I really appreciate what my hubby did.

Knowing that once the baby is born, travelling will be difficult, he tried to arrange for our last trip before the delivery. This will mean going on trips during my second/third trimester. 

This is what I like about him.

I dislike the fact that he is a Santa Claus but I cannot help but admit that it is his generosity makes me really appreciate him. To a finance person, it is a hate relationship. But to a woman, it is a love relationship.

However, I really appreciate the fact that he values relationships more than money. It is this value of his, that makes a trip before the delivery possible, despite our tight budget. 

These are what I am really thankful for and will ensure that these values are passed on to our children.

9 Sept 2010 - 3rd visit to the gynae

We were late for the visit and ended up having to send our car for valet parking. It costs us $10 for the parking! What an expensive lesson to learn.

As usual, Dr Ho's opening speech is "How are you doing now?" "Any vomiting?"

"No," was my answer. "Other than my tummy pain, everything was ok, normal. What could be wrong?" I continued. 

"Do you have gastric pain?" Dr Ho enquired.

"I do have gastric pain before. Last time I was able to tell whether it is gastric but now with the baby, I cannot tell. Could it be baby kicking?"

"Most probably is your gastric pain. It is quite common for pregnant mother to suffer from gastric." Dr Ho assured.

Sigh....not gastric again. I dislike gastric. In the past, I tried very hard to prevent gastric - tried to eat regular meals, tried to relax myself - all because I dislike the pain. And now it is back again. Arghhhh...

The long awaiting moment came - the ultrascan, to see the baby again =DDDDD

The baby has grown quite big now, about 15cm in size, an increase of 7cm since our last visit. The baby's features are much clearer - the head, the nose, the eyeballs, the 4 fingers and one thumb, the tummy, the thigh and its feet. Hahahaha...it is so exciting.

Baby was quite active this morning. It kept moving inside my tummy. Up and down. Left and right. Lifting one of its hands up, as if it is an ultra-man really to fly =p

Now the most important question, one that we have been waiting for. What is the gender of the baby?

It took us a while before we managed to find out. Baby kept moving its legs. From crossing both its legs, uncrossing then crossing back again. Lifting its legs up and turning. The patience paid off. Baby finally opened its legs wide enough for us to see an extra piece of triangular skin sticking out from in between its 2 legs. 

"Is a boy, high chance", said Dr Ho. "Next round will give us a better view as the baby grows bigger."

What a relief. I always wanted a boy. I have been praying for a boy. For some traditional reasons or another, I prefer a boy to a girl. I am thankful that my prayers are heard. 

Anyway, the visit was followed by 2 blood tests to test the presence of hep B, Rubella, etcetc in the body and the possibility of Down Syndrome of baby. I was not hoping for any bad news. 

14th - 17th week of pregnancy (II)

Food cravings are getting stronger. Nothing will seem right until I get to eat the food I have craved for.

On one occasion, I craved for fried chicken wings. Not the fried chicken wings from MacDonalds or KFC but those from the hawker centre. My hubby has no choice, but to bring me to the western food stall at a hawker centre to savour my chicken wings. 

On another occasion, I craved for economic fried bee hoon. I had that craving for one week but I had been unable to satisfy this craving. Either because, I already had a heavy breakfast or I was late for work, so as a result not able to savour the fried bee hoon. The craving was so strong that, I dreamt of it on one night. The next morning, I immediately went to get the bee hoon. It was very satisfying and everything starts to revert to normal.

My girlfriend asked, "Why did you crave for all the inexpensive, unhealthy food?"

Well, how could I answer this?

14th - 17th week of pregnancy (I)

This is not an easy month as it seems to be. 

On a positive side, there were no naseaus or giddiness for the past one month, except for one occasion, where I almost fainted because of low insulin level, else, everything is good. On the negative side, I have been having tummy pain, especially on the lower left rib area for the last 2 weeks. The pain can be so acute that it can affect your movements. Being 1st time mother, I started to get paranoid "Did something happened to the baby?" Or is it my body posture? Laying side way helps to eliminate the pain, but it ends in neck ache. Sitting face up, with back support, is not helpful, as there is continual strain in the tummy area. Thus, this month the challenge is on the tummy. Sigh...

I had dreams of miscarriage on 2 occasions too which I realised that such dreams denote anxiety and fear. This maybe correctly depicts my current state of emotions. It is not easy for a woman to be pregnant. On a positive side, it is a happy and joyous occasion of the arrival of a new life, something to celebrate, something to rejoice. On a negative side, the woman has a great responsibility of ensuring the new life stays healthy and carry the pregnancy through.

Well, someone said this to me. "Don't stress yourself by thinking of pregnancy as a negative thing. It is all in the mind. Pregnancy is a joyous occasion, make yourself happy."

That is some truth in it, though...

Food Cravings

Pregnant moms have food cravings, so do I. But sad to say, I crave for all the unhealthy food.

 1) Calbee Jagabee Potato Chips - my fav: the blue potato

2) French Fries

3) Instant Noodles

 5) Potatoes

It remains my favourite and it is still my favourite during my pregnancy. 

 4) Sashimi and salmon sushi

Too bad, these are raw, no matter how much cravings I have for these food, I cannot eat them. In the past, I used to buy salmon sushi from the Japanese kiosk once a week. Nowadays, when I walk past, I could only see but no touch. Cravings for salmon sushi has been going on for a few weeks and I can only curb the temptations by diverting my attention to other things.

I am not alone

Even though a decision has been made to continue my ACCA, which I target to clear everything by this year end, provided I am smart enough to finish everything in one attempt once again, sometimes the heart will still waver. Especially when fatigue sinks in; when you see people around you enjoying life, spending their nights and weekends merrying around and you are mugging. This is not a good feeling though. Then you will start to feel demotivated, feeling why life is so unfair, how you wish you can be like them. Well, life is that unfair. Everyone is born with a different life.

Thankfully, things do not get so disheartening. In my class, I am not the only preggie taking lessons. There are a few others, some are in their 7th/8th months or even the last month, due anytime. 

There is a pregnant lady in our class. She is into her 9th month, ready for delivery anytime. One day, I found her missing from lesson for around 2-3 weeks, which I presume she must have delivered.

I was amazed by her determination. Her determination to complete her course and continue the lesson despite her pregnancy. And she has shorten her maternity break of 1 month, just to ensure that she does not miss any part of the lesson.

I guess I am not the only one. Seeing these pregnant moms in class make me feel luckier and comforted.

To continue my studies or defer

When I told people that I am pregnant, their first reaction, other than "Congratulations!", was "What is going to happen to your ACCA? Are you going to continue or defer?" I know their concerns. And, I am very well-aware of that. Well, those who know me well, will know how competitive and how realistic a person I am. Two choices, I will have. 

One is to continue and strive to finish the remaining modules as soon as possible. It will be a tedious route to study and take the exams while I am pregnant. The energy level and the concentration power all have to take into consideration. But the benefit is, I have my youth. Studying when I am young with little commitment, i.e. when the child have not arrived, makes it much easier to manage. It is important for me to secure an ACCA qualifications before going on to another stage of life.

Second is to defer. That is, to concentrate on my pregnancy at this stage and defer my studies until my child has grown up. However, when is a good time to re-start the engine then? When the child is 1 year old? 2 year old? 3 year old? Or.....? As the 1st one grows up, there might be a 2nd one and a 3rd one. SO, when then is a good time? By the time I want to continue my ACCA, I may already be in my mid 30s and I will still be striving to start my career rather than build a career.

Time is money. Time is opportunity. Every decision I make now, will affect my future route. People who know me well, will know that I always adopt the delay gratification approach. I suffer first then enjoy.

So, well, I chose option one. The route will be tough, but I know by taking on this route, my future will be bright. Not only mine, but ours.