MY PREGNANCY - WEEK 25

Your Baby.

• Fetal size: 22cm (8.8 inches). Fetal weight: 680 grams (1.5 pounds)

• Your baby continues to develop and mature. Its brain begins to form connections between the nerve cells and fibre ends. This process continues for a few weeks, while a basis is created for the relay of the sensory messages that signal consciousness in adults.

Your Pregnancy.

• Your uterus has grown quite a bit and you are getting noticeably bigger - in front and on the sides of your abdomen. Different people carry their babies in different ways, so don’t be concerned if your shape is different to that of other pregnant women.

• If you are uncomfortable when sleeping, try lying on your side. This ensures optimum blood circulation for you and your baby, particularly if you lie on your left side.

• You may be experiencing pain under your ribs when your baby moves. Your growing baby is placing a lot of pressure on your bowel, bladder and other organs. Unfortunately there isn’t a great deal you can do to relieve the pain and discomfort except lie on your side and rest. If the pain becomes too much, discuss it with your health care professional.

• If your urine is tested, it is possible it may contain small amounts of sugar, even if you aren’t a diabetic. This is because your sugar levels change during pregnancy and the kidneys will ensure that any excess sugar is expelled from your body in your urine. At around the end of the second trimester you may have a routine screening for diabetes.

Hah! I got my Obstetrics report back! It is so nice and reassuring to know that everything is going to be fine.? The baby weight and length is fine, the bone structures are fine, the 4 chamber heart are doing fine too. You can read the report if you click on the link below:

- Obs scan report

They use some tough words don’t they?!! I have done some research on the net and maybe this gives a better clarification on what the report is really all about!

Humeri - Shoulder Joints
Ventricles?- one of four connected cavities in the brain; is continuous with the central canal of the spinal cord and contains cerebrospinal fluid
Orbit - the bony cavity in the skull containing the eyeball
Cerebellum -?a major division of the vertebrate brain; situated above the medulla oblongata and beneath the cerebrum in humans
Femur Length - the longest and thickest bone of the human skeleton; extends from the pelvis to the knee
Renal pelvis?- The area at the center of the kidney. Urine collects here and is funneled into the ureter
Placenta Praevia - A placenta implanted near the outlet of the uterus, so that at the time of delivery the placenta precedes the baby. Placenta praevia can cause painless bleeding in the last third of pregnancy, and may be a reason for a C-section. I had a “No” meaning, the placenta is doing good.
I am feeling oh so good. No headache, no vomitting, no tiredness, loves cleaning, everything is great! The baby is really kicking. Not hard but obvious enough to make me wanna wake up and get things running. Every single movement he makes, I can feel. It is such a wonderful feeling. He is usually active in the morning, when I just woke up and had my glass of milk and when I am at my bed, reading some pregnancy magazines or books. I think he is also very interested in reading what I am reading. hehehehe.
Jan told me yesterday that he has read a book and that book taught him to how to deliver this baby in case of emergency. He demostrated every single move. It is pretty scary I would say. I am so glad that Singapore is such a tiny island and taxi companies are so reliable. He even demostrated how he would remove the umbilical cord if it is caught in the baby’s neck.

I think I will be fine….

MY PREGNANCY - WEEK 24

Your Baby.

• Fetal size: 21cm (8.4 inches). Fetal weight: 530 grams (1.2 pounds).

• Your baby continues to gain weight. Development is occurring in the brain, growth and increase in size of the kidneys, lungs and gastrointestinal tract (gut).

Your Pregnancy.

• Feeling your baby move - you first becomes aware of your baby’s movements some time between Weeks 16 and 20. Initially the movements feel like little “flutters”, as your baby is small and floats in the amniotic fluid. As your baby grows, the movements become stronger and more pronounced. The baby will develop its own movement pattern and will have periods of activity followed by more quiet periods. These movements are a good sign that the baby is healthy, so any obvious reduction in movement should be reported to your health care professional.

• Car safety - it is important to wear a seat belt during pregnancy, and to place the belt across the thighs and above the tummy, rather than across the middle of the tummy. This will prevent any undue pressure on the baby if you are involved in an accident.

• Nipples - during pregnancy your nipples may become darker and more prominent. There is no advice that has been proven to prepare nipples for breastfeeding, however it is advisable to become familiar with your breasts and nipples. Later in pregnancy you should try to express a little colostrum and rub this into your nipples. If you think that you may have retracted or inverted nipples, it is best to seek advice from your health care professional.

• Breastfeeding - it is recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that babies be breastfed for the first 12 months of life. Breastfeeding is best for the baby, even if it is only for a short period. Breast milk is nutritionally perfect for babies and is already at the right temperature. It provides everything a baby needs in exactly the right proportions for the first six months of life, and from then up to the age of two years in combination with solids.

  Breast milk is proven to help reduce the risks of your baby developing allergies, asthma, eczema and diabetes later in life. Breastfeeding may also help to prevent cot death. Another advantage of breastfeeding is that it releases hormones that encourage the uterus to shrink back to its original size more quickly. Furthermore, it also uses a considerable amount of calories, helping to use up extra fat stores that were built up in pregnancy. Consequently your figure is more easily returned to normal following birth.

  Deciding whether or not to breastfeed is a personal decision and your decision that you need to feel comfortable with. Whatever your decision it will be respected.

  Establishing breastfeeding requires patience and practice. Some women have no problems, while others can develop difficulties, although these are usually short term. Midwives and lactation consultants are available to help you to establish breastfeeding. Once established, breastfeeding becomes even easier and is very convenient.

MY PREGNANCY - WEEK 23

Your Baby.

• Fetal size: 20cm(8 inches). Fetal weight: 455 grams (1 pound). Your baby matures, and starts to get a bit plumper.

• Your baby’s body and face start to resemble the appearance of a newborn baby.

• The pancreas develops further this week, enabling the production of insulin, which metabolises sugar.

Your Pregnancy.

• Your abdomen is looking rounder this week! Normal weight gain for the weeks up to and including Week 23 is between 4 and 7 kg (10 and 15 pounds).

• As your uterus grows, it will put more and more pressure on your bladder, to the point that you may leak small amounts of urine from time to time. Using panty liners or pads will help. Urinary tract infections are also more common during pregnancy. Symptoms include frequent urination, a burning or tingling sensation while urinating, and feeling as though you need to urinate, but with no success. If you are concerned, ask your health care professional to check your urine.

• Emotional swings are normal during pregnancy. If yours haven’t improved, don’t worry. There’s not much you can do to avoid moodiness when your hormones are in control! Talk to your partner about how you feel and re-assure them that outbursts are not always intentional.

MY PREGNANCY - WEEK 22

Your Baby.

• Fetal size: 19cm (7.6 inches) in length. Fetal weight: 350 grams (12.25 ounces).

• Your baby is getting bigger as each day passes. Eyelids and eyebrows and fingernails are developed. Organs are developing to perform their particular functions.

• Your baby starts to build an immune system to act as a natural defence against infection. In addition, he/she will begin to produce and store fatty tissue to produce body heat and keep warm. This fatty layer (called brown fat) starts to build up on different parts of the body, and continues to do so until your baby is born. The skin is growing and is protected from the amniotic fluid by a waxy layer (called Vernix). Until your baby develops more fat under the skin, it will remain red and wrinkly. The body is still covered with a fine layer of hair. Baby teeth have been formed and are waiting in the gums. Your baby can now taste and can tell the difference between sweet and bitter.

• Your baby starts to move more, becoming more coordinated as muscles develop and strength increases. He/she can now turn and stretch. These movements will build muscle, strengthen bones and improve motor skills, but they may also make your abdomen sore! Your baby will also respond to outside pressure on your abdomen and may move as a result of this. Your baby’s heartbeat can be heard using a stethoscope.

• The sex organs are distinctive and you may be able to tell the sex of your baby during an ultrasound.

Your Pregnancy.

• This is a comfortable point in your pregnancy. You are visibly pregnant, but you will not yet be as uncomfortable as you might become later in your pregnancy. You can still walk, bend over and sit easily, so right now (and over the next few weeks) is a good time to start (or finish off!) all your shopping for the baby, and finalise any hard work on that nursery! Make sure you don’t get up on any ladders, and have someone else do the painting for you.

• You should still be drinking lots of fluids (preferably water), to help your body make up the extra blood volume required during pregnancy. More fluid may also help if you are experiencing headaches. If your urine is nearly clear, you know your fluid intake is good.

• Varicose veins are a common complaint during pregnancy. Varicose veins can be made worse by pregnancy and standing for extended periods of time. Varicose veins are blood vessels that fill up with blood, and in most cases they become worse as your pregnancy progresses. Varicose veins will appear as a blue to purple blemish on the legs, or bulging veins.

• Abdominal muscles are stretching and being pushed apart by your growing baby. You may notice abdominal muscle separation when you are lying down - it will look like there is a bulge in the middle of your abdomen. As your abdomen stretches, your skin also expands. This may cause skin irritation and itching, which can be relieved by applying a lotion.

MY PREGNANCY - WEEK 21

Your Baby.

• Fetal size: 18 cm (7.2 inches). Fetal weight 300 grams (10.5 ounces).

• Your baby has been growing rapidly, but over the last week and during this week, growth slows down and your baby continues to develop and mature in other ways while continuing to gain weight. At 21 weeks, your baby can swallow amniotic fluid. Your baby absorbs the water from the fluid, while any other matter is pushed through to the bowel by the muscle movements of the small intestine. The first bowel movement your baby passes will contain the undigested matter from the swallowed amniotic fluid. This green-black or brown matter (called meconium) will be passed during, or soon after birth.

Your Pregnancy.

• Normal weight gain up to and including week 21 is between 3.6 and 6.3 kg (8-14 pounds). The outward signs are there and people will really notice that you are pregnant.

• You should really notice your baby’s movements by now.

• You may begin to see stretch marks on your abdomen and breasts, and you may also notice tiny red marks on your face or arms. Stretch marks should fade after birth and the red lines should disappear altogether. Another pregnancy symptom you may experience is leg swelling, especially if you have been on your feet for most of the day. Try to rest and put your legs up at some point during the day.

• Now is the time to review your exercise program. Your size will affect your balance and mobility, so you should think about avoiding team contact sports such as netball, basketball, softball and volleyball. Try swimming, walking and yoga instead.

• Heartburn and constipation are common complaints during pregnancy, and you may experience shortness of breath. You may also notice that your gums become spongier.

Trip to the doctor again. This time I feel so much better and I am soon reaching 5 months pregnant. Yippee! 4 more months and I and Jan will have our own family.? The baby likes to move it’s tiny feet a lot and I can feel he kicks quite a bit. But not hard kicks. The best feeling a mother to be can ever feels. Check out the ultrasound movie below!!

- Ultrasound scan

I had quite a number of cramps for the last few days and I still don’t feel better. I have problems getting up from sitting on the toilet and even bending to wash my face, i have cramps. I am getting really worried. Doctor gave me Diazepam and it helps me to relax alot but still I am not feeling better.

I went to see Dr Tan again today. I have problems walking even to the lobby of the hospital.? He did an ultrasound and the baby didn’t move much.? Maybe the baby is tired. Doctor asked me to stay in bed again for another week and hopefully by them I feel better. He gave me some Salbutamol and Diazepam and sent me home to rest.

Instead of going home to rest, I decide to come with Jan to gym. I just wanna say hello and chat a little bit with the wonderful and supporting staffs. I walked for an hour, window shopping and decided to stop for coffee at Starbucks with Jan after his gym workout. I have the need to pee so much even though i didn’t drink alot today.

Then something happened. Something bad! I was bleeding. Quite a bit. Dripping. I freaked out. I got out of the cubicle slowly and with a pale and nervous face, walked towards Jan. He knew something was wrong. I told him I am bleeding and we go straight to the emergency clinic at Gleneagles Hospital.

The nurse took my blood pressure and within mins, Dr Tan came in and asked me to lay on the bed. He checked my tummy and baby and saw more blood and he admitted me to the hospital. Jan and me got really scared and I was shaking so bad. We wanted to have this baby so bad and I cannot believe this happened.

Dr Tan told us that my placenta is seperated from the womb and this caused bleeding. If I bleed even more, I need blood transfusion and worse case, baby needs to be delivered straight away.? Dr Tan wants me to stay in hospital so that he could checked up on me as many times he possibly can and also in case of emergency, the medical supplies and doctors are on hand. For more information on placenta abruptio, please visit this website: http://health.discovery.com/encyclopedias/2077.html

I eventually stayed at Gleneagles Hospital for 4 days, from sat till tues. I stopped bleeding the next day and I was not allow to even go to the toilet. Not even stepped out of the bed. I peed on the bed pan and i brush? my teeth and wipe myself clean on the bed. I felt so helpless. I am so blessed that Jan took few days leave and accompany me in hospital all times. He helped me with the bedpan and buying food and making my stay in hospital as comfortable as possible. I love that guy to death!