Your pets

When you arrive, you will already have 4 pets.

These furries have been my source of company and entertainment. I adore them and I hope they will adore you and vice versa. But no putting their tails in your mouth ok! Or riding them.. or squeezing them…

You would spend about 2 years with them as our house will be ready in 2017.

The 3 munchkins (L-R: Coco, Petal, Gus) are a family. Coco and Petal are siblings and Gus is the father. 

Petal is an independent girl. She loves boxes and is a fighter. Although she’s very short (a proper munchkin), she is the cutest size ever. However, she does pack a mean punch and always fighting with Shadow. All she does is eat, sleep, fight. You will see she sleeps in a variety of poses to cool off. Some, not very becoming of a lady.

Coco is my companion.

I have SOOOO many stories to tell you of how he has been a constant source of (silent) support. He sits with me to watch TV, comes after me to kiss me and there was a period of time he didn’t let me and Daddy sleep for a whole week! He was scratching and meowing the whole night, wanting to sleep in-between us or beside me to lick my hair/face and put his paws on my tummy.

I’ve been preparing him that you are arriving… so you would be best of friends and not jealous of each other.

Gus is very touchy-feely. He likes to paw you literally to get your attention. I like my space and don’t fancy having him touching my arm or leg just so I will pat him. He.doesn’t.stop.

Shadow is a very active, naughty chincilla mixed persian. He likes to disturb Petal (which is why she always fights with him) and gets very excited! See how his tongue hangs out! He is curious (or busybody, more like) and I’m sure he will be very interested to meet you.

So far, I’ve had no problems in terms of allergy. Just the fur gets on your clothes. You won’t be playing with them till you are much older and I am assured both of you won’t scratch each other.

You are very blessed to have these lovely cats as pets. I hope they will be of much company to you as they have been to me.

Things to be grateful/thankful for

I’d like to remember the positive things this trimester as I’m inundated by negatives (pain, discomfort, people commenting on my protruding belly button, the size or shape of my tummy etc)

Things that I’m thankful for:

• Love always make it for doctor’s appointments

  This is not easy. My husband works shifts and I have to take leave. Sure, I can use the MC but I’m the only one on my portfolio. Most often than not, I’m suggested to come back to work after my appointment. Which is good, because I don’t need to use leave. Which is bad, because love already on his off day or took leave and I’d rather spend the day with him plus journey from hospital to work is not exactly near (NUH to Changi)Also, a MC a month will not look good from my overseas HQ’s eyes. Although they know I’m pregnant, I don’t like the idea of such a record.

• I don’t have swollen feet

  I was mentally preparing myself for this. My fingers and feet is a little bit more plump than usual but I don’t have squishy, squashy feet that I’ve seen on others. Thank God because my journey from home to work (Yishun to Changi) is very far. Now in my last trimester, I still don’t have them. It annoys me when people say ‘Oh, not yet’. NO, don’t curse me. I shall not have them in these last few weeks!!What helps was, the moment I found out I was preggers, I started training myself to sleep with elevated feet. I train myself to drink more water (3l a day) This water training started cos I was getting rid of water retention before I was pregnant. Remember, my body didn’t know I had miscarried and carried on expanding like I still was?

• Used to healthy eating so I can eat ANYTHING!

  This is a point I am soooo thankful for. I’m used to eating yoghurt, grains, cereal, juices and mentally noting that I have to eat more fibre, fruits, veg etc. These are things that you have no choice but to embrace, for the better of your little one.My mantra was always ‘You should be able to eat anything you want. Just in moderation’. This enabled me to have no ‘pantangs’ (superstition) and just use common sense to adjust the level of spiciness, acidic foods, alkaline foods etc so I don’t feel nauseous

  I do miss sashimi though. I can’t wait to eat the creamy, sweet, thick slices of salmon sashimi…

• Minimal heartburn

  Spirulina helped me A LOT. This superfood alkalines my body so acid reflux is at it’s minimal. I’ll post about the benefits of spirulina in another post.

• NO constipation/hemorrhoids

  Thanks to the diet I practise (lots of fluids and fibre), I had none of this. Thank God.

• Blessed with maternity wear/cot/car seat

  Our parent-friends sold/gave these to us at cheap prices, which we SO appreciate. My clothes are pooh-bear on me (small, tight and shows my tummy) which is SUCH a headache and causes much stress.Money is very tight with a new addition and a house on the way. SG is THE most expensive city to live in for 2 years running now yet our wages stay the same. I don’t earn as much as I used to when I was crew (duh). I settled for less for work-life balance and a fun, vibrant work environment.

  It was also the full-time job that was offered when I came back from Dubai. I was freelancing as a trainer when I was back. I needed a full-time job to survive as I had a wedding to pay for. So…now with a change in our life, money is very tight.

• Baby is on the way

  After our surprise pregnancy and miscarriage, this is a wonderful surprise indeed. We never stopped thinking of our first one and continues to send prayers his/her way. With this pregnancy, we are so cautious and taking things slow as we don’t want to get too excited. We leave it to God to test and bless us. He knows best.

• Support

  I joined FB support groups which helped me. I read a lot of articles and books. I asked trusted parent friends.You need to know what’s right for you. And this is not easy. So many advice, so many imposements, so many opinions.

  You need to know that you are not stubborn and stupid. But stubborn because you know what is right for yourself and what you need as a couple. Not what other people WANT you to do. Sure, you make mistakes. But it will be your own and not cos you were listening to what some other people said.

  I distanced/separated myself from ‘friends’ whom might have seen me through darkest times at a (few) stages of my life previously, but have not heard from them to offer me support during this time. Don’t get me wrong – they are still friends but these are the ones that you know ‘We had a great time together, thank you for being around for me. I guess it’s time to move on’.

• A house, cats and both sets of parents still around

  Love’s house is big. It’s a jumbo flat (not available anymore now. This was back in the days when SG had land… now we are a densely populated island of 7 million. Houses are small and high. We have NO LAND!) We have our own room which can fit a cot.My house is small compared to his of course. I’m in a 4-room flat and I share a room with my younger brother (which was ok as I was in Dubai and when I’m back, he’s staying in university) but weekends are iffy. Both of us want our space and yet we are in each other’s faces. No space to put a cot (in the living room only) and we won’t have much of a privacy as we do here.

  Love has 4 cats. These cats are wonderful company. I’ll write about them in another post.

  And of course, I pray that both sets of parents would live long enough to see their grandchild. My parents still have to work in their 60s because we need to make ends meet. They definitely want to retire but we don’t have the right conditions so they can afford to.

  To be able to partake in the birth and seeing their grandchild grow up would be a bonus to this stressful, hectic SG life.

• I concussed when I finally fall asleepInsomnia, discomfort, pains are just some of it. I can’t even sleep cos of the excessive sweating and discomfort. Her jabs jolts me or the weight at my pelvic area renders me immobile partially. I grunt and oof and aah just to turn.

  Some days I’m awake till 3-4am, some 5am, some I catnap, waking every few mins.

  However, I’m very lucky that I don’t wake up just to pee throughout the night. This means I’m very grateful for Kegel exercises (practise it. It’s awesome for now and in the future when you are old(er) and can’t control your bladder).I ensure that I empty my bladder (or try to!!) before I settle into my bed. Not an easy feat… hahahahaha.

• I don’t have leg cramps oftenPregnancy leg cramps are like the ones you get post-exercise when you are not fit. You lose salt through sweating, your hormones are haywire, you lack potassium and calcium since you are now building muscles and protein for 2, you are sweating and need the cold/cool air yet your legs cramp at the environmental condition.

  I can count the number of times I get leg cramps… and the trigger is always when I forget to cover my feet. Other than that, it doesn’t attack me daily.

  Calcium pills (lots of milk/dairy/cheese) in my diet helps. As with bananas for potassium. 100 plus helps with electrolytes but since I notice my trigger is the cold, that’s where I have to take extra caution and remember to cover my feet.

  Some people may lack calcium/potassium or have other ailments, so best to check with your doctor.

How I learn what my own body needs is through lots of reading, trial-and-error and noticing the triggers.

There are other things that I’m thankful for but these are at the top of my mind. Little one, you must remember to count your blessings so we are thankful for the things and people we have, rather than those we don’t.

The irony

You gave us a scare little one.

I can’t walk too much now. My soles hurt. More like, screaming hurts. You are a big girl at 33 weeks but the irony is, my tummy is still ‘small’. I have no complains as any bigger, I probably can’t even walk!

You are ready to see the world. You were ready ever since first trimester… when I could feel your gentle flutters and the weight shifting down. Now, you are even more keen to get out. Hello, can’t wait to fly the coop is it??

Doctor says your head is engaged (at week 31) and now, your weight is really pushing down on my pelvic muscles. It makes walking very hard (MORE waddling) and the pull of gravity can be felt tremendously. How would labour feel?!

We are very excited to meet you but I also hope that you’ll wait till full-term. Week 37 minimum please. ICU is very expensive. Having a premmie baby would put a lot of strain on mommy and daddy financially and emotionally.

Do you know that the irony of this non-active state you were in brought in more kind words from strangers? Mommy is well-aware there are some ‘friends’ who have not even asked how my pregnancy is going and there are some whom I’ve ‘reunited’ with due to them being mommies themselves. Life is like that, little one. Your best friend is not the BEST in certain stages, nor will you be to other people. You will learn the heartaches of friendships.

Mommy was put on MC last week. Daddy is worried about me going back to work. I work very far from home (about 1.5 to 2h) and the journey itself is enough to make my feet cry in pain.

I haven’t slept at all these past few days. The hormones, mad hot flushes, sweating keeps me up. I have 2 fans blowing at me. Your gentle nudges and curious pushes have now turned to painful jabs as you grow bigger in my womb. There is not much space for you to shift or move around. I can feel the hard outline of a limb. I cannot make anything out as you move around so fast.

I tried to video you but you must be camera shy like me. One second, you are nudging and jabbing and moving every which way and when I hit record, you suddenly stop.

The Braxton Hicks are so regular and so tight/taut/tense that Doctor gave me some meds to relax my muscles. I sure hope you are not a premmie baby… I want you to be healthy little one. It’s selfish that we want to keep you nestled in my womb a little longer but trust me, it’s for the best.

And I will tell you this when you are an adolescent and throwing tantrums and screaming hurtful things at me for not letting you stay overnight at a friend’s place, or a chalet, or go clubbing.

Enjoy the comfort of my womb little one, as I grow even more in discomfort, accomodating your growing body and painful jabs. Just 4 more weeks.

To worry yet not worry

Little Lulu

You are very active and weigh a whopping 1.9kg at 31 weeks. The average is 1.4-1.6kg. No wonder my pelvic muscles and soles of feet hurt.

My legs have changed to accomodate this new weight gain and pressure. I’m glad I wear long pants cos there are red stretch marks and veins at the back of my legs. These are caused by the increase in blood volume in my body but the flow coming back up to my heart is very slow due to gravity and the loosening of the blood valves. Thus, the reddish bumpy veins.

I waddle even more than I already have. It hurts to walk. Every step, my soles scream in pain, as though I’m going through stones’ reflexology.

You are so heavy, my dear.

Today, you didn’t nudge me awake like you usually do about 5-6am. I thought you must be sleeping. I took a shower, drank 3 cups of cold water to wake you but you remained in deep slumber.

I didn’t like it one bit.

I know your pattern and you would have been nudging and up and about. I waited for the cold water to kick in. Still nothing.

I called the labour ward and since it’s been an hour that I’ve not felt you move, I had to go in and get checked.

Lucky Daddy was at home and wasn’t working. Can you imagine how worried we were? I didn’t dare to think anything bad lest my worry and stress chemicals get to you. Yet I was concerned.

Do you know how difficult it was to worry and not worry?

You remained quiet even after I moved you around and poked you. I was put on observation for an hour plus. We heard your rapid heartbeat and you pushed away the CTG disk attached to my tummy. Other than that, you were still.

I’ve been put on MC this week and will see doctor tomorrow. From the time I left hospital till 5pm, we were anxiously doing the kick count. You reached 10 kicks only at 7pm. Normally, after eating, a cold drink or when you are restless, the nudges come fast and furious.

It is very hard not to worry and worry at the same time. I tried to do work and chores and play games. Anything to relax. I pray and I play with the cats. The braxton hicks are getting more frequent. It makes me break out in cold sweat and causes me much discomfort. Doctor says it’s early for you to come out and you have showed no signs of such… like water bag burst or contractions with backache.

Do you know Coco cat and Petal girl came to sayang my tummy? In the morning, Petal (who doesn’t come to rub you at all.) came to my tummy as I’m sitting and rub her head on it. When I came back, Coco jumped towards me and kissed/sniffed my face.

These cats know Mommy’s worried. I’ll share with you more stories about them and how they’ve comforted (or annoyed) me during my loss and when I’m carrying you. I hope you get along with them. They have provided me with much-needed comfort and company.

Lulu, I know it’s getting cramped in my womb now at 32 weeks. You are in engaged position and might not move around too much. But you need to let me know you are alright. Not stay still for 12 hours. Even an hour is too much.

I wish I have the teletubbies TV in my tummy to see you.

wap.parette.net

How we found out about you

Our first angel went back to the Almighty in Feb ’14. You can read about that here.

After a miscarriage, the body takes about 3 months to recover. Just like childbirth. A fellow mommy said that miscarriage is like having 2 births – your body is in shock, preparing for birth that will not happen and fast-forwarding to giving birth, just no baby. That’s how my lump grew. It was a trigger of hormones plus blocked milk ducts. My body was confused and in that confusion, a lump grew. My post about discovering that is available here.

I went to a gynae for a 2nd opinion on my hormones. Unfortunately, 6 mths after, I’m still urinating more often, still experiencing hot flushes, and the mood swings, and my period was irregular. It gave us a few skipped heartbeats every time it came earlier or later, never on time anymore, that I grew tired of charting my menstrual cycle.

The gynae prescibed me Clomid, which i WILL NEVER recommend to anyone, unless you’ve been trying very hard for a child.

The gynae prescribed it to encourage ovulation. His theory was that my body wasn’t ovulating well so since we were trying anyway, this medicine would help my body to stabilise the hormones by actually helping us to get pregnant.

The downside was… I experienced majority, if not ALL, the side effects.

From advancedfertility.com:

Clomid side effects

Clomid treatment has some potential for adverse effects. Side effects are definite “cons” of clomiphene use. Adverse effects are seen in some, but not all women using the drug.

• Mood swings, psychological / emotional side effects
• Hot flashes
• Abdominal discomfort
• Visual disturbances
• Ovarian cyst formation
• Nausea
• Thinning of the uterine endometrial lining
• Reduced production of cervical mucous – this can lower fertility (bypassed by insemination)

I was soooo depressed, Daddy couldn’t bear to see me through it. I was moody, not talking, I just wanted to be alone. On days he worked the afternoons, or if he left for night shift, I cried myself to sleep again and again. It was not a wonderful feeling to have.

When I told people I was on this pill, their reactions were as expected. They didn’t understand. They thought the problem was I couldn’t get pregnant, that I was on drugs (medically) all this time and think what it would do to my liver, I was dependent on drugs to get pregnant, that I was having depression.

I was angered at all that because I sought help as my body didn’t realise it wasn’t pregnant anymore. It should have stabilised after a few months but it was still making me feel that I was carrying child. Which was the opposite of what the general population would go through – the body would rectify itself and try to normalise everything.

I wasn’t trying to get pregnant yet – we took it as it is but I was just a mess. I couldn’t get my words out to Daddy…I didn’t know what to say or how to say it. I didn’t even know why I was feeling this way. And he didn’t know how to help me either.

So clomid it was.

And the gynae said we should continue trying as there is an egg to be fertilised. I wasn’t about to let my mood swings and depression go to waste. Or everything that I’d gone through so I made Daddy promise he will try with me.

I kinda forced him actually. He works shifts, meaning he had to put in extra effort and energy, to fulfill this for me.

And so we tried.

My period was as usual, late, and I didn’t want to test although Daddy said we should. I didn’t want to be disappointed like all the previous months when my period was late.

That day, I remember, Daddy was sleeping when I decided that ok, I shall test. Just get it over and done with. We had bought lots of the $1.80 pregnancy test kit from Mustafa, courtesy of Mommy’s best friend’s recommendation. (A branded test kit costs about $20 ok) I was going to work so it was early morning.

I tested and bright as day, it had two lines. Just like the first time.

I rushed to wake Daddy and shoved the kit in his face. He had this Huh look and half-smile, thinking if it’s what I was showing him. We both didn’t dare to be too excited in case it was a false alarm. So the plan was I’d get to work and test again, buying a branded test kit from the supermarket to be sure.

I tested and the result was again, positive.

That was on 6 Nov 2014. You were then called Baby Clo.

Runny nose – pregnancy rhinitis

I was sneezing and my nose was dripping. It felt like sinus (without the pain) and flu (without the fever and body aches). My eyes were watery and I felt so uncomfortable as the tickle and trickle of the nasal liquid dripped down.

Sleeping took even longer as I tried to decongest my nose or tried not to sneeze everywhere.

I had the pregnancy runny nose, otherwise known as rhinitis.

Well, at least a runny nose is better than a stuffy nose no? 😦

The phlegm should be watery and clear, with the occasional opaque whitish kind, but if it starts to change colour to green/yellow/brown, you know you are just kidding yourself. That’s an infection. Plus, if you have fever and body aches, well gee, good luck, that’s the sign you have the flu or cold.

I look like I was crying with my watery eyes and sneezing at everything. It wasn’t often – I had it in the morning (lasted a few hours) and at night when I’m sleeping. It gets triggered even more when I kiss the cats or the place is dusty.

I never like taking medicines. That principle was more firmly strengthened when doctors couldn’t explain why I was bleeding during my first miscarriage. I bled non-stop for about 2 months and they just couldn’t explain why.I thought if a professional couldn’t tell me what’s wrong, who can? And why should I take their meds?

(This is the link about me starting bleeding while I was pregnant with my first)

So I turned to natural remedies and alternative/natural healing. Basically, nourishing my body so it will fight on its own.

I took manuka honey instead of sugar with my milo or tea. I had a cup of warm honey whenever I felt the ticklish throat coming. I didn’t want my pregnancy runny nose developing into a more serious case of flu or cold! That will be awful!

Manuka honey is well-known for:

Preventing and treating cancer

• Reducing high cholesterol
• Reducing systemic inflammation
• Treating diabetes
• Treating eye, ear, and sinus infections
• Treating gastrointestinal problem

(from http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/manuka-honey-medicinal-uses?page=3)

I then had to increase my Vitamin C intake and drown (even more) water. I drink water a lot because I get so thirsty from the pregnancy and weather, so you can imagine how bloated I feel -.- It flushes out toxins and makes you go pee (even so much more) but hey, I didn’t want to feel miserable.

This is the Vitamin C I took from Elken, which you can order from facebook.com/purplespree
(I got the Manuka honey from an overseas trip. If you are getting from local stores, make sure it’s pure manuka honey)

At night, I rubbed Vicks on my chest and on the soles of feet. It helps to ease congestion and for me to breathe easier. Like I said, it wasn’t easy finding a comfortable position to sleep as it is and breathing through your mouth isn’t exactly easy either, considering your baby is pushing against your diaphragm (lungs/ribcage).

The effects are pretty immediate. You go toilet more often, you cough more to expel phlegm, your nose drips more and I’m very glad to say that in 3 days, I feel SO MUCH better. Natural healing will take slightly longer than popping pills but I do believe it helps your body to fight against bacteria through its own strength.

With western medicines aka drugs, you are teaching your body to be dependent on external help. It may even develop resistance to that medicine and that’s why sometimes doctors prescribe other meds… because our body is not responding or is immune to the drugs.

If you don’t like popping Vit C, go au natural! Take loads of oranges (but it does increase phlegm), orange juice, or other Vit C natural products. It will take even longer as you need to have it in large doses.

If I didn’t clear my runnny nose, hubby wouldn’t let me go to a Backstreet Boys’ concert happening tomorrow… we bought tickets sometime back (and it’s not easy to get!) and they are my first childhood boyband that I fell in love with.

After this, there won’t be other concerts I’m going to unless it’s kids-related. So I HAVE to get better or at least, don’t show that I feel so sick.:P

Little one, please behave… mommy wants to see BSB before we pop…then we can sing and dance all we want at home together…can’t wait.

Pregnancy rhinitis

From babycenter.com

Why do I feel congested all the time?

Believe it or not, it’s pretty common to have a runny or stuffed-up nose during pregnancy. Up to 30 percent of pregnant women have congestion without having allergies or a viral infection like the common cold. This condition even has a name: rhinitis of pregnancy.

It can start as early as your second month and tends to worsen later in pregnancy. The congestion should ease up soon after you give birth and be gone completely within two weeks after delivery.

Higher amounts of estrogen during pregnancy can contribute to swelling in the mucous membranes lining the nose and even cause you to make more mucus. What’s more, the amount of blood in your body increases during pregnancy, which may cause swelling in the tiny blood vessels in the lining of your nose and congestion in the surrounding tissue. Other hormones may also play a role.

How can I tell if my congestion is due to my pregnancy or to something else?

If you have no other symptoms, it’s probably rhinitis of pregnancy. If your stuffy nose is accompanied by sneezing, coughing, a sore throat, mild aches and pains, or possibly swollen glands or a fever, you probably do have a cold or another infection.

By the way, sinus infections are more common in pregnancy. If you have symptoms of sinusitis, such as fever, headache, green or yellow mucus, facial pain or pressure (which may feel worse when you bend forward), an upper jaw ache, or a decreased sense of smell, call your caregiver.

On the other hand, if you have a stuffy or runny nose with watery mucus, along with sneezing and itchy eyes, nose, throat, or ears, then allergies are a likely culprit. Allergies during pregnancy are unpredictable: They may improve or get worse, or you may find that you’re sensitive to allergens and other irritants that never bothered you before.

Of course, you won’t always be able to tell what’s causing your congestion, and it’s possible that there’s more than one cause. For example, you could be suffering from allergies as well as rhinitis of pregnancy.

What can I do for relief?

Drink plenty of fluids and keep your head elevated at night. These measures can also be helpful:

• Steam can temporarily relieve congestion and it’s often very soothing. Take a warm shower and hang out for a while afterward in the steamy bathroom. Or moisten a washcloth with hot water, hold it up to your face, and breathe.
• Try saline nose drops or a buffered saline nasal spray, available over the counter at the drugstore. Spritz or drip a bit into each nostril and within five or ten minutes you should be able to blow your nose more easily.
• Use a humidifier or vaporizer to put more moisture into the air and keep it near your head at night. Be sure to follow the cleaning instructions that came with your humidifier. Change the water daily since it can become a breeding ground for bacteria. You’ll need to replace the filter often as well.
• Use extra pillows to elevate your head when lying down to rest or sleep. (This can help relieve heartburn, too.)
• Exercise sometimes helps to ease a stuffy nose. Avoid exercising outdoors on days when there’s a lot of air pollution, which may irritate your nasal passages and make your congestion worse.
• Avoid potential irritants, such as cigarette smoke, alcohol, paint and chemical fumes (all of which you should be avoiding anyway!), as well as anything that triggers your symptoms.

Are there any medications I can take?

If your congestion continues to make you miserable, tell your practitioner about your symptoms and ask which medications are safe for you to try. It’s generally best to avoid taking any medications during your first trimester, when your baby’s organs are forming, unless it’s really necessary (for example, to control asthma) and has been prescribed by your caregiver.

If your practitioner says it’s okay, you can try a decongestant. Avoid overusing decongestant nasal sprays, though, because they can cause rebound inflammation and make your congestion much worse.

Hormones

Hormones are to be blamed for anything and everything during PMS/pregnancy. They are the chemicals that balance us (or not) and are largely responsible for mental health.

I read so much about pregnant women bursting into tears at the slightest thing. Found it funny and ridiculous, having experienced them myself during the first time.

I cried because I didn’t want to go to work. I cried because I’m at work. I cried as people said ‘good morning’ to me. I cried because I saw an advertisement on the bus, featuring a guy with a long arm reaching into a present.

I laughed reading women bursting into tears at a commercial (totally relatable), a movie, an article, or just because someone was too nice or too mean to them.

I didn’t experience much of these crying saga this time round. More angsty and moody than anything.

The first time I burst crying – I’m talking about HUGE sobs, heaving, uncontrollable tearing kind – was because I didn’t get cake during an office celebration. Yep, you read it right.

There was a birthday and they passed down the cake slices by aisle. They assumed my aisle of colleagues have gotten ours (so it wasn’t just me that didn’t get it. 3 of us didn’t) and when I realized that we were left out and there was NO MORE cake left, hot tears sprung into my eyes.

I ran to the bathroom and immediately went into a heaving state. The kind where your eyes blur instantaneously and you howl and your body shakes from immense sadness. It was THAT sad. I had to cover my mouth to stop sounds escaping and raising alarm to toilet-goers. I was fine really, it wasn’t even about the cake, I just felt SO SAD that I DIDN’T have cake. Although, the irony is, if someone had shown or given me cake, I would have burst into more tears.

The more I tried to stop, the more I cried. It took me 10 minutes to finally subside. It was ridiculously funny and silly that this overwhelming sadness just overtakes me. Because after that, I felt ok.

That’s why I said hormones are to blame.

It was obvious I’d been crying and I was very glad that it was close to end of work day. It is the first (of many?) ridiculous funny stories that you can blame hormones on. 😉

Hiccups!

With the many nudges and pushes and other strange feelings going around in your womb, only with time would you be able to recognize the different movements.

It is a magical feeling to have. Wonderful, exhilarating, anxious, annoying and reassuring at the same time.

I learnt to differentiate the bubbling and gas, the tummy rumbling and baby movements, the nudging, cramps and stitches as part of baby’s exploratory stages.

Ours is a curious girl. She nudges her way, feeling my womb walls and does somersaults, dives and yoga.

Today, I felt the steady ‘thud thud thud’ and realized she’s hiccupping! A quick google search confirmed this… it felt funny…like she was knocking but it was a dull beat in succession. And you just know that it’s hiccups.

At 27 weeks.

The Belly Button Affair

How many of you experienced the protruding belly button during pregnancy?

How many of you have seen that belly button proudly pushing through clothes on pregnant women?

I have an outie. For those who have no clue what an outie or innie belly button is, here’s the difference.

Innie navel. Just a hole with no outer skin.

Outie navel with layers of skin surrounding the hole

Here is a modest belly button during pregnancy. Depending on how your skin stretches, it can get really out there… poking through your clothes and leading the way.

howshealth.com

It’s uncomfortable when the skin stretches taut and tight over your belly. Gets itchy too. That’s why we use lots of Vitamin E, cocoa butter, stretch mark creams to provide relief to dry, stretched skin.

It’s a badge of honour of pregnancy really. Your body undergoing changes to produce a miracle – another being in your body with the will of God.

I’ve had comments of:

‘It looks so funny.’
It looks weird.’
‘Why don’t you cover it? It’s like so obvious.’

Each making you feel even more insecure about your changing body. Each comment said with no inkling of what it does to you.

And then you have those who reach out to help themselves by rubbing your tummy UNINVITED or even playing with your belly button. I didn’t know that being pregnant means my extended body is now public property. I don’t have qualms letting people touch my belly or if I take their hands and let them feel my tightness or when little one is bulging out one side of my tummy. However, there is still a violation when one just reaches out and starts feeling your tum-tum!

It’s the same if someone just reaches out and fondles your boobs just cos they are ‘external’ 😡 It’s still violation.

Anyways… I digress. There are belly button covers available, like those rubber silicone gel to paste over your navel. They are costly though and given the amount of sweating we are doing, that’s the last thing you want sticking to your skin.

If you are wearing maternity pants, the band to support your preggy tummy plus your longer top would reduce the protrusion. With leggings and normal top however, your button would proudly shove through… not like an erection! It’s not so vulgar but you definitely attract stares as someone walks in the opposite direction towards you. It’s perfectly normal. They are just wondering if that’s normal or if that’s a plug that you pull when you are going to give birth 😛

I nearly wanted to cover it up due to the comments I received but hubby’s been a really supportive force. He said no need to cover up as this is all part of pregnancy. Let naysayers be naysayers. What do they know? Just because they haven’t gone through it/didn’t go through it, doesn’t mean someone else aka me is not going through it.

I’m so fortunate he has been really supportive of me and my changing body rather than taking a disgust at it. Normally, we are already insecure. Plus pregnancy changes and hormones… you really test yourself and your partner’s limits. Hahahhaha.

Thank you God for giving me this gem who helps me tide through my/our challenges… it wasn’t easy. It’s beyond trying when he doesn’t understand or he tries to yet still doesn’t get it and I end up in a crying, frustrated, hurt mess. I’m always happy that we are still together, stronger, and more loving. Thank you for helping us.