Wow! I just logged in to post up this article link on Breastfeeding 'cuts cancer risk' and i see the ticker saying one more day! haha then it hits me, its tomorrow! haha but estimated only lah. gynea gives me until 10th Oct latest. Saturday she will check me for dilation, then must see her every 3 days from then. Hai, after EDD, risk starts to increase and every visit must do the costly CTG scan. She trying to pressure me into accepting induction is it?? Really hope Tanya decides to show on her own, dun nid to induce. Induction increases the chance of emergency c-section leh! i hoping to avoid that leh... :(
Anyway, this morning, as I suffer from insomnia, tossing and turning in bed, I finally thought things through and realised I am ready. After so long of feeling unready for motherhood, it is a relief to finally feel ready :) so strange for it to happen the day before my EDD, but truly, I thank God for it.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Saturday, September 27, 2008
3 days to go
and i'm starting to panic, realising all the things that remain undone. have i really prepared everthing already? haven't unwrapped the cot mattress to put the mattress cover + pillow and bolster covers, have not hung up the mosquito net, have not set up the change table... but i guess all this can only be done after i discharge with Tanya right?
and the insane heat is not helping! i feel like i'm melting through every pore in my body :(
and the insane heat is not helping! i feel like i'm melting through every pore in my body :(
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
"7 Days to go"
My ticker is making me more gancheong. haha yup is 7 days to my estimated delivery date. From the forum and some people around me, already people have delivered babies estimated to be due after mine. But baby Tanya shows no sign of wanting to leave her warm womb yet. Today I tested the mothercare steriliser. Need to find space to put all the bottles and stuff liao. Also tested the configuration of the bedroom with the cot on my side. Very tough leh. Once the cot is there, hard to access the wardrobe unless I don't leave walking space between cot and bed. Must find a better configuration.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Baby cot and bently moment
We finally got around to fixing up the baby cot over the weekend. It was certainly much harder than it looked, but it didn't take too long and now the cot, bumper, quilt and stand for the mozzie net are all done up. just need another wash then ready for baby liao.
and dr dolly again ask me if wanna induce today during the gynea visit. hai, coz i din really feel tanya moving much leh. she say if baby not active, mabbe not getting enuf nutrients le :( must induce if CTG scan shows abnormality. so i promised her i will monitor baby movement lor. next visit mabbe must do the CTG liao, if she's no action yet. if CTG not good, means must check for dilation and induce liao. i asked her if it was due to my fall last weekend, but she say no.
hai i fell last weekend too and scrapped my knee badly. all coz i had my eyes on a bently cab lor haha.. 1st time see before mah. hai so damn embarrassing. i hope no infection else scared affect baby oso. seems everything coming to a close liao. definitely will see baby tanya in a couple week's time. scary. i still dun feel ready leh...
and dr dolly again ask me if wanna induce today during the gynea visit. hai, coz i din really feel tanya moving much leh. she say if baby not active, mabbe not getting enuf nutrients le :( must induce if CTG scan shows abnormality. so i promised her i will monitor baby movement lor. next visit mabbe must do the CTG liao, if she's no action yet. if CTG not good, means must check for dilation and induce liao. i asked her if it was due to my fall last weekend, but she say no.
hai i fell last weekend too and scrapped my knee badly. all coz i had my eyes on a bently cab lor haha.. 1st time see before mah. hai so damn embarrassing. i hope no infection else scared affect baby oso. seems everything coming to a close liao. definitely will see baby tanya in a couple week's time. scary. i still dun feel ready leh...
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Week 38 checkup
Today Tanya turns 38 weeks. According to Dolly, she's about 29cm and 3kg. Any time i wanna deliver can choose to induce liao. Placenta is doing well, no signs of 'aging' that might force me to induce. but if baby too big, will be harder to deliver and her poo might leak into waterbag. So all the cards laid on the table for us to decide. At max, she recommends waiting til 41 weeks. I heard inducing is painful too, so I also hoping for the best.
The legislation
wah, now must see my comapny's "face" liao...
The amendments to the Children's Development Act went for first reading in Parliament yesterday. Here's a summary of the amendments to the legislation that affect us:
1. Date for new legislation to come into effect is 31 Oct 2008. It is stated that the benefits are compulsory for those who delivered on or after 31 Oct & those whose EDD is on or after 31 Oct but delivered early.
2. Government will pay their share for employers who gave the benefits to those who delivered in the period 17 Aug - 30 Oct but EDD is not on or after 31 Oct & those whose EDD is between 17 Aug-30 Oct.
3. Childcare leave will be included in the act after the amendments. No longer just under employment act. But this year is pro-rate to total of 3 days. Note that the total no of childcare leave per eligible child cannot exceed 42 days (i.e. 7 x 6 days).
The amendments to the Children's Development Act went for first reading in Parliament yesterday. Here's a summary of the amendments to the legislation that affect us:
1. Date for new legislation to come into effect is 31 Oct 2008. It is stated that the benefits are compulsory for those who delivered on or after 31 Oct & those whose EDD is on or after 31 Oct but delivered early.
2. Government will pay their share for employers who gave the benefits to those who delivered in the period 17 Aug - 30 Oct but EDD is not on or after 31 Oct & those whose EDD is between 17 Aug-30 Oct.
3. Childcare leave will be included in the act after the amendments. No longer just under employment act. But this year is pro-rate to total of 3 days. Note that the total no of childcare leave per eligible child cannot exceed 42 days (i.e. 7 x 6 days).
Monday, September 15, 2008
16 days to go??
can't believe my counter says that...haha nervous. anyway this is what i came across from babycenter. :( X-fingers and hope and pray for smooth, natural delivery!:
Older moms-to-be more likely to have c-sections
Fri, Jul 25, 2008 (Reuters Health) — The increase in the rates of cesarean sections reported by many countries appears to be associated, in part, with more and more women deciding to have children later in life, according to a report in the current issue of PLoS Medicine.
In the study, laboratory testing showed that as maternal age increases, the ability of the smooth muscle of the uterus to contract slows down, which is thought to slow the progression of labor, thereby increasing the likelihood of c-section.
"These findings clearly indicate that the association between advanced age and poor outcome in labor is likely to reflect a biological effect of aging on the uterus," lead author Dr. Gordon C. S. Smith, from Cambridge University in the UK, said in a statement.
Smith and colleagues base their conclusions on an analysis of data from 583,843 women entered into a Scottish database from 1980 to 2005.
During the full study period, the proportion of women having their first birth at 30 to 34 years of age increased threefold, the proportion of women 35 to 39 years old increased sevenfold, and the proportion of women 40 years of age and older increased tenfold.
During that period, the overall c-section rates more than doubled. For each 5-year increase in a woman's age, after the age of 16 years, the odds of c-section rose by 49 percent, the investigators report. In addition, with each 5-year interval, the duration of labor rose by 30 minutes.
The authors estimate that if no change in the age distribution had occurred during the study period, 38 percent of the increase in c-sections would have been avoided.
Laboratory testing was performed on muscle tissue from the lining of the uterus of 62 women who had planned to have a c-section. As noted, with increasing maternal age, irregular uterine muscle activity increased as well.
"As more women delay childbirth, it is essential that we fully understand the effects of age on childbirth if we are to impact on rising rates of intervention in pregnancy," Smith emphasized.
-- Reuters
Older moms-to-be more likely to have c-sections
Fri, Jul 25, 2008 (Reuters Health) — The increase in the rates of cesarean sections reported by many countries appears to be associated, in part, with more and more women deciding to have children later in life, according to a report in the current issue of PLoS Medicine.
In the study, laboratory testing showed that as maternal age increases, the ability of the smooth muscle of the uterus to contract slows down, which is thought to slow the progression of labor, thereby increasing the likelihood of c-section.
"These findings clearly indicate that the association between advanced age and poor outcome in labor is likely to reflect a biological effect of aging on the uterus," lead author Dr. Gordon C. S. Smith, from Cambridge University in the UK, said in a statement.
Smith and colleagues base their conclusions on an analysis of data from 583,843 women entered into a Scottish database from 1980 to 2005.
During the full study period, the proportion of women having their first birth at 30 to 34 years of age increased threefold, the proportion of women 35 to 39 years old increased sevenfold, and the proportion of women 40 years of age and older increased tenfold.
During that period, the overall c-section rates more than doubled. For each 5-year increase in a woman's age, after the age of 16 years, the odds of c-section rose by 49 percent, the investigators report. In addition, with each 5-year interval, the duration of labor rose by 30 minutes.
The authors estimate that if no change in the age distribution had occurred during the study period, 38 percent of the increase in c-sections would have been avoided.
Laboratory testing was performed on muscle tissue from the lining of the uterus of 62 women who had planned to have a c-section. As noted, with increasing maternal age, irregular uterine muscle activity increased as well.
"As more women delay childbirth, it is essential that we fully understand the effects of age on childbirth if we are to impact on rising rates of intervention in pregnancy," Smith emphasized.
-- Reuters
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Final week
This should be my final week reporting to work. By next week, I will be in my 38.5 week, so will be taking some leave before my EDD to stay home. Already, my tummy is frightfully huge (according to ppl's comments) and hanging quite low. Wednesday I'm due to see Dolly again for my now weekly checkup. So very few more real working days. Over the weekend, we finally managed to see all the laundry done, in preperation to pack for the hospital bag and her pending arrival.
Strangely, my boss sms me last night to ask me come in early for a section meeting at 8.15am this morning. My first reaction was to scratch my head, since I'm already counting down the days to my long break. But ok lor, haha since she thinks my contribution is so important I had to attend the meeting, and since I am still afterall drawing their pay today, I reported in early today for the meeting.
A friend commented that my pregnancy seemed tough from my blog, and this caught me by surprise. I'm actually quite thankful my pregnancy went on relatively smoothly thus far. I experienced minimal morning sickness, and only a bit (less than 5 times) of the notorious calf cramps. No instability like bleeding, etc thank Heavens. Aside from the cursed PUPPPS, which was under control for a while by pills. I have to say, it came back after i stopped the pills a number of days. So I'm back to taking them until I deliver. I have to say though, the pregnancy was smooth enough for me not to fear the next pregnancy. Can't say the same about the labour though! Already I'm fearing the labour, and whether I will need emergency c-sect, and what kind of torture recovery might be, esp if i'm given a needy newborn. But all those things are quite beyond my control now. So will just have to hope for the best =)
Strangely, my boss sms me last night to ask me come in early for a section meeting at 8.15am this morning. My first reaction was to scratch my head, since I'm already counting down the days to my long break. But ok lor, haha since she thinks my contribution is so important I had to attend the meeting, and since I am still afterall drawing their pay today, I reported in early today for the meeting.
A friend commented that my pregnancy seemed tough from my blog, and this caught me by surprise. I'm actually quite thankful my pregnancy went on relatively smoothly thus far. I experienced minimal morning sickness, and only a bit (less than 5 times) of the notorious calf cramps. No instability like bleeding, etc thank Heavens. Aside from the cursed PUPPPS, which was under control for a while by pills. I have to say, it came back after i stopped the pills a number of days. So I'm back to taking them until I deliver. I have to say though, the pregnancy was smooth enough for me not to fear the next pregnancy. Can't say the same about the labour though! Already I'm fearing the labour, and whether I will need emergency c-sect, and what kind of torture recovery might be, esp if i'm given a needy newborn. But all those things are quite beyond my control now. So will just have to hope for the best =)
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Full Term - the final leg
Week 37 marks baby Tanya's full term. This means that should she decide to pop by to say Hi to all of us early, she can survive pretty well on her own without needing intensive or additional care compared to any other new born. It also means I'm now seeing the gynea on a weekly basis. There's really nothing much to be done but for us to await her pending arrival. Update from gynea is that she is head down but yet to engage. This of course gives us a huge reminder to faster finish all the stuff we have yet to do, eg set up the cot, wash her clothes and towels and blankets (still undone at week 37). But of course, if history (from my mum and sis) is anything to go by, Tanya may just come by 2 weeks late. Both my sis' boys were delivered in their42nd week, in fact, the firstborn had to be induce when he showed no sign of wanting to leave the womb even at 42 weeks. hehe... me and my sis were late too, preferring to stay in our mummy's tummy longer. So can't help but suspect Tanya might decide to do the same. Hope she decides to come by on her own before 42 weeks though, as I would prefer not to induce. and pls pls, no C-section, can? X-fingers...
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Week 36
In a blink of an eye, I'm one week short of full term. The pending labour is definitely more real now and becoming more scary. At the same time, I'm also counting down to my rest time at home =) can't wait for that to start for sure.
Mid autumn festival happens in a couple of weeks. Already we have consumed more than one box of mooncakes. Inevitable given my crazy snack cravings. My home is now stocked with cookies and chocolates from Marks and Spencer or Royce and even durian cakes, and of course mooncakes. This year was the most mooncakes we ever bought. 5 boxes in total, 3 are traditional, 2 are snowskin durian mooncakes. Of course some were given to both side parents. This is also the first time we bought durian mooncakes; but bo pian lor. Once I tried the yummy durian paste, I just couldn't resist :( I've also pigged out many times on fast food and restaurants, given our soon to be limited couple dating time. Even indulged a few times on taboo food like coffee and sashimi :( I really hope baby Tanya only absorbs the good stuff!
Mid autumn festival happens in a couple of weeks. Already we have consumed more than one box of mooncakes. Inevitable given my crazy snack cravings. My home is now stocked with cookies and chocolates from Marks and Spencer or Royce and even durian cakes, and of course mooncakes. This year was the most mooncakes we ever bought. 5 boxes in total, 3 are traditional, 2 are snowskin durian mooncakes. Of course some were given to both side parents. This is also the first time we bought durian mooncakes; but bo pian lor. Once I tried the yummy durian paste, I just couldn't resist :( I've also pigged out many times on fast food and restaurants, given our soon to be limited couple dating time. Even indulged a few times on taboo food like coffee and sashimi :( I really hope baby Tanya only absorbs the good stuff!
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