mellomouse* » Mother To Be

Pureen Warehouse Stock Clearance April 2010.

mellomouse — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 07:55:06 +0000

A note to all: If you are planning to go, make sure you are there when it opens. Though it says 10.00am, the actual time is 8.30am!

At least that was what happened last year. And trust me, you want to be early rather than on time. The kiasu crowd will canned you into real Sardines *faints*

I’m wondering whether it would be wise to go this year. I’ve seen Mommies with their babies in tow, but I definitely won’t do that. Perhaps Natey can wait in the car with Daddy… *hmm*

Hubby, what do you think?

Added 24/4/10, 6.59pm

Yup, we went indeed and once again we got Sardined!

We reached at 9am. The gate was shut with the 1st batch of people already inside and a large crowd waiting outside. I wonder what time those arrived *hmm*

By 9.20am the gate opened and I nearly got stampeded — Don’t joke with kiasu Malaysians ok

Everything is organised exactly like last year and same goes for the prices. So if you’ve been there once, you’ll know where everything are the next time around

Postnatal 00: My Birth Story.

mellomouse — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:44:43 +0000

It was it!

My story began at approximately 4.07am on 23 February 2010. Being a 1st time Mommy, I was unsure and so I endured — almost turning this story and LBJ into a home delivery *gasps*

I recorded all the contraction time in my mobile as an unsent SMS. It was too early in the morning to wake the husband, so I laid patiently ~~awake in pain~~ until he was up and told him to take the day off. He even managed to go for a morning swim *pat on the back*

By noon the contractions were 7-8 minutes apart. Yet I was still unsure if it was the real deal because I swallowed all the pain as they came. The husband made a call to Dr Tan’s clinic and the Labour Dept asked us to come right in. But I was still adamant to stay put till I was 5 minutes apart. I must have been crazy! I didn’t want to go all the way there and come right back.

At 12.15pm, I staggered into the bathroom and took my last “real” shower. Finally half an hour later, I surrendered *sobs*

The normal 5 minutes lift ride and walk down to the basement carpark — 10 floors plus 3 — took like forever! We reached Gleneagles a little before 2pm — thankfully no traffic! — and that’s when the no-words-can-describe pain climaxed. I was already 7cm dilated!

As indicated in my Birth Plan, I only wanted Gas & Air and that’s exactly what I had. Was it any help? It doesn’t do anything for the pain and I was almost knocked out every time it took effect.

I remembered Dr Tan came in twice. The 1st was to check on me, and the 2nd about 45 minutes later when I was ready to deliver. With 2 big pushes, LBJ was heard crying so loud! His Apgar Score was 9¹ 10⁵. After the husband cut LBJ’s umbilical cord, he was taken for a quick clean before passing to me.

I am a Mother!
♥ Filled with awe & thanksgiving ♥

3 Generations in a Flash: GrandMama, MelloMom & LBJ

LBJ stared at me with the biggest pair of eyes as he cried his little heart out. A head full of fine black hairs and neatly-tugged-to-the-side ears — not like Mommy’s Mickey ears — he was the most handsome baby to a Mother’s eyes! Immediately I fell in love with God’s Gift to us.

At that very moment, I was never more sure that the name Nathaniel was meant for LBJ than anything else in the whole wide world ♥

Pregnancy Updates 45: Is This It?

mellomouse — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 01:37:54 +0000

At approximately 4.07am this morning, I was shot awake with a bad cramp in my belly. I’ve not been able to go back to sleep because the pain returns every 10 minutes or so. It is now 9.34am *yawn*

Could this be the real deal or a false alarm?

The contractions are similar to that of a very bad period pain like what experienced Mommies and books described it. They last about 1 to 1.5 minutes each time. Since it started 5 hours ago, the cramp has gotten more and more intense.

I know it’s going to take a long while before we can decide if this is it. Unless my water breaks — no it doesn’t happen like in the movies — or if there’s bleeding, we’ll have to wait until the contractions are 5 minutes apart before we make a move to Gleneagles.

We actually have an appointment with Dr Tan today anytime after 3pm. But it looks like I might not be seeing him in his room, but in the Delivery Suite instead *fingers crossed*

Am I scared? Out of my wits! (-__-||)

To be continued…

Pregnancy Updates 44: Headache.

mellomouse — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 06:01:24 +0000

Last night I gave the husband and myself a fright after an unexpected headache appeared out of nowhere just before sleeping time. We were happily exploring ~~like kampung kids~~ the mobile internet features on our identical Sony Ericsson when the sudden pain surprised me.

Remembering what the staff at Dr Tan’s clinic told us — headache could mean high BP — we went down to my parents to measure my blood pressure. Thankfully it was normal! *phew*

Causes of Headaches During Pregnancy

Headaches are common during pregnancy, especially during the 1st & 3rd trimesters.

In the first few months of pregnancy, they may be caused by normal changes in your hormone levels and an increase in blood volume and circulation.

During the 2nd & 3rd trimesters, headaches may also be caused by a serious condition called pre-eclampsia — high blood pressure during pregnancy.

I just noticed that I am still feeling a bit heavy headed now. My eyes are feeling especially heavy too, which I suspect is because I lack proper sleep. Nature has been calling me at every hour during the night and that has left me feeling more tired than ever — the body’s way of training for the days soon to come!

Somehow it is easier to sleep in the day than night. So I’m going back to bed in awhile, now that I’ve fed both myself and LBJ *waves*

Pregnancy Updates 43: Blood Pressure.

mellomouse — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 11:33:52 +0000

During our last antenatal appointment, my BP somehow shot a bit higher than normal with a reading of 130/80. I’m still wondering how it got so high since I was seated the whole time waiting for our turn *puzzled*

Blood Pressure during Pregnancy

By the 6th month of pregnancy, you will have produced an extra two and a half pints of blood, which your heart has to pump around your body. All this extra activity may make you feel warmer than usual.

The pregnancy hormone progesterone relaxes the walls of blood vessels, which is why your BP often falls around the middle of pregnancy – especially during the first 32 weeks of pregnancy.

Your BP will return to normal in the last few weeks of pregnancy.

I have no idea what were all my previous readings because it never dawned on me to ask. We trust Dr Tan completely *an ignorant’s excuse*

By looking at the chart above, 130/80 does seem high. Should I be alarmed? Dr Tan did not mention anything when he took the reading, so I guess we shouldn’t be too worked out. It was his reception that cautioned us while we were paying. That’s how we knew about the higher pressure…

On Monday, my reading was better at 105/90. I’ll just have to be careful not to be over stressed – like how heavy LBJ would become! – and I will be alright

Pregnancy Updates 42: Little Benjac is 2.9kg!

mellomouse — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 06:45:44 +0000

Before I begin this post. . .

Our humble family would like to wish everyone a
♥ Roaring Chinese New Year this Valentine’s Day! ♥

xoxo
Benjac, LBJ & Scubby

Looks like I won’t be delivering today just yet since I am still here. And that leaves me wondering whether it is a good or bad thing, given my previous paranoia if I do.

A little on the heavy side for 36 weeks
Our Little Benjac Junior is now LOA in utero! *phew*

After waiting for “the usual” hour for our turn on Friday, Dr Tan was suddenly whisked away for a delivery. So our 3.30pm became 5.30pm, again. Note of Advice: Anyone who wishes to see a reputable ObGyn has to be prepared to wait, because it seems like the “whole world” is their patients *hint to impatient Fathers-to-be*

I am a happy camper now since knowing the exact position LBJ is in. He is lying on my left with his head down slightly facing to the back. That explains the kicking on my right all this while! And I thought he was on my right *duh* Turn a little bit to the right and he’ll be fully Anterior!

Somehow by the measurement of his tiny bones and skull, LBJ is now expected 5 days later than his current EDD at 3 March 2010. And he’s supposedly on the heavier side now too, which left me worrying should he gain much more before delivery. I don’t want to be cut opened! *panic*

The longer LBJ stays inside me, the bigger he might become and the harder it would be for me to push him out to this world. He gained 563 grams since the last check-up 12 days ago. By 40th week, he could possibly weigh 4.35kg! *faints*

I think I’m going to start praying for an early arrival now. Please keep me in yours too! *bows*

Pregnancy & Soya Beans.

mellomouse — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 04:10:36 +0000

A chilled glass of Soya Bean Milk is simply heavenly on a warm day, or whenever. Don’t you agree? That’s exactly what I’ve been having almost daily for the past 2 months. Whenever possible, we would buy a large bottle and that could last us for a day or 2.

This is not uncommon among us Asians to include soy into our daily staple. Often Expecting Mothers would go out of their way to consume more because we were told that soy will give our babies fair and beautiful complexion. I did it simply because I enjoy the drink

So you could imagine my shock when I found out last night that all this health talk is really just pure garbage. Soy is probably one of the most misconceived myth that it is some sort of miracle food that prevents and cures diseases. Soya Bean is not a Health Food!

My immediate reaction was: OMG, what have I done!?! And you would too after reading what I have excerpted below. Especially if you are expecting a baby boy!

BBC NEWS Reported in 2004

The humble soya bean may play a role in the problem of male infertility, a team of researchers in Belfast has found.

If boys eat a lot of soya when they are growing up, it can damage their reproductive capability. The key time for that is when a male foetus is developing and in the early toddler years and up to puberty.

Too much soya affects the development of the male’s reproductive tract. It increases the structural abnormalities like undescended testes and testicular cancer.

Continue Reading

The Truth About Soy
Another interesting Article

There’s still a half bottle of Soya Bean Milk in the fridge. After that is finished, I don’t think I’ll be drinking anymore until after LBJ is born or longer.

Even though I am making an informed choice now to not drink it, there are still a multitude of food products in the market that I would not be able to escape from, that are made from soy

2 weekends ago, we stocked up a carton of Soya Bean Milk to serve our guest during CNY. Will you drink it if/when you visit us after reading this post?

Pregnancy Updates 40: Cinderella No More.

mellomouse — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 07:53:55 +0000

These may not be Glass Slippers
But they could well be since I can’t fit them no more

The swelling almost always goes down a little during morning time. They are at worst in the evening due to the burden of carrying me — 16kg of excess baggage — the whole day long, and also because of water retention.

But since yesterday morning, the swelling didn’t go anywhere and now I do feel like walking on puffy buns. They hurt a little, and my toes can’t curled as they used too

Besides my feet, both of my hands are swelled up too. I know I’ve whined about this 2 weeks ago, but as they are getting worst, I am getting worried as well. Simply because a sudden increase of swelling is a sign of something very serious! *yikes*

As I am typing this, I’m downing gulps and gulps of water. Hopefully by keeping myself extra hydrated would help my body to retain less water so my hands and feet could look more human again *fingers crossed*

Pregnancy Updates 38: Fat Mama!

mellomouse — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 05:06:22 +0000

Unfortunately, I suspect that’s exactly what you’ll be calling me because I will simply become one. Though I don’t mind being called Phat Mama, but reality is often bitterly cold *humph*

Since September last year (16 weeks into my pregnancy), my weight has been going up, up and up *blaming it on the milk!* @#$%& (-__-||)

At first I didn’t worry much because I lost a few in the early months. But now after looking at other expecting friends — why are they so tiny?!? — I am fearing! I am gaining way too much for my small frame and the weight has been taking a toll on my tiny swollen feet *sobs*

This is what I ought to be
I’ve now exceeded it by 2.5kg and I’m not even due yet!

Want to know what’s yours? Calculate it >here<

I’m looking at another few kilos of weight gain in the next few weeks. Once I hit full term this weekend, I might be sky rocketing at 1kg per week. So if I were to deliver on my EDD at 40 weeks, I’ll possibly gain another 4kg. Making that a whooping Two-Zero-Kilo-Grams! *faints*

Btw, 29.96lbs is equaled to 13.59kg. So that means I’ll exceed by 6kg! How am I going to loose 15kg? That’s if the Fetal weight is 5kg. Else I might be looking at more *numbed*

I promise that I’ve not been eating for Two, if that’s what you’re wondering

My Birth Plan, pt 2 – Approved!

mellomouse — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 13:51:34 +0000

2 February 2010

Attn To:
Labour Delivery Unit
Gleneagles Intan Medical Centre
Kuala Lumpur

Dear Midwives & Nurses

Below is my “ideal” birthing scenario, but I am aware that in the event of a life-threatening emergency, I will be relying on your professional judgment and skills to see us through.

#1 – Labour

Birth Companion
My husband

Pain Management/Pain Relief
Walking, Stretching Exercise, Breathing Techniques, Birthing Ball
Gas and Air only

Hydration/Food
Drinking fluids rather than having an IV
Light nibbling on biscuit or bread to prevent gastritis
Water or juice for hydration

Monitoring
Intermittent EFM if baby and I are doing well

#2 – Delivery

Delivery Position
Preferably on hands and knees
Otherwise remaining upright on the bed

Perineal Tear/Episiotomy
Allow natural tearing before episiotomy

Cutting the Umbilical Cord
My husband

Placenta Delivery
Syntometrine Injection

#3 – After Delivery

Hold baby and begin breastfeeding immediately
All newborn procedures done in my presence or in my husband’s presence
Vaccinations — BCG (on the arm) and Hepatitis B1

#4 – Infant Care

Breastfeeding only — no bottles or pacifiers

#5 – If C-section is needed

To breastfeed as soon as possible

Thank you

Sincerely,
Mellomouse

Approved by,
Dr Tan Lay Seng