it’s week 24! and it’s a hot damn period

3 more month to our estimated due date of 17 july. That’s the estimated date of Hari Raya. Double celebrations for us this year 🙂

The weather has been humid. SG is already humid. I remember coming back to Singapore once a month on my work trips (I was formerly based in Dubai as an Emirates’ stewardess. Dubai is HOT but windy, plus we go everywhere in air-conditioned comfort. Rarely do you need to be out in the sun unless you are waiting for transport or you went to the beach) and complaining of the heavy humidity. I actually couldn’t breathe and I’d sweat buckets.

My body sweats a lot as it is. It doesn’t show on my face but inside I’d be dripping wet and makes me conscious if I had BO or if anyone could see wet patches on my clothes. Hyuk hyuk.

I was warned that I would be sweating loads in pregnancy. I thought I’d be able to handle it, given that I’m a sweat-er (ok, no sexy way to put it), but boy this journey has proven me otherwise.

The haze that affects SG doesn’t help. Haze contributes to a denser atmosphere to our already dense humidity. You sweat profusely but the sweat doesn’t dry easily due to the humidity. Now that I’m a human incubator, my basal body temperature rises, I lose more water, I drink more water, I go toilet much more. Not like the regular trips to toilet isn’t already enough due to the pressure on your bladder???

I drink lots of ‘cooling’ drinks and water. I know some cultures have superstitions that you can’t drink too much ‘cooling’ drinks as you need the heat for the baby. If you don’t subscribe to that, by all means, have lots of water (the best, really), chrysanthemum tea, coconut water (again, some people don’t believe in having this until week 28 or so. But, if you can have it once a week,why not? Moderation is key!

Chrysanthemum tea is very easy to prepare. Get the flowers from the dried goods section of the supermarket or from the sinseh (Traditional Chinese Medicine shops). You can choose to just steep the flowers in a tea strainer in hot water and add sugar to taste or you can boil the flowers and simmer the liquid until the desired taste. Add rock sugar to taste. This brings out the flavour of the flowers. You can keep it in the fridge, ready to drink.

pinterest.com

Easy peasy and so much more cost-effective. A bottle will cost $1.60-$2.50 A packet of chrysanthemum flowers and rock sugar cost about $2.50-$3 and you get to make multiple bottles, anytime you want! And we all know money is tight once your pregnancy costs kick in…

These are the benefits of chrysanthemum, as taken from http://www.bewellbuzz.com/wellness-buzz/10-health-benefits-chrysanthemum-tea/

10 health benefits of Chrysanthemum tea

Chrysanthemum tea is not very famous amongst herb enthusiasts as very few people know about its existence and benefits. Read on to know more about the benefits:

1. Chrysanthemum tea has Vitamin C in which helps ease heaviness in the head during cold and provide relief in sinusitis discomfort. This herbal tea also has antiviral properties and helps relieve congestion in the head which may be caused by viral infection. The heaviness in the head could also be caused due to bacterial pathogenic reaction. Chrysanthemum tea is anti spirochetal in nature thus it is really helpful in easing head congestion.

2. Chrysanthemum tea is naturally caffeine free, hence, it is free from all the side effects of caffeine like anxiety, tension, irritation, nervousness and confusion.

3. Chrysanthemum tea is a natural coolant and helps in lowering the temperature of the body when suffering from fever or even heat stroke. This herbal tea is also helpful in treating pimples and acne. It can also treat discomfort of high temperature such as headache, slight toothache and throbbing nerves in the gums.

4. Chrysanthemum tea is good for the detoxification of the liver andor lowering cholesterol levels.

5. This tea helps in the treatment of coronary artery disease, blocked arteries and even varicose veins.

6. Chrysanthemum tea has stimulating property and helps in alerting the senses and rejuvenating the brain. It stimulates all your senses very quickly and also calms down the nerves.

7. It helps in easing giddiness.

8. Drinking Chrysanthemum tea helps in providing relief in sore throat, redness in the eyes, itchiness in the eyes, dryness in the eyes and dark sport in the eye area.

9. It makes the lungs strong and helps in providing relief in respiratory problems such as shortness of breath.

10. Chrysanthemum tea when taken with lunch or dinner especially with oily foods helps ease digestion.

Pregnancy and constipation

I know a lot of people experience this during pregnancy. Even without pregnancy.

I didn’t suffer from constipation although I was very conscious of it. I didn’t want to get hemorrhoid or have to clean my bowels! Lots of fruits, vegs, fibre, and fluids (juices, soups, water) I say. Really no choice but conscious effort to include all these (plus the other nutrients/vitamins/minerals you need) in your diet.

From babycenter.com

WHY AM I SO CONSTIPATED?

Constipation is a common problem during pregnancy. As many as half of pregnant women get constipated at some point.

 

Inside pregnancy: Weeks 28 to 37

A 3D animated look at a baby in the third trimester of pregnancy.

One culprit is an increase in the hormone progesterone, which relaxes smooth muscles throughout the body, including the digestive tract. This means that food passes through the intestines more slowly. And the problem may be compounded later in pregnancy by the pressure of your growing uterus on your rectum. Iron supplements, particularly in high doses, can make constipation worse.

What can I do about constipation?

Here are some tips for preventing and easing constipation:

• Eat high-fiber foods such as whole-grain cereals and breads, brown rice, beans, and fresh fruits and vegetables every day. Adding a couple of tablespoons of unprocessed wheat bran (available at health food stores) to your cereal in the morning and following it with a glass of water can help, though it may take a few days before you notice a difference.
• Drink plenty of water – at least six to eight glasses a day. A glass of fruit juice every day, especially prune juice, can also be helpful. Some people find that drinking a warm liquid right after waking up helps get things moving.
• Exercise regularly. Walking, swimming, riding a stationary bike, andyoga can all help ease constipation and leave you feeling more fit and healthy.
• Your bowels are most likely to be active after meals, so make time to use the bathroom after you eat. Listen to your body. Never put off going to the bathroom when you feel the urge.
• If your prenatal multivitamin contains a large dose of iron (and you’re not anemic), ask your healthcare provider about switching to a supplement with less iron.
• If the measures above don’t help, talk to your caregiver about taking an over-the-counter fiber supplement or stool softener.

Is constipation ever serious?

Not usually, but occasionally it can be a symptom of another problem. If you have severe constipation that is accompanied by abdominal pain, alternates with diarrhea, or you pass mucus or blood, call your doctor or midwife immediately.

Also, straining during a bowel movement or passing a hard stool can lead to or worsen hemorrhoids, which are swollen veins in the rectal area. Hemorrhoids can be extremely uncomfortable, though they rarely cause serious problems. In most cases, they go away fairly soon after your baby is born. However, if the pain is severe or you have rectal bleeding, call your caregiver so you can be evaluated.

Little fish

After our ordeal, any little movement, symptom, sign is a happy problem. 🙂

It’s hard to know when the exact serious kick or punch was – something I was really looking forward to!!! – but it was more frequent in week 22. Don’t worry, if you can’t feel movements yet. Some feel it as early as week 12/13, average is week 16-20. It all depends on your body. If you don’t feel anything by week 25, tell your gynae (this I know from various pregnancy sites)

At first, the flutters are mistaken as gas. Only you know how gassy you can be 😉 Then, you start distinguishing between movements and bodily functions.

My first kick was after my prenatal massage. When I was unwinding with my cup of tea, the little one jabbed me in the right. I got taken aback because it felt like something popped in me (very quick and sharp burst of bubble). Naturally, I was pleased! Prenatal massages help to relieve the aches and swelling that pregnancy has blessed upon you. Only go to certified prenatal masseuse though. They have been trained to massage specifically for pregnancy needs and we don’t want our massages/masseuse to be blamed should anything untoward happen to our little one.

My masseuse helped to push up my womb a little higher, which helped me feel his/her kicks more. You feel lighter and better as well as your circulation improves and your knots are soothed away.

I began to feel the development of ‘gas bubbles’ more and more. I learnt baby is learning to suck and these create the bubbly feeling plus the movements and learning how to grab/feel things in the womb. They then began to be more pronounced like fishes swimming in your tummy. I could feel the slight cramping/tapping more frequently on my left. And sometimes, I feel a heavier weight leaning to my right. You can actually feel the difference! The left tummy will seem a little empty and then the right bulges and feels very tight. Ask daddy to feel… it’s part of his experience too 🙂

Little fish is very active at night. I hope he/she wouldn’t be a night owl after arrival though!