Second trimester - week 24 - Celebrating my sisters' birthday

Second trimester 

Week 22, first time I felt little bud moving in me, I guess I did! It's almost like air bubbles or gas passed through your stomach. I felt this much earlier at week 21 but I thought it's just digestion in action, but now, I'm certain that it's my little bud moving in me! It's just so magical! 

I've read that from week 22 onwards, baby's hearing has been fully developed, so we bought story books for little bud! We started taking turn every other night reading bedtime stories to little bud, and I started talking to little bud every afternoon, and daddy will do the talking at night, hoping that he will recognize our voices and find comfort when hearing us after the arrival. 

One fine early morning like 430am at week 24, I felt little bud's hiccup! At first I don't know what was it, cos it's too rhythmatic I thought it was the heartbeat, but it's too slow to be heart beat, then I realized baby is having hiccups, and it lasted like a minute or two. It's kind of a weird feeling and as usual for the first time mum, I googled and it's normal and totally fine, it's an exercise to the diaphragm and also baby is practicing the swallowing motion. 

We celebrated both my lovely sisters' birthday with a high tea session at Chihuly at Ritz Carlton hotel. It's one of the best 8 course high tea that you will be stuffed to the brim! The environment is nice and quiet with live piano session and attentive servers, I like this place a lot and it's very spacious so don't worry about parking your stroller far far away. Food is good, even though there's no refill for any courses, but it's definitely sufficient! 

Me at 24 weeks at the entrance of Chihuly lounge.

My sister with her 2 little princess! Can u believe she just done her confinement and she's already lost all her pregnancy weight! She's definitely my role model! 

All of us at the high tea! My mum, my brother who came back for summer break from New York, my 2 younger pretty sisters and 2 little nieces. 

This baby girl, Clara definitely know how to enjoy the high tea. 

To the youngest prettiest of the 3 of us on the left, happy belated birthday! And to the fabulous mummy of 2, happy be earlied birthday! 

Second trimester - week 20-22

Second trimester 

Welcome to week 20! Finally it's honeymoon for me! My morning sickness is gone and my appetite got better! Still waiting for the sensitive nose and sensitive palate to go off, which I'm praying that it will soon! 

As I'm approaching a cheery 5th month, my sister gave birth on her EDD to another beautiful and healthy girl! I'm a second time aunt and so excited to carry her little one in my arms! Welcome to the world Hannah, we love you! My sister gave birth at the new Mount Elizaberth hospital at Novena, and it really feels like checking in to a five star hotel than a hospital! Made me consider giving birth in Singapore now. 

Week 21, the day we looked forward for like a long times, cos today we will do a detailed scan for our little bud! Everything should be in place by now, the lips, the fingers, the toes and all the vital organs, we were so excited to see our little bud face for the first time! Despite going through so much ups and downs, Doctor said that baby is doing great, everything is in place and the lips has closed and formed nicely. But when he was going to do a 3D scan for our little bud, little bud is too shy and turned away, perhaps a better chance on our week 25. 

My honeymoon ended in 2 weeks time, at week 22, I started the midnight vomiting, indigestion set in again and the hubby had to make milo for me in the middle of the night. We started tracking the food that I ate for dinner, cos I'm always alright and have good appetite in the day but when it comes to dinner, I just can't think of what to eat. Then we realized, processed soya products are giving me problems. The times that I vomitted, I had been curd sheet (fuzhu), youngtaufu and taugua in my dinner, so I have to avoid these food from now on. Besides avoiding these food, I'll have indigestion after dinner, but not until vomit that sort, at times that I really feel so bad, I will have some gaviscon, which soothes me at most time. 

Meanwhile, I just tried my best to hang in there, and still telling myself that it will be over someday. I guess I just belongs to the less fortunate ones, I've read online that some women have pregnancy symptoms till the day they gave birth! I just hope this won't be me. Initially we were planning for a babymoon, due to my condition, hubby decided that it's best that I stay in the comfort of our home. So no babymoon :(

Second trimester - week 18 - 19

Second trimester 

Week 18, we had kuey tiao Kia for dinner, which I eat it once or twice a week since pregnant, and I got a bad tummy and turned out to be food poisoning. Hubby is fine but I'm not, guess they said when you are pregnant, your immunity is low and it's true. I already had two cold and flu to today and now admitted due to food poisoning. 

I always thought I'm strong and fit; for the past 10 years of flying around the world, jet lagged, extreme weather differences, working at odd hours, irregular meals and sometimes not enough rest, I seldom fall sick and never really take supplements. So I guess it's payback time. I've stayed 2 days at the hospital and having blood test and stools test for a number of times and on antibiotic drips, and finally well to go home. 

After so much has happened from day 1 till now, we are only at 18 weeks, hubby and I were totally worn out. Especially hubby, I must said he's been really supportive and helpful through all my morning sickness, finding food to suit my appetites, making milos in the middle of the night, rub my stomach and back to ease my burping and vomiting, and driving me in and out of hospital with all the blood tests, doctors appointments, injection and surgery, hugged me when I cried cos I guess I'm totally defeated by my pregnancy! I just felt so lucky to have him with me, even though some times he annoyed me so much! But still, I love you hubby!

And yes, welcome to 19 weeks! The photo that we have taken to share our pride and joy of being a first time parent!

Second trimester - Week 17

Baby shopping

This is the most exciting and interesting part of being pregnant I guess! So after NIPT test, we got to know the gender of our little bud, and as everything is more or less stabilized, I began doing research online on baby products and drawing out a shopping list.

Joining the Facebook group of mummies is definitely the best thing to do, from my opinion, I read through a lot of the post and learned a lot from experienced and first time mums. From which brand of bottles, wipes, stroller, baby cots, formula milk, supplements, breast pumps to baby bathing equipments and where to get great offers, these champions mummies have it all! Some mummies also share their brith experiences, their little one problems on the page, asking for opinions and help, it's really a helpful channel for first time mum like me to prep myself on what to expect.

I find Mummy's fair and baby's fair are great place to buy all the stuffs you need! It's exceptionally helpful because it's all under one roof and you can get to see, compare and feel the quality of the products you are looking for. Prior to going to these fair, it is best to check out their websites - https://mummysmarket.com.sg or http://babyworldfair.com for more information on pre order deals and star buy deals, and also catalogue of the fair so you can compare products prior to going to the fair. Don't need to print the catalogue at home, you can get it at the entrance of the fair, which usually happen at expo. Friday is the best day to go, and go as early as they open, cos the later it gets, the more crowded it will be, and getting ready own large shopping bags is essential!

First baby fair for us, we got so excited that we bought like 60% of the stuffs that we need for our little bud. Some people said it's a bit too early as we are only in our 17 weeks, but some of my friends said its better to stock first cos as you go heavier and back ache sets in, you won't have that much stamina to walk the whole baby fair.

Comparing the baby fair in Singapore and the one in Jb; I worked in Singapore prior to my pregnancy and I'm from Jb, and my hubby is working in Jb, we are both residing in Jb now; the fair in Singapore has so much more to offer, in terms of overseas and reliable brands and products. And after currency conversion, most of the stuffs are still cheaper than Malaysia! For example the car seat we bought is sgd299, if you x3 will be rm900, and Malaysia is selling the same thing at rm1099. So yes, most of our baby bulky items we bought it in Singapore.

I've stopped work after I'm pregnant due to my job requirement, I'm kind of glad because I am still having all the pregnancy symptoms at 17 weeks and I'm tired most of the time. I salute all the mummies to be, who have to endure the symptoms and still go to work. Most of the time, I just stay at home cos I am just so sensitive to all the smells outside and these smells just made me gagged. 

Reading books that has passed down from my sister; who is a fabulous mother of one and one on the way; playing games on iPad and watching some Korean dramas are some of my self entertainment in the afternoon. Every alternate evening, I will take a stroll with my hubby, we walked about 3-4km every time, and I read that brisk walking is very good for pregnancy as well as swimming, which I will swim 2 times a week. Besides that, I go for prenatal massage, hair treatment and mani-pedicure to pamper myself too. My experienced lovely mummy friends tell me to do all these while I have to the time to, cos I will never know when will be the next time once baby is out.

A picture of me and my sister, who is younger than me but my mentor on all the pregnancy woes, and it's really a blessing of a life time that both sisters are pregnant together in the same year! I was 17 weeks and she's 37 weeks! 

Second trimester - Week 13 - 16

Second trimester 

They all said that second trimester is the honeymoon time for pregnancy, I really wish to believe this but unfortunately it just didn't happen to me. 

We did our NT scan for Down syndrome at week 12, despite everything seemed fine, we decided to go for the NIPT ( non invasive prenatal testing ). The test is non invasive, and required blood drawn from expecting mother, it will show results of major 6 chromosomes with 98% accuracy. It cost RM 2400 ( gst incl ) and the blood samples is sent to the laboratory in states, result will be back in two weeks time. 

One week after the test, I was called back by the hospital again because they need more of my blood samples, so the brave mum to be went to the hospital again and had another one big syringe of blood drawn.  

Week 14 appointment showed our NIPT results were all fine, baby is doing good and growing well, but I was down with flu. Doctor prescribed me with some decongestion medication to help me breath better so I can sleep, and also some veloxin to treat my nauseousness. My appetite is still bad, eating little and frequent doesn't help much. Saltines, pretzels, bread, sour plum, lemon juice all I've tried, just doesn't help much and I was trying really hard to keep the food in, and I have this metal taste in my mouth on my palate, which made my appetite worse. Food outside that is too salty, with msg will trigger the metal taste n it stayed the whole day even after brushing and gargling. 

Week 16, I had a week of midnight throw up! We had dinner everyday before 730pm and the food just stuck in my throat or my stomach and it didn't want to get digested, and by 1130pm I'll feel so miserable, I'll vomit out whatever that is not going down. The poor hubby had to nurse the sick mummy every night with milo or oats. So after 9 weeks of morning sickness, now I'm vomiting, and I always have this bloatedness that I want to burp, but it always ended a half past six burp or some food will come out. Gross I know! I read and realized it's quite common among preggers due to indigestion.  I started drinking sodas, occasionally coke but mostly just soda water or Perrier, it helps me burp better hence less food come out with the burp. 

Friends told me, you will feel better at 12 weeks, then 14 weeks then 16 weeks.... I'm looking forward to get better everyday. My gynae told me that's the joy of motherhood, I seriously never expect such joy. I started envy my friends whom are pregnant like me but posting on social media about their high teas, brunch, dinner with friends, while I'm still nursing all my pregnancy woes and feeling so tired n restless to go out. 

Ok baby, let's hang in there, they said by week 18 we will feel better, let's pray and be positive that we will! 

We are Pregnant!

First trimester

Yes, I guess every couple will be so thrilled and overjoyed when they first found out that, they are pregnant. Especially for us, it was really a surprise! Not like we never wanted a bb and it comes as a surprise; it's a surprise because we have tried with high hopes and anticipation every month until we gave up. Yes, everyone tell us that, when you gave up, it comes!

My menses has been very regular, except the 2 months prior to finding out that I was pregnant, I was late 5 days and then 7 days. So when I was late again for the month, I wasn't really paying much attention to it, thinking that it's a false alarm yet again! It's a Sunday morning and we were getting ready for brunch, this time my menses was late for coming to 2 weeks. So, there's this last pregnancy test kit sitting in the drawer and I decided to give it a go with the least hopeful mind.

The next moment, I was running to my hubby, and show him the result. We were both in a daze cos it just happened! We were both in disbelieve and decided to buy a digital one to check again, and yes, it said we were about 3-4 weeks pregnant!

Being a first time parent and anxious about knowing the well being of the baby, we arranged for our first appointment the following week. Well, all we can see is a sac, indicating that the embryo has implanted to the uterus and there's something going on, and we should be able to hear the heartbeat in 2-3 weeks time. Excited about the news but we kept it to ourselves, cause the folks believe that it's a taboo/pantang not to mention about it during the first trimester, hence only our parents know about it.

My journey as a mummy has just began and some pregnancy symptoms kicked in. I started to hate garlic which is my favorite food raw or cooked, it smelled like sour rotten food to me and I felt so nauseous or threw out with the smell or taste of it in any food or on the dining table. I felt nauseous first thing in the morning, when I'm hungry, after I had my meals and basically throughout the day. My sense of smell has heighten so much that I can smell almost everything! I can smell people's BO, so taking public transport made me sick and dizzy. I hate going to aircon restaurant because the lingering oil/food smell made me sick, the smell from my neighbor's cooking made me sick and I will close all windows. I lost my appetite on all food, basically can't stomach much food and I lived on milo and fruits, occasionally roast duck/pork with rice and soup. Well, most preggers will get out of this after first trimester, so even though it's a torture, I told myself it will be over soon, just endure!

And nightmare happened on week 7, I noticed dark brown spotting on my panties, and we rushed down to see my gynae. He did a scan and that's the first time we heard our little bud's heartbeat and it's just magical and we knew that little bud is doing good with that strong heartbeat! Scan showed that the fetus seemed fine and doing well, and doctor prescribed me with duphaston to stabilize the pregnancy, recommended plenty of bed rest and should the spotting got worsen, I need to go down to A&E immediately. He will see us in 2 weeks time.

After taking the duphaston for 2 days, the spotting stopped. I was relieved that everything is gonna be fine, but I was too early to think so. 5 days later, week 8, I was having the same dark brown/dark red spotting again despite having duphaston. Again, we rushed down to see my gynae and did a scan, everything seemed fine and baby's heart is beating well. I was put on double dose of duphaston and have been given proluton injection once every 3 days to further stabilize the pregnancy for 3 weeks. Proluton is an oil based deep muscle injection, it's do painful that left me limping every time I walked out from the hospital. However, it did stop the spotting so it's worth it I told myself, it will all be worthwhile.

Everything seems fine now with all the medication, and just the day before we need to go back for follow up on week 11, I was having fresh bright red spotting. I told my hubby that maybe we are just not fated to have this child, we both decided to stay positive but if it's not ours then we just have to let it go... We rushed to see our gynae, he did a scan and our baby is doing fine with a strong heartbeat, so he decided to check the vaginal to find the source of bleeding, and bingo ! There's a 2.5cm cervical polyps which was red and angry, and bleeding. Mystery solved! We have been scheduled for a surgery in 3 days time to have it remove, and at the meantime, as a precaution, I will continue on duphaston and proluton jabs.

The surgery was done under GA and everything went smooth, fast and painless. I was discharged on the day itself and the spotting stopped 2 days after the surgery. Thank god! We made it through our first 12 weeks!

The Grand Bazaar Istanbul

I really love to write more but I've so many things to do that I've absolutely no time, or I used all my free time to do yoga or rest. My wedding is another 2.5 months from now and I've so many things undone, unconfirmed and unknown maybe. 

Nonetheless, I manage to catch a breather amidst my hectic schedule, and yesterday I went to the grand bazaar in Istanbul. It's been few years since I last came here and I really love going out to explore or even going back to places that I've visited years ago. 

The Grand Bazaar is the biggest in Istanbul, merely a 10 minutes walk from the landmark - Blue mosque, or a 10 minutes cab from tasking square. It's the largest covered market with thousands of shops selling lamps, pottery, carpets, spices, tea, jeweleries and accessories, and it's a must go for tourists visiting Istanbul. 

I love the vibrancy, colors and the hassle bussle in the bazaar, the sellers are over friendly at times but they are humorous and can be helpful, and they speak a few languages too. Rule number one for shopping here, BARGAIN! You need to know how to bargain in order to grab a steal here! Things here are mostly price higher than what they worth! 

I really love the intrigue designs of all the pottery here, they are bursting with zest! 

My favourite is these chandelier looking vivid lamps, but I've no place for them at home. 

A note to everyone whenever you are in a foreign land, always keep an eye on your belongings and keep your valuables close to you. If you are taking a taxi, you can bargain the fare with the driver too. Remember to check with your hotel on the estimated fare of your journey and bring your hotel name cards with you, because language can be an issue in Istanbul. 

Lastly, every time you are making a payment to a seller at the bazaar or a taxi driver, please take out the notes and open it and show the person clearly the amount of notes you are giving him. They will try to swap your notes very quickly, like in a blink of your eyes, and tell you that you have short change them. I took a cab back to my hotel, and the agreed fare was 55 lira, and I have given him a 50 lira note, while trying to fish out my 10 lira, he told me I gave him 5 lira! It's a common scam in Istanbul, so be safe! 

Meanwhile, take care! 

Xoxo, 

Missy_Celine