has a family tree of names but he dun intend to follow. We also decide to name our bb ourselves, prefer to choose from our own ideas. I also dun intend to get a master to choose name, bec' my name is also not chosen by any master.

M's surname is very hard to combine with other characters as his is a unique surname.

IN the end we have decided on the Chinese name "Koh Yu Zhe" 辜宇哲. Yu is the word "spacious/big" whereas Zhe is the word "pilosophical". The combination will means great wisdom. We hope that our bb will be clever and wise when he grew up :)

2nd trimester woes - High sugar

2008-03-13T00:30:00.000+08:00

From 2nd trimester onwards, I need to test our urine on a strip whenever I go gynae clinic. For 2 tests, the indicator show that I have high blood sugar in the urine. I wasn't worried until this results occur 2nd time and Dr Wong said I have to go for glucose test to check whether I have any gestational diabetes.

This is from wat i understand from my gynae:-

1) Check sugar tolerance at clinic's test whereby overnight fasting is required. After blood sample is taken, A sugar drink will be given and blood taken again after 2 hours.

2) If dignosed sugar tolerance is not good or confirmed got Gestational diabetes, diet has to be controlled and alterated. Gynae will monitor and gauge whether daily monitoring of sugar is needed.

3) If diet control fail, insulin injections have to be taken daily. Patient has to inject insulin everyday and monitor blood sugar daily.

I also gained a total of 3KG over 1 month time. Gynae is worried. I realise how i gain so much weight, roughly this is wat i eat:-

1) 2 portions of meal for lunch and dinner each. If i eat noodles, i will eat 2 bowls. If i eat rice, i will add rice and meat.

2) Fast food almost everyday. Macnuggets and coke, ice-lemon tea.

3) Ice-cream cones - around 2-3 per week

4) Chocolate - some pieces

5) CNY goodies - few boxes

Why do my weight increase so much over 1 month time? Becos many of my colleagues keep saying my tummy is v small and i need to eat more etc so that my bb can grow well. Then some colleagues even tell me that i need to eat for 2 person and my weight gain is too little and not healthy. So in the end i eat so much that i gain 3KG over 1 mth and my bb overweight by 1 week's weight. Gynae asked me wat i eat over the past mth and commented that it is not healthy to eat for 2. In fact, we shd eat normally and if hungry we eat small snacks. So in the end i regretted influenced by colleagues. Now i dun care if anyone say my tummy is small or wat. I will just tell them my bb weight is normal and in fact is on the high side, so there is no need for me to eat for 2 at the moment.

Due to the high sugar in my urine tests, I got so worried that I decided to change my diet to a more healthy one. Here is my revised diet:

Breakfast: Wholemeal bread (plain).

Lunch/Dinner: Fish soup/Yong tau hu mee hoon/Cai fan (veg, tofu with less meat, avoid dishes with a lot of sauce)/subway sandwich but skip honey mustard sauce (or little sauce) with no drinks/ BK Tendergrill but no fries or less fries and no drinks.

Drinks: No coke/ice-lemon tea etc. Can take low sugar/no sugar nutrisoy. Skip fruit juice unless natural one.

Tidbits: take non-salted or healthy tidbits (with sticker- healthier choice)

Sauces: Avoid sauces if possible. If must take, take v min.

Fruits: Skip honeydew and grapes. Can take apple, orange. Fast food: I took KFC but skip sauces and drinks. I try to skip fries too but quite hard. So i opt for small fries. Minimum sauces taken as a lot of sugar added. Carbo can take but dun overeat. Wholemeal bread is good bec' it take longer to digest and provide a good source of carbo.

This morn i went for checkup and to take glucose test. Have to fast from midnight to 11.30pm. So hungry after the test.

Through my more healthy diet, I have only gain 0.5KG since last checkup (1 mth ago) and bb is now 1.3KG @ 28.5 weeks. Gynae said this is considered ok as the average weight is 1.2KG. Looks like my diet did help.

The next day, I waited for the clinic to call me but they didn't call the whole morning, so i get worried and call up the clinic but the clinic nurse told me to wait for their call, make me so frustrated. Around 4.30pm I can't wait anymore and i call up again, this time is another nurse and she actually help me to check my records and told me that my results are OK!

Phew!! Looks like I dun have to strictly control my diet anymore, but due to this "scare" i have subsquently reduce the sugar intake of my diet and cut down on ice-cream etc.

2nd trimester woes

2008-03-11T20:05:00.000+08:00

2nd trimester is the "honeymoon" of pregnancy. Despite that, I still suffer from some woes.

Backache

Talk about backache, i am already suffering from it everyday when i wake up from bed. I have back problem during school days, need to x-ray every year until age 17, the nurse say my spine is ok so no need scan. Occasionally, i will have backache that cause pain for whole day or few days. The only way is to do exercises to relieve backache.

From Recommendations from forummers, I bought a tempur cushion at Robinsons for my house computer chair. Although it is expensive (around $200), it is really v comfortable and my back feel so much better when i lie on it. http://www.tempurworld.com/page624.aspx

In addition, I have tried to avoid sleeping on my back as the bb weight causes stress on the spine and thus backache. I have tried to sleep on my left as recommended by most articles and books. Sleeping on right side is fine but articles suggested that it can cause blood circulation problem (similar as sleeping on back) and therefore sleeping on left is recommended.

However, it is so hard to maintain in 1 position while sleeping and I tend to shift to different positions while sleeping. Moreoever i am so used to sleeping on my right side. Thus, many times while I am sleeping on my left side i tend to over lean and pressed on my tummy, causing stress to bb. Later on, i discover special cushions sold at Mum & Babes (at AMK hub) that is shaped like a triangle and can be placed on back as well as tummy to secure a better position.

It is really very helpful.

Leg cramps and bad sleep

I always have leg cramps in the middle of night. Then i try to sleep sideways cos i feel uncomfortable sleeping facing ceiling. One time when i sleep sideways and nearly sleep with face down, tummy sudd feel so uncomfy ( i tink i press on bb) and i sudd jerk up. This happen quite often.

Gynae Dr Wong said lack of calcium can caused leg cramps. So I took more calcium by drinking nutrisoy (450mg calcium per serving) or HL milk. However as I am slightly lactose intolerate, I can't take milk daily, so I took nutrisoy more. Despite increasing calcium intake, I still suffer leg cramps almost daily.

Then i discover that if i wear socks while sleeping, it does help in reducing the number of leg cramps. Also, some massage on the leg before sleeping also helps. Soon, leg cramps reduce but on and off still have some.

Baby movements distracting?

I start to feel Baby movements around week 19. It begin like a butterfly fluttering and I though it is gastric gas. Later, I can feel like something moving inside water and splashing around. Whenever i place my hand on my tummy, bb will stop the movements so i also cannot feel it on my tummy. I can only feel it internally. When M try to feel, bb will also hide his movements. It is only until much later near end of 2nd trim when bb will react to M's touch. However, my bb usually will hide his movements when i touch my tummy.

The feel of baby movements are good in a way that I can check whether he is healthy and living inside or not. The bad thing is his movements distract me from working and sleeping.

My bb like to move when i go to sleep. If i sleep at my sideways he may sometimes kick vigorously. Someone at forum suggest toking to bb before sleep.. so i have been toking to bb recently before sleep and ask him to be guai guai so i can sleep better. It seems to work better. When i forget to tell him to be guai guai, then I didn't have a good sleep lor. Over time, he seems to be more accustom and will quiet down whenever I go to sleep.

He likes to respond to music, especially classical music as I tried to play more often for him. He also have some preferrence timing for his "kickboxing exercises". As time goes by, his movements get more prominent and harder. Sometimes his kicks can bring me a little pain.

Frequent urination

As the growing baby pressed on bladder, I tend to go toilet more often. Also, sometimes cannot control especially when cough or sneeze. From the pre-natal class, I learned that pelvic floor exercise can reduce the problem. Thus i start to diligently practice and I found that it really do help!

Fish oil and vomitting

I find the multi-vit is v smelly (has a strong medicine smell) and fish oil is horrible ( i can burp fish smell for hours after consumption). During the times when i have cough, i used to cough out the vits and food and vomit many times. But usu i will vomit if i take vits. And i find that the fish oil (worst effect) and the multi-vits are the culprits bec' i dun vomit during 1st trim.. its kindda strange to vomit on 2nd trim.

Now i learn one way to over come this problem is to eat easily digested food then take the pills 2 hrs after food (not imm after food) as it takes longer for us to digest nowadays. And dun swallow a lot of water after pills (cos may cause to vomit water). But make sure take the tablets with enuff water to gurp at one go and not swallow it halfway or accidentally break the fish oil while swallowing (happen to me once).

Later i found that the best time to eat the fish oil is around 4-5pm then the smell is not so obvious.

Tummy itch

I dunno when my stomach suddenly increase in size, it also itch. I guess it is because it is expanding. I found that the clarins body treatment oil does help a lot in relieving the itching.

Gums bleeding

Frequently I will have gums bleeding especially towards the 3rd trimester. I understand it is because lack of calcium and is quite normal during pregnancy as the blood circulation is higher.

Overly concern from my Mother in law(MIL)

My MIL is fine but she became overly concern abt my health etc etc after pregnant. Actually b4 pregnant she wonder abt my womb cos we married for 1 year liao tat time, but actually M never told her is bec' we got planning. Then she suggest i eat bai feng wan to strengthen womb.

Then when preggy, she become concern over my health lor. She start to spot my hidden white hairs and seems v alarm over it. Then she "bio" and touch my tummy to confirm got grow or not, whether boy or gal. Then she noticed the rashes marks on my small legs and become overly concerned again, shocked tat got some skin prob or wat. Very tired of explaining to her leh.

Then she got habit to touch if she see something alarming. I prolong visiting her due to this, although M is not very happy. I dunno shd i tell her straightforward tat i be upset if she said such remarks again. Or i shd keep quiet and upset for few weeks again.

In the end M help me to talk to her and she finally stopped her "strange" actions. Phew. Besides that, my in laws also keep telling me to eat more, seems like they prefer a big baby. I guess it is due to their traditional thinking that big baby is good.

But if i compare with my other colleagues in general lah, my tummy size is a bit small as theirs in 20 weeks lor. So i also want to eat more too, yet at same time worried tat i overeat and hard to regain back wt after giving birth. Colleague say say nevermind, we can still ignore. MIL says is v stressful le. My MIL said i slim down after i come back from taiwan trip le. She is like v worried leh. But i eat a lot during trip leh.

Weight Gain

This again is stressful as too little weight gain may cause slow growth to bb, yet too much weight gain may be unhealthy.

At around 20 weeks, i start to get more hungry. I need to add $1 to my usual meal or eat a snack after meal. Even with the added $1, I still feel hungry later at 5plus and need to eat a piece of bread.

No Pedicure and Medicure??

I actually booked appointment with my regular shop to do pedicure and manicure for Chinese New Year. However I understand from some people that chemicals for Pedi/mani is harmful and breathing in the chemicals while doing can be harmful for the bb.

So in the end i sacrifice by not doing.. sigh, so sianz and no way to doll up during pregnancy.

2nd trimester woes - Constipation

2008-03-11T17:07:00.000+08:00

One of the most horrible - constipation.

I have bad constipation during 2nd trim and 3rd trim, the most severe is during 2nd trim. There are few times i nearly fainted in the toilet due to hard bowels. Then due to constipation, my piles and whole bottom will swell until I cannot sit for 1 hour.

Dr Wong gave me some cream for piles as she said it will cause more pain together with the delivery wound after delivery. For constipation, I only managed to ask Dr Wong much later during 3rd trimester and knew that I can drink fibregel if it is causing a lot of problems to me. By then my constipation has improved so I didn't drink fibregel in the end.

I found that despite drinking water and eat fruits everyday, the constipation during 2nd trim is horrible. IN the end i found that vegetables is the cure! If i eat vegetables everyday, constipation will be reduced.

Breast Pump

2008-03-11T12:24:00.000+08:00

I have considered the following breasts pumps:-

Medela PIS

Ameda dual pump

Avent manual pump

Medela is supposed to be the most expensive and top brand. However the reputable one is the PIS model. I saw several forum feedback tat Medela mini electric spoils quite easily. Also, I notice more people are selling off medela mini electric than other models.

The breast pump prices keep increasing. Last year the prices are lower and this year the prices increased by around 20%. Last year the price of Ameda is $320 but this year increased to $350. Medela PIS is originally $700 last year but increased to $730 this year. At this rate, I better buy the pump fast but I also dun like to buy too early because the warranty will start once purchase the item.

I have initially decided to buy an Avent ISIS manual pump first ($80) for maternity (to pump out any excess milk for storage or to prevent engorgement). Then if got milk supply and want to cont breastfeeding after maternity, i may get an Ameda electric pump since it is cheaper, $350.

My most preferred is to get medela PIS but tink $700plus is too high, a bit risky. I was in a dilemma between Ameda and Medela when finally I decided to purchase a Medela PIS pump today, after checking out prices at recent sales!!

M agreed to share part of the cost, so i bought from mum & babes just now, last set left. The promo price is $688, and include a cooler bag, one box of Medela milk bags, Medela nipple cream & one box of Medela breast pads. Overall, the freebies given is more worth although taka sell the same pump $10 cheaper.

Food for pregnancy

2008-03-03T16:17:00.000+08:00

Caffeine (avoid throughout whole pregnancy)

It is mentioned that excessive intake of caffeine can be harmful to baby. Gynae Dr Wong recommend not more than 2 cups of coffee a day if really cannot control the urge. Coffee, tea, coke, chocolate all contained caffeine.

I am still ok because i dun drink coffee and tea often before pregnancy. The only thing I find hard to endure is coke because i really love to drink coke. I try to control not more than 1 can of coke a day.

Watermelon and Pineapple

It is rumoured that Pineapple can cause miscarriage though it has not been proven. Several articles did claimed that Pineapple consist of a certain item that may cause miscarriage.

As for watermelon, Chinese believed it to be "cooling" and thus should be avoided during 1st trimester when the pregnancy is not stable.

I have tried eating watermelon during 2nd trimester but got bad cramps soon after eating. Therefore for a long time during pregnancy i have not taken any watermelon except 3rd trimester. I will suggest to take such fruits in moderation and little amount to test your body reaction before eating in bigger amounts, just to be on the safe side.

Cold drinks and oranges

Below is a posting by a forummer:-

for my #1, i drink cold drinks all the way till delivery....hubby was so scared that later bb get asthma then when we went for check up, he asked gynae abt me taking cold drinks and gynae said it is OK to drink cold drink cos he said by the time it gets to my stomach, the drink oredi not so cold. hahahaha....conclusion: no effect on baby actually. my #1 arrive into this world with no problems at all and is also healthy now. one thing though i noticed is taking oranges...my SIL took quite a bit in her 3rd tri and end up when her baby is born, she got a lot of phlegm. For me, I hardly take any oranges so not a problem when my #1 was born.

Ginseng and Chinese Herbs

It is rumoured that ginseng (not sure Amercian or chinese ginseng) can cause miscarriage. Nonetheless many people recommend to take it from 2nd trimester onwards and to avoid during 1st trimester.

As for chinese herbs and tonics, it is recommended not to take during 1st trimester. Can start to take from 2nd trimester onwards, such as bird nest and cordyceps, red dates etc.

My mum said she took TCM "an tai yao" during the time she had me and i have "huang dan bing" when i am a bb. Later she asked gynae and gynae told her TCM medicine got a content tat will cause tat so it is recommended to take the western one "duphaston". My mum practice tat for my younger bro and bro dun have tat problem. So my mum told me not to touch chinese herbs during 1st trimester as it is advised by her gynae.

Raw food(must avoid)

Raw food contain bacteria so have to avoid during pregnancy, also avoid food that is not fully cooked (i.e. half cooked such as half boiled eggs etc).

Fish with mercury

Fish is good for bb brain development but fish with mercury is harmful. Example shark fins, stingray. Fatty fish such as salmon does not contain mercury and is safe to eat.

Some people said it is still safe to eat shark fins soup as the shark fin content is very low. I have eaten some during Chinese new year but not a lot.

Fall down incident

2008-02-16T01:00:00.000+08:00

Yesterday night after dinner i fall down at restaurant, never look at the small steps. I fall down with my right ankle giving way first, so i quickly use right ankle to slow the fall, then i fall down on my left buttock on floor. It an ugly fall but i got wear pants. Luckily i use my right ankle to slow the fall or else may be a bad fall. Buttock got big blue black and painful to sit le. Scare all the waitress and my hb. But some customers just sit there lor, no expression.

i can still feel bb kicks after the fall so i trust he is fine. M tink shd be fine, so initially we intend to wait until my scheduled next week appt with Dr Wong.

But it is really a scare lor. So i guess as precaution if fall down must really try to fall on buttock rather than front side.

After the fall, I saw some brown discharge and get worried. I tried to call Dr Wong clinic and the nurse say will pass the message to her but no one called me for the whole day. Since my next appt is next wed, so i decided to wait instead of calling the clinic again.

But this still can't stop my worry so in the end I emailed to Dr Wong after getting the email address from another forummer. Dr Wong did reply my email 1 day later and ask me to monitor. She said if brown discharge appear for consecutively many days, have to go see her. If fresh blood discharge, have to see her ASAP.

Later on, there are no brown stains so should be ok. I waited for next wed for my checkup. The brown discharge, gynae suspect is bec my placenta is still a bit low. Then cos i fall down on thur, so may bleed a bit. If not will be due to infection, tats why she is sending discharge for test. But she say from observation looks ok (infection). If infected she will insert a pill below which will dissolve in 30min but can kill the bacteria there. Also gynae said can use virginal wash to clean bottom regularly but should not use those virginal wash with insert into the virginal. As in wash outside area is fine. In fact she say maybe i stop using virginal wash so maybe tats why i say discharge got smell.

So i guess the fall didn't cause any impact afterall, but it is still scary to fall down while pregnant.

Detailed scan @ 20 weeks & hospital tour

2008-01-16T02:00:00.000+08:00

My appointment is at 10am and the venue is 4th floor at TMC.

I was v tired bec' yest nite i watch DVD.
It is the same place as the Oscar test and same procedure just that more measurements to be taken. Sonographer will check the blood flow, heart, brain, spine, liver etc etc. Also take measurements like head circumstance, waistline, legs, etc etc. Many steps. I lie on the bed so long until my spine all painful cos too long and my head tilt to see the screen until neck pain.
Detailed scan results are all fine and baby size is proportional just tat his waistline is a bit bigger than avg and his legs are longer than average. Eyes seems to be normal size (not v big or small), looks like sharp chin. But can't see the face well bec' bb is hiding his face with his hands. Then he sleep with a same posture as me! Gosh so shock to see tat. At first he didn't want to show his gender then later i ask him to part his legs and he listen to me so is 100% confirm a boy!

The scan took quite long. We waited for 40mins although there is v few people waiting, then the scan is abt 20-30mins while the person do a lot of measurements all over and check for abormonities. EDD no change and is 20plus weeks now. All the while bb is moving his hands and legs. During the scan, the sonographer will also explain to me on some details.

After scan finish, I waited outside for 5mins then they immediately print report for me. I took the report to gynae and she explain to me the results. bb weight is 366g and me have gain 3KG. Gynae said my own weight gain is a bit low but bb weight is ok so its fine. Placenta is noted to be slightly low but is fine. Detailed scan does not show everything, my gynae told me after detailed scan. So some holes at heart etc may not be able to be revealed during detailed scan. Detailed scan can only pick up major & obvious ones. Nevertheless, we are happy to know that the results are fine.

We then went for lunch and jalan around 45mins then we went for hospital tour at 2pm, see various wards and delivery room etc. There is no need to book for hospital tour, just joined in 10mins before the time at the reception counter at their scheduled tours (I think one in the morn and one at 2pm). Tour is v fast, around 30mins. I didn't manage to see 2-bedded cos no empty wards. I saw single, deluxe 1 and 2, delivery suites, nursery. Delivery wards at TMC is quite nice, got own room for each person and some space to move around.

Pre-natal course

2008-01-15T11:00:00.000+08:00

The website of Thomson Medical Centre state that we can only book the course from 20 weeks of gestation (pregnancy). So we thought we can only call in around January. Later one of the forummer told me that we can book early because the classes are very popular. Especially Mrs Wong's classes as she is the most senior lactation consultant and her class is known to be very good.

So M called in December but the Parentcraft centre only note our names down. We waited for 1 month but they never called us.

In January we called up Parentcraft again and the person at Parentcraft said she dunno why when we call in dec, we are not booked for any slot. Now they left only Jan 14 class (other nurse - not Mrs Wong) and March 19 (Mrs Wong class). Becos my EDD is early June, March course will be too late for me.

After serious consideration, I decided to skip Mrs Wong class and going for the other course in Jan conducted by another nurse. Dunno why the Parentcraft people never note down our contacts properly, if not I will be able to attend Mrs Wong class.

The Pre-natal class is as follows:-

Lesson 1
Physical & Mental Preparation
Antenatal Exercise
Nutrition Before & After Delivery
Myths & Traditions
Coping with Pregnancy Discomfort
Back Care & Postures
Instructional Video

14 January 2008, Monday 7pm at TMC. We are informed that the instructor is away at scotland so got a covering instructor today. The auntie instructor v cute one, keep sidetrack and tok abt her birth experience and her experience at hospital etc for us to listen, in btw the slides and exercises. End up today is like rojak, dunno learn wat.

The class start with a video on breastfeeding then exercise then a slide show on nutrition. I realise that preggy women actually need 900 to 1200mg of calcium, which is 2 glasses of milk in addition to prescribed tablets from gynae. lack of calcium can actually cause leg cramps, though over walking /standing etc can also cause leg cramps at nite. Then can do toes and legs massage to alleviate leg cramps/prevent leg cramps. To prevent swollen legs, can put pillow under leg when sleep. Also avoid too much salt as it may cause swollen legs. To alleviate back pain, put pillow under back when lying on left side. Instructor also said there is no need to eat for 2 throughout pregnancy. Weight gain for a petite person abt 10KG. For normal ht/wt will be 10-13KG. Max is 15KG wt gain. Also learn a lot of other stuff cos instructor like to tok a lot.. but interesting. I tink M is more bored.. cos he can't do the exercises. And the place is quite cramp so not much space for him to sit too.

Lesson 2
Pain Relief
Antenatal Exercise
Physiological Approach to Breathing Relaxation
Changes in Pregnancy Leading to Signs & Symptoms of Labour
Other Alternative Types of Pain Relief in Labour
Instructional Video

We attended the 2nd lesson on 21 January 2008, Monday 7pm at TMC. Not bad, instructor teach about the labour pains and how to cope with it. But hear liao feel a bit scared leh.. trying to tell myself not to scared le. The pre-natal exercises are quite good, last week i done and my backache has recovered.

The most important is Pelvic Floor exercises. This exercise can also help to contract muscles loosen/pee cannot control problem after delivery. If i am not wrong, one exericise is to lie straight with legs lift up like u are doing sit-up position. Then u contract yr muscles at yr virginal + buttock area like u are holding for peeing. hold for 10s then release, repeat a few times.

Another exercise (similar to last time my PE teacher teach in school days) is to contract yr muscles and make yr hips look nicer after delivery. Same position as sit-up position, but u hold yr buttock up for 10s, and repeat a few times up and down.

Another important is the breathing exercise (used while relieving pain during delivery and pushing) where the mummy is supposed to push when breathe IN and not supposed to breathe OUT when pushing if not the baby will be 'sucked' back. It is really difficult, I still can't figure out much.

Bec of CNY, my lesson for next 2 weeks are postponed. Will start next lesson on 18 Feb after CNY.

Lesson 3
Labour
Antenatal Exercise
Physiological Approach to Breathing Relaxation
Learning to Cope in Labour
Mechanisms of Normal Childbirth
Husband’s Role
Hospital Tour
Instructional Video

18 February 2008, 7pm at AMK hub as TMC is under renovation.

The venue is Little Skool house instead of the parentcraft shop at AMK hub. Not bad the place is bigger and so near my house. But i didn't manage to see the labour video cos not enuff time (due to change of venue many people is late). Will see the video on next mon. Also confirmed that TMC dun provide sleepgown as instructor ask us to get our own, TMC dun provide. Hospital gown is open at the back and buttock is visible so not advisable to get.

Lesson 4
Practical Hands-on Baby Care
Hands-on Child Care
General Care
Skin Care
Diaper Care
Bathing
Coping with a Fretting, Crying Baby
Coping with a Sleepy or Wakeful Baby
Coping with Colic
Instructional Video

25 February 2008. Today class is at AMK hub, Little Skool House, 7pm.

Class instructor teach how to bath bb, clean bb, massage bb stomach, wrap bb. Also teach how to use cloth diapers (how to fold) and how to use disposable diapers. Got doll for us to practice and instructor go to each person to demo. My hb find it more interesting bec' he can participate.

Class instructor also teach us that have to feed bb with feeding cup or spoon with water/formula milk if we dun have enuff breast milk initally.. cannot use feeding bottles or else bb will be lazy to suck when come to breastfeeding. Then instructor also says big baby tend to eat more and need to feed more frequently. Whereas small bb dun have to feed so much.

Lesson 5
Feeding
Breastfeeding
Bottle Feeding
Sterilization of Feeding Equipment
Weaning (introducing solid food)
Learning to Enhance your Child’s Physical & Mental Development

3 March 2008, AMK hub little skool house, 7pm.

I gotten my free milk bottle at class. But my instructor didn't sell us anything, she just tell us what are available at parentcraft and we can go parentcraft to buy if interested. Yes it is avent bottle hee, and avent brochure also. Got 1 free pak of avent shampoo or something like tat.

Lesson 6

(Doctor’s Talk)*
Husband’s Role during Childbirth
Problems Associated with a Newborn
The Process of Labour
Living with the In-laws
How to Raise a Brighter Child
Post-natal Depression
Back Care & Postures

11 March 2008 at Singapore Chinese girls school, Tuesday.

The talk is quite informative. There are 2 doctors giving the talk, one is my gynae's colleague Dr Caroline Khi. I also received a set of flash cards, and some samples from Enfamum.

Stretch marks prevention

2008-01-02T21:31:00.000+08:00

From several forum recommendations and colleagues recommendation, I bought the Clarins body treatment oil for stretch marks avoidance. I gotten mine at Sasa which is slightly cheaper, $67.

Yes it is costly but i heard and read that it is most effective. Anyway i use only 1 bottle bec' each time I only apply a little.

Clarins also have stretch mark cream but sales gal told me the cream not so popular so get the oil better.

Areas to apply: tummy (esp bikini line area), thigh, arms, breasts. Basically areas that are expanding.

For more infor, you may refer to http://uk.clarins.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/beauty-products_new-mother_tonic-body-treatment-oil_C020101003_10201_11751_-11_32323?prodID=65

Not sure if it can be use on hyper sensitive skin or not.
But so far hear no bad comments. I only know got 1 brand my colleague used cause rashes and skin probs - Palmer stretch marks cream. Not recommended to use.

babymoon!

2007-12-19T16:22:00.000+08:00

Before I knew i was pregnant, M and me already booked a trip to China Jiu Zhai Gou. We have no choice but to change our destination to Taiwan after we knew I am pregnant. Jiu Zhai Gou is not so safe for me to travel in pregnancy.

For more details on my taiwan trip, you can refer to my travel blog.

Overall it is a nice trip except for a few uncomfortable times. Firstly, I had a terrible travel bus that keep bumping throughout so to avoid vomitting, I keep sucking vitamin C sweet (it really helps in reducing urge to vomit). I also avoid eating fish oil tablets as it is a main source of my urge to vomit during morning (cos i won't have MS if i dun take these vit tablets..tried before).

Secondly, several times quite risky. Once or twice need to race across road bec' the traffic is really terrok. Cars dun wait for people. Then got once need to take another bus up to a place, the bus is so crowded and i have no place to sit, then bus datona down the steep mountain hills.. quite scary and i have to hang on for dear life.

Thirdly, squeezy night markets! Interesting and i wanna try the food but can't walk too much cos too many people and tired.

Nonetheless, i guess i am the most energetic during this trip, walk more than in singapore haaa.. have a good break nontheless. Bad thing is i caught cold at Taipei and suffer from cough. Today is on MC.. been coughing.

Gynae appointment on 13.5 weeks- first sign of gender

2007-12-02T02:41:00.000+08:00

Scan shows that bb is 6.8cm.

Just happen tat my bb is kicking his legs and doing exercise (like cycling) just when gynae do the scan. Then later he stop and appear to be sleeping.. but hands are waving to us. So can see the 2 hands and 2 legs and fingers clearly.

Gynae say maybe is boy but 80% confirm only, waiting for 20 weeks detailed scan to be sure. My 20 weeks scan is fixed on Jan 2008.

Bad boss

2007-11-23T19:54:00.000+08:00

Morning everyone!

This morning is a bad one. Boss scold me in the early morning. He saw me eating bread at my desk and said i never eat discreetly. Actually he said many times already then last time he said eat below cubicle parition is OK! Then today he say i never follow orders and why no eat discreetly although i eat below parition already. I told him my partition is in the middle of nowhere and everywhere i face also will have people spot me eating. Morever everyone just eat at their cubicle, some even eat while walking. Then he say those are not under his team so he can only only control me. Isn't this sickening??!! I Quarrelled with him, ta bo leh tahan cos he has been nagging on this for many times over past 2 years since we moved to this new office layout with open system. Then he very buay siong i quarrel with him. In the end i gotta apologize to him in email (cannot say in person i scare my temper shot up). Now i have no choice but to hide in the files compartus area to eat breakfast! Very chiam and i need to eat few times during the day cos need to break into small meals mah. Somemore will grow hungry.

So I finally told my boss i am preggy. So sad and upset. Just now i so angry i shout at him also.. cos i feel it is v unfair everyone at office is eating openly why he only target me just because i am his subordinate. Pantry has no space to sit, moreoever he will say not discreetly because he can see me eating! Basically must be away from his sight. As my cubicle is v open, i dun tink i can eat inside my cubicle if he insist tat no one has to seen me eating. Moreoever, i just sit next to his room.

My boss is like tat.. sometimes v unreasonable, like take leave or watever he will want to know the reason even if i say personal reason. V sian, somemore i work here for 6 years already.

Oscar Test at 11th week of pregnancy

2007-11-21T08:15:00.000+08:00

I read on forum that the Oscar test give a lot of false results cos it is more on the safe side, giving people anxiety bec' they gotta wait for 1mth to take another test for 100% accuracy results.

Just few days before my Oscar test, I got a very bad diarrhea, so worst that it is close to food poisoning. Gone to toilet 4 times ored and even after taking pharmacy medicine, it doesn't work. I think through and finally realise tat the reason is because I forget to wash the red dates & longan when i use it to brew the red date longan drink on sat evening! So blur blur me.

Morn appt at 9am. Waited for abt 30min or so. Went in to scan once, but bb is facing down so can't take measurement. Come out and take blood test - 3 test tubes. Not as scary as i tot and is quite fast. Went to drink more water and walk more (so that baby will move and change position). Come back for scan again, still same position. This round the scan doc is more patient, she keep probing the bb to turn around. Later she ask me to cough and bb did turn but 45 degrees, still not correct. Almost tink tat cannot take measurement ored then cough more and bb turn around in correct position. Phew. My Oscar takes long cos bb not so co-operative initally. So the whole thing including waiting time etc takes abt 1 hr. The scan doc said some people have to wait for the entire day to scan the bb cos bb refuse to move in correct position.

However scan doc said my EDD has to be changed to 31 May according to the size. Doc says it abt 12 weeks actually and is ored 6cm. I can see bb wave his hands, v cute. A bit irritated with the nurse at TMC, give me the impression tat not v friendly but heng the scan doc is quite patient so still not so bad. My weight has actually reduce by 1KG frm last visit..not surprise cos of diarrhea and sick and worse appetite. But bb has grown twice the size of 2 weeks ago, so still not so bad. BB is 6cm at 11 weeks according to detailed scan, then the scan doc still suspect tat i give wrong date for last menses, she tot is 12 weeks. But later at gynae clinic, measure bb size is around 5.6cm lor.. so v strange.

I miss seeing bb bounced around yest, only M see it cos the monitor is faced away frm me. But the Oscar scan machine is really more clearer than gynae one and can see features like eyes etc. I see bb wave hands around, so excited leh.

The nurse at Thomson say still got extra tests to take but in future visit. So they charge $400. Then clinic also charge us extra (incl consultation is $200). Altogether we pay $600.

The next day, Gynae Dr Wong called me personally and told me that the results are okay. So glad And she is v nice, call me personally. I tot will be nurse calling. Btw my gynae feel that my EDD should still remain in June although Scan doc push forward. Gynae has set my EDD to be 3 June.

My total weight gain in 1st trimester is only 2KG.

Maternity clothing for 1st trimester

2007-11-18T15:56:00.000+08:00

Clothing can't fit in anymore as my tummy grew quite fast mainly due to the bloatness and my pants are all tight-fitting. I have to unbutton my pants and once get spotted by one colleague and i feel so embarrassed.

From recommendation from colleague J, I went to Perfect mum @ The Arcade (near Raffles MRT) which is near my workplace to buy maternity pants. The salesgal told me the pants need to fit my thighs and not waistline as waistline of pants is adjustable (they have stretchable bands to adjust the waistline) but thigh area is not adjustable. I bought some L size and some XL size. The salesgals at Perfect mum is quite hardselling. yes i saw at perfect mum got similar top (just different colour). Their top n dresses actually quite trendy, top is abt $40+/-. I also bot few bras. The sales gal said must wear bra with padding cos during pregnancy, nipples can be protruding so need to have padding. Then they said must wear bra while sleeping to support the shape. I spent $200 after discount for 2 top and 2 bra, xin tong.

I also went to Spring @ AMK Hub, near my house to purchase 1 - 2 maternity pants. Spring is more expensive than perfect mum slightly, around $10 difference per pants. The pants which i bought from Spring is not as comfortable as perfect mum ones, and worst the elastic band came loose one day as the button dropped off. I thus lose heart on Spring so I went more trips to perfect mum instead.

Mostly I bought maternity pants, though there are skirts but i am scared of office cold so I didn't buy skirts. Moreover I felt cold during 1st trimester always, so I prefer to wear pants.

1st trimester woes (3) - Severe tireness

2007-11-07T18:36:00.000+08:00

Most significantly felt during 1st trimester is that i always feel very tired no matter how much hours i sleep and how early i sleep. I have to sleep around 8pm or 9pm usually if not i will feel very tired and fall asleep at office. The tirness is so severe that sometimes i can just concuss and unable to control the urge to sleep. Never have i feel so tired before! There is once i nearly fall asleep during meeting and it is a struggle to keep awake especially in my cubicle where many people can see me (open concept and me being in a prominent position).

I find that 1st trimester is the most tired of all and 2nd trim is the most energetic (in fact i feel so energetic that it can even surpass pre-pregnancy). 1st trimester tireness can even surpass 3rd trimester tireness. Luckily this is not for very long.

1st trimester woes (2) - Spotting

2007-11-06T19:11:00.000+08:00

Since 5th week of pregnancy I have been having spotting (brown discharge) daily. Articles on the web suggest that it is implantation bleeding and is normal in 8th to 10th week of pregnancy but shouldn't last more than 2 weeks or so. I get more worried as the symptons continues past 8th week of pregnancy and gynae then suspect it is due to pregnancy not stable. She then gave me hormones medicine (Diane) to stabilise pregnancy.

As it is a taboo not to tell others about pregnancy during 1st trimester, I didn't tell my boss about my pregnancy. So when he insists to walk from our office (near Lau Pa Sat) to URA (at Tanjong pagar), a 20 min walk to attend a meeting as he feel it is short distance, I didn't reject. When i came back from the walk (to and fro, each 20mins walk), I feel pain and brown discharge became more.

As few weeks got by and spotting still continue, I monitor and spotting does not reduce after my hormones medicine has finished, so M called the clinic and ask for advice. Gynae then called me and ask on the phone on symptons. Then Gynae wants me to come down for checkup and she only hang up when i agreed to come down. Then on the same day the nurse allow us to slot in appt, me and hb take urgent leave to rush down. Scan shows bb is ok and at least we are not so worried. See bb heartbeat and it has grown quite a lot. Gynae says shd be okay but still not v stable, and she gave me a stronger hormones medicine (duphaston). I must also remember not to walk or stand too long.

After i took duphaston, spotting seems to be improved and it happen on alternative days and less amount, but still continue. Dr Wong then concluded that it could be due to low placenta as my placenta is still low. Dr Wong said low placenta can cause more friction while walking and thus can cause bleeding. Dr Wong said if placenta does not go up by 20 weeks, then may need to c-sect as low lying placenta can cause obstruction for natural delivery.

As such, I asked M whether he can purchase a car since he promised to get a car once we have a baby. However after serious financial analysis, we realise that we cannot afford to have a car with our current liabilities. So M suggested to sponsor me to take taxi to work every morning. I doesn't need to take taxi back home as I can take empty trains from Raffles Place MRT or Marina Bay MRT. It is the journey from our house to work that is tedious because many people will crowd the morning trains and I always cannot get into the train, also a lot of people will push me when they get in and out of trains especially at my destination train station Raffles Place MRT.

The taxi fare from home to office is as expensive as $20 to $30 range, mainly because of the 3 ERP gantries (total ERP cost $6.50) and slight morning jams at the expressway.

Luckily the spotting stopped after week 11-12 when I just went on overseas trip to Taiwan. Phew. Else everyday see the spotting get so worried about bb.

1st trimester woes (1)

2007-10-27T00:59:00.000+08:00

Haaa a significant part of my pregnancy, i Joined the Singapore Motherhood forum, the June MTB thread. I was actually reading through the forum for some time but didn't register. So on this day I have joined the forum and get to know other forummers who also due date is June.

Since pregnancy I have been having bad appetite in this first trimester. The stomach is always bloated with a lot of air and i always cannot finish the full meal. Its always 50% completion of meal only.

I always feel nausea from week 7 onwards, want to vomit but didn't vomit anything except air. Sometimes some gastric gas will be vomitted out. Luckily I didn't vomit much except few times at week 13/14 around middle of november when I start to take fish oil vitamins and cannot stand the fish smell. I vomitted once outside the AMK MRT at the grass compound, several times at office toilet and at home. My morning sickness finally stopped around middle of November (week 12/14) and my appetite improved since then. It started from fluctuation (i.e. some days have, some days dun have).. then gradually will disappear with only slight at morning time or if eat too much during meals.

My appetite also changed. Suddenly I hate noodles and rice. So i have no choice but to eat western food. Suddenly I have craving for fastfood especially Burger King and Macdonalds. Although I have food cravings before pregnancy, this is a bit different from those normal cravings.

I also went with M to Kino bookshop to purchase a pregnancy book. The book is titled "You and your baby pregnancy" by Dr Laura Riley and is quite a good book.

Forummer suggest that I take Ginger tea to relieve the gas in my tummy. I bought some ginger tea from NTUC to relieve the gases, but I dun really like ginger and also, too much ginger make me feel heaty. Then M asked Dr Wong whether I can take Eno to relieve the gas and Dr Wong said I can, so I took Eno later on, and it is so much effective than ginger tea! Makes me feel better and appetite improved.

Yest I just went to Fitness first to freeze my membership, they allow freezing for 1 year and there is no penalty due to pregnancy reason! So good, i heard that California does not allow freezing according to my colleague.

I also fallen sick several times as I feel my immunity has decrease quite a lot. In addition, my complexion has became very bad and many pimples have pop up, the most i ever seen in my life. Also, my face skin peel off (some parts) and this has not happened before. I felt very upset and dun like to see the mirror.
It seems that this is common in 1st trimester due to hormones changes, and there is no use but to tolerate the facial ugliness.

Also, i cannot cut my hair during 1st trim as it is a taboo, my hair grown so long and I felt uncomfortable bec' hard to dry off after washing. So frustrating.

Second gynae appointment

2007-10-23T20:00:00.000+08:00

We waited for the next appointment to confirm pregnancy although we have seen the waterbag in the 1st checkup, it is still more reassuring to hear the baby heartbeat. At the 2nd checkup, we heard our baby heartbeat :) I told Dr Wong that I have spotting on and off during the past month and I am worried. She gave me hormones tablets to stabilise the pregnancy. As my tummy is very bloated with air, Dr Wong is unable to scan using the normal way so has to do a virginal scan. It is quite uncomfortable but the scan is clearer this way and we can see a small little dot inside the waterbag. I was then 7.5 weeks pregnant.

Dr Wong informed us that I can choose to take Oscar test next month (which involved a blood test and scan and can be taken early at week 12-13) OR triple test (which can only be taken at 5th month of pregnancy). The Oscar test has a 90% accuracy of detecting deformity whereas the triple test has only 80% accuracy. It is not necessary for us to take Oscar as it is recommended for age 30 and above (high risk) and Oscar is more expensive, around $300. Nonetheless as I am already age 29, M suggest that I take Oscar test. So we opt for Oscar test and will be taking it on next month.

The first gynae appointment

2007-10-17T13:27:00.000+08:00

We waited for around half an hour before we went in the clinic. Dr Wong asked me when is my last period (30 August) and she said I should be 6.5 weeks so should be able to see some signs of pregnancy. After scanning on my tummy, we managed to see a waterbag. But Dr Wong said it is still early to detect the baby heartbeat. Nevertheless she can conclude that it is not a etopic pregnancy and is a single pregnancy (i.e. no twins). She asked us to come next week since I told her I am having brown discharge (spotting) on and off. She also told me that brown discharge can be common in early pregnancy so asked me not to worry too much.

The discovery!

2007-10-10T13:04:00.000+08:00

We don't have any concrete plans for pregnancy since our wedding, but we kinda of decide to have a "honeymoon period" of 6months to 1 year.

For me and my hubby (hereby call him M), we sort of plan to have a baby (bb)next year cos we are not young (me is 29 years old this year coming to 30 soon). It is actually me who still reluctant to give up my freedom n Er ren shi jie (couple life) more than M. I remember I was still debating to him on the issue at the time of conception. Another thing is also financially I dun tink we are fully prepared yet bec' we are still paying off loans and debts frm our wedding last year and house renovation etc. This baby news came around the time when we are celebrating our 1st year customary anniversary.

Because I dun have a fixed date for my period, it is kind of hard to plan pregnancy and to know whether I am pregnant or not.
1 week after and still no signs of period, I told M that likely I am pregnant. M thought that I am joking because every month I will say the same thing. During that month I felt that my tummy is always having "gases" but nothing odd other than that.

So I went to buy a pregnancy kit. There are so many brands, I thought the most expensive is more accurate, so I bought the one that cost $13++. The following morning I checked using the kit and was surprised that the indicator showed "pregnant" very prominently, so clear! I told M and we are both excited and yet dubious about the kit. So that night after work, we went to local clinic to check again. They ask me to use a pregnancy kit, which is cheaper than the one I bought, apparently only $5. The doctor said yes, confirm pregnant, and recommend that we quickly see a gynae soon. Later after my colleague knew, she said there isn't a need to see a doctor to check because any kit will tell the results, if tested on a kit and is positive, there is no need to see a normal doctor to test again.

We decided to go for Thomson Medical Centre as it is nearer to our house. I told M I will prefer a female gynae. So the following day, M searched the internet reviews and told me that there is a popular female gynae which some local artistics like Zoey Tay visited, he will try to book her.

Unfortunetly, he is unable to get an appointment with the clinic throughout the whole day, despite leaving a voice mail. Our conclusion is that the clinic is too busy, so we may as well give up since a too busy gynae may not have the time to attend to us.

The next day, I searched the motherhood forum and happen to see a few good comments on another female gynae, Dr Jocelyn Wong of ACJ Clinic. So I told M why don't he try to book Dr Wong instead. M called the clinic and is unable to get them too, so he decided to email (we saw an email address on the website of Thomson Medical). Very soon the clinic called up M and we managed to book an appointment!