38 weeks

Went to see Dr. Goh this morning for our weekly check-up. This week I gained a little bit more weight, now at 66.9kg. As for the scanning, Dr. Goh commented this week that baby's head is further down already, though still not engaged yet. Gosh! Wonder when baby is going to engage himself and get ready to meet the world!! We checked his heartbeat too and things seem fine. A part of the scan again showed his little 'birdie' and scrotum quite obviously again. Haha..

Anyway, at the moment, I'm still trying to keep myself active. Been going shopping quite a lot during this Christmas period and also post Christmas period. Somehow, I just hope that by staying active this way, it will help make the delivery a little bit easier. In terms of eating, I think my appetite got a bit affected on some days this past week as my stomach digestion became a bit weaker again. Do get a bit of flatulence feeling and burp quite often. Guess it's being very much compressed by baby.

I've not really had the contraction pain yet too, I guess it's all pending on when baby is engaged before I get such feelings. Next week we'll probably set up the baby room a bit more like fitting the bedding sheets etc. In the meantime, I guess I'll enjoy whatever time I have left of baby inside of me moving and pushing....

37 weeks.....

We went for our weekly check up again on Saturday and this week, I did not seem to put on weight. Still weighing in at 66.4kg. Dr. Goh was wondering if I was not eating much or something, but he did a check on baby anyway. Well, baby is still not engaged yet, though his head is still down. So Dr. Goh commented that it's still likely to be a Jan 08 baby at this stage. Checking on the measurements, baby is estimated to weigh about 3 - 3.1kg now. His heartbeat is still beating strong and I can still sense his movement pretty often. So that's good. I guess it's a matter of waiting and counting down from now on...anytime baby is engaged, Dr. Goh was saying that I could go into labour within 1 - 2 weeks. Back at home, we decided that we will wait till we know baby is engaged before laying out the baby cot sheet and setting up the fan for the room etc.

Well, it's the Christmas week coming up...let's hope that I can get through this week fine. I've so far experienced a bit of Braxton Hicks contractions in the last week. This was when I had some form of cramp like feeling for a short while on 2 days. It was still bearable, so certainly cannot imagine the real contractions that comes frequently next time...must be really painful! Anyway, let's take each day as it comes...

Baby at 36 weeks

This is the start of my weekly visits to Dr. Goh as I approach the last couple of weeks of my pregnancy. The clinic was exceptionally crowded on Saturday and we had to wait the longest time for our turn. Interestingly, I was able to meet up Tracy during this appointment as our appointment dates worked out to be the same day this time :)

The check-up was quite fast this week. Ultrasound scan was done to check on our baby and with his measurements, Dr Goh estimated that our baby was now about 2.9kg. As for me, I'm about 66.4kg. All seems fine with baby, thank God. Apparently, his head is down still, but not engaged yet, so still some time to go I suppose.

Our little one has also been very active so far, always pushing me on the right side then sometimes concurrently on my right and left side. He seems to move more from early evening, then late at night. In the day time, he could be moving around 9plus in the morning onwards. And my back aches are still there every now and then too and particularly on Saturday, it seemed a bit aggravated by some housework I did. Gosh, I ended up feeling really tired....

Sadly, I do spot a bit more stretch marks again :( This time round, on my lower part of my tummy already. Even though I've been putting cream every day. Sigh... can only hope that all of this will fade after birth!

Ok, will be seeing you again next week babe...

Hospital Bag

I recently also started packing up a 'hospital bag' for me to bring to the hospital anytime that I may go into labour, whether induced or naturally. I've got most of the items already, but this weekend, managed to buy a couple more necessities like nursing bra and disposable maternity underwear. Thanks to a friend's recommendation, I bought my nursing bras from BHG at Bugis Junction, under the brand 'Eternity/Impression'. The sales lady was a very friendly middle-aged lady who was very helpful and sounded really experienced. Ha ha. Anyway, the main thing is that I found it to be very affordable, at only $12.90 a piece. Of course, I can't be certain if this quality would last very long.... but at least it's something value for money for now.

Anyway, just to share, here's a combined list of items that I've read from other mothers' blogs...for reference :)

Hospital Bag Contents
- Maternity Pads
- Front button PJs
- Pack of maternity disposable undies
- Socks
- Jacket/Cardigan for myself
- Baby mittens & botties
- Baby new set of clothings for discharge wear
- Breast pumps
- Nursing bras
- Disposable breast pads
- Digital camera & charger
- Hp charger
- Hospital admission letter & prenatal receipts
- Notebook and pen to jot down sequence of events
- One set of clothings for discharge wear
- Plastic bag to store soiled clothes
- NRIC, Marriage Cert
- Slippers

Aching still

This week was still an 'aching week' for my body. Actually, the lower back ache improved after Monday, but the next few days after that, I still felt the short acute pain in my lower right back near my butt every now and then when I walk, and especially so if I sat too long or lay down too long and then stood up. Gosh... I tell you, it's times like this when I really wish that I don't have to feel this way any more! I keep trying to tell myself, it's ok...it's just another couple more weeks to go..just bear with it!!! It's the last stretch already!

Talking about stretch, this also leads me to another issue on my stretch marks :( Sadly, a little bit more have appeared on my upper thigh. Oh dear, does this mean I can't go swimming next time!? It's pretty ugly to me :( Dear Dear tries to encourage me by telling me that it's ok and that it should fade next time after birth. Well, I already told him to sponsor me any form of post natal treatment in future if necessary!! Ha Ha...

Baby's growing fast and I'm aching!!!

Went to the gynae for my check-up again on Saturday. Now at about 33+ to 34 weeks, I weighed about 65kg. Well, Dr. Goh thinks I'm a little overweight already, but he didn't ask me to cut my diet either. Anyway, with the usual check up, we were able to see baby again :) This month, Dr Goh estimates with the ultrasound measurements that baby weighs about 2.5kg. Again, he said it's ok, normal growth. Baby was still facing down, but his face was at a certain angle, so not totally engaged yet either. Dr Goh assured that there was still time for the baby to still move or turn. Oh well, better be a good boy son!! I also asked him if there was any change to my EDD and he commented that the first ultrasound scan was still the most accurate, so at this stage, still likely to be around 10 - 11 Jan 08.

We also got the results of my vaginal swab test I did the last visit. Thank God that I don't have the Strep B bacteria thing, which would have required antibiotics when delivering. However, I did have some form of fungus, which Dr Goh said it's quite normal. He applied a little bit of medication into the vagina area (which was a little bit painful!) and said that I would have some form of whitish discharge over the next few days. With some constant sanitation wash, I should be fine. Nothing serious.

I'm soon approaching the end stage of my pregnancy already as my visit to Dr Goh will next be 2 weeks later followed by weekly! Somehow, the changes to my body do come quite suddenly. Like on Saturday, I started to have the back pain again, around the lower part of my butt when I walked or lay down in certain positions. The pain could be quite acute at times too and I suddenly felt very heavy....walking is certainly getting quite tiring. My feet are also starting to swell just slightly...can see that they look a little bit bloated and sometimes, it would hurt a bit when walking. Gosh...no wonder the last stage can be quite the worse....haha....Well, all for the sake of baby like I always say...mothers are so "wei da" right? :) But a supportive hubby also helps tremendously :)