Wow it's been quite a long time since I last blogged. Been really busy at work but thankfully the peak period is almost over!
Baby M is at Week 31 now. I realised my gynae package, though cheap, is quite bo hua (not worth it) because the number of visits are not a lot, plus some of my friends' packages include meds but mine don't.
Anyway nowadays I feel ok, just more easily tired, plus my water retention is really bad. That day my feet were so swollen and my dog jumped onto my foot and I yelped in pain. It really hurts quite bad. Been trying to sleep with my legs propped up and occasionally the swelling subsides, but after one whole day at work it comes back. Even my fingers are swollen too.
We've finished buying all the big items for baby - stroller, changing station, playpen, baby seat, carseat, bouncer, carrier - all for $956! We bought at baby fair in December. Now it's the small stuff left and I have about 9 weeks to finish my shopping!
Have also thought of packing my hospital bag but a bit too lazy to start hehe.
Monday, December 22, 2014
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Gynae package + mummy's insurance
So I forgot to add that after my detailed scan, my gynae finally made me sign the package. My gynae's package is $600 ($642 including GST) and includes scans, ultrasound photos, urine test. No meds or vitamins though. Anyway nowadays I've only been getting calcium pills from my gynae, I've been getting my multi-vitamins and fish oils from Watsons or Guardians.
So now the baby kicks rather regularly. Sometimes he would kick during the day, more often at night. There have been times when I've been woken up at 6am by his kicks but I still love it. Feeling the baby's kicks/movements is one of the greatest, most miraculous joys of pregnancy. I have this little trick of changing sides when I am lying down so as to feel him kick. I would lie down on my right side for about 5-10 mins and after that switch sides. Usually the baby responds. :)
I read online that it is better to sleep on your left side rather than your right as the right side is where the inferior vena cava is (that's the artery that carries oxygenated blood to the baby). Been sleeping a lot on my left sometimes the entire night. It is not the most comfortable sleeping position (imagine staying on the same side throughout the night) so sometimes I will sleep on my back but that is somewhat uncomfortable too. Ah well, 3 more months to go!
I bought an insurance plan for myself (during pregnancy and childbirth) and the baby (up to 3 years old) from OCBC. It is the only plan (I think) in the market that does not come with an ILP. It protects mothers from 8 pregnancy complications, protects the baby from 18 congenital diseases and covers certain hospitalisation (eg. from dengue) for the baby up to 3 years old. Of course, the coverage is not much, for the $659 plan (which is the one I took up), you are only paid $5000 in the event of pregnancy complications. It is not a lot, but definitely better than nothing? And of course, everyone buys such plans with the hope of never putting it to the test or utilising it. The plan is called MaxMaternity Care and they let me purchase although I am not an existing OCBC customer, but the condition is that I have to open the CDA account for the baby with OCBC.
Well, just sharing in case some mummies are looking for something like that :)
So now the baby kicks rather regularly. Sometimes he would kick during the day, more often at night. There have been times when I've been woken up at 6am by his kicks but I still love it. Feeling the baby's kicks/movements is one of the greatest, most miraculous joys of pregnancy. I have this little trick of changing sides when I am lying down so as to feel him kick. I would lie down on my right side for about 5-10 mins and after that switch sides. Usually the baby responds. :)
I read online that it is better to sleep on your left side rather than your right as the right side is where the inferior vena cava is (that's the artery that carries oxygenated blood to the baby). Been sleeping a lot on my left sometimes the entire night. It is not the most comfortable sleeping position (imagine staying on the same side throughout the night) so sometimes I will sleep on my back but that is somewhat uncomfortable too. Ah well, 3 more months to go!
I bought an insurance plan for myself (during pregnancy and childbirth) and the baby (up to 3 years old) from OCBC. It is the only plan (I think) in the market that does not come with an ILP. It protects mothers from 8 pregnancy complications, protects the baby from 18 congenital diseases and covers certain hospitalisation (eg. from dengue) for the baby up to 3 years old. Of course, the coverage is not much, for the $659 plan (which is the one I took up), you are only paid $5000 in the event of pregnancy complications. It is not a lot, but definitely better than nothing? And of course, everyone buys such plans with the hope of never putting it to the test or utilising it. The plan is called MaxMaternity Care and they let me purchase although I am not an existing OCBC customer, but the condition is that I have to open the CDA account for the baby with OCBC.
Well, just sharing in case some mummies are looking for something like that :)
Monday, November 10, 2014
Our baby journey - Pregnancy Myths & Old Wives' Tales
I feel that I am a very scientific person. I am agreeable to a lot of things, only if they have been scientifically proven to make sense. Those things that have no logic, I refuse to listen to and so here are a list of myths/old wives' tales that I've heard about pregnancy so far but have disregarded.
Myth #1: No cold drinks or food
This is quite nonsense. I've been eating iced ching tng, drinking coke, soft drinks, ribena, iced milo and eating ice cream like countless times throughout this pregnancy. So far so good. The fact is, by the time the cold water travels down your oesophagus and to your tummy, it is already warmed up. I salute those women who can tahan (endure) not drinking cold drinks in Singapore's crazy weather.
Myth #2: Do not consume cooling foods
Erm I haven't been following this as well. In fact during the first trimester I drank quite a bit of grass jelly (I prefer that to soya bean). Even now, I am still eating a slice of watermelon every day. I believe that in everything, moderation is key. Just don't go swallowing the entire watermelon. In fact, westerners advocate eating watermelon for its high water content.
Myth #3: If your stomach is round, it's a girl and if it is pointy, it's a boy
In the first place, I've never seen a pointy stomach. Secondly, many people commented that my belly was round...but I am still having a baby boy.
Myth #4: Take more tonics to 补 your body
I don't believe in TCM so much, which is ironic given that both my uncle and aunt are TCM Practitioners. I just feel that there are a lot of unknowns about TCM that I would rather not take the risk. I don't take ginseng (scientifically proven to be bad for the foetus), nor bird's nest. Also all the other herbs like Danggui or whatever. The only thing I would possibly willingly eat is probably Chicken's Essence, and that's because I like the taste of Chicken Essence. Hehe
These are all I can think of for now. I will update if there are more! Hope this entry helps to put some mummies' hearts at ease (especially if you thought you've committed the unforgivable crime of eating watermelon)! :)
Myth #1: No cold drinks or food
This is quite nonsense. I've been eating iced ching tng, drinking coke, soft drinks, ribena, iced milo and eating ice cream like countless times throughout this pregnancy. So far so good. The fact is, by the time the cold water travels down your oesophagus and to your tummy, it is already warmed up. I salute those women who can tahan (endure) not drinking cold drinks in Singapore's crazy weather.
Myth #2: Do not consume cooling foods
Erm I haven't been following this as well. In fact during the first trimester I drank quite a bit of grass jelly (I prefer that to soya bean). Even now, I am still eating a slice of watermelon every day. I believe that in everything, moderation is key. Just don't go swallowing the entire watermelon. In fact, westerners advocate eating watermelon for its high water content.
Myth #3: If your stomach is round, it's a girl and if it is pointy, it's a boy
In the first place, I've never seen a pointy stomach. Secondly, many people commented that my belly was round...but I am still having a baby boy.
Myth #4: Take more tonics to 补 your body
I don't believe in TCM so much, which is ironic given that both my uncle and aunt are TCM Practitioners. I just feel that there are a lot of unknowns about TCM that I would rather not take the risk. I don't take ginseng (scientifically proven to be bad for the foetus), nor bird's nest. Also all the other herbs like Danggui or whatever. The only thing I would possibly willingly eat is probably Chicken's Essence, and that's because I like the taste of Chicken Essence. Hehe
These are all I can think of for now. I will update if there are more! Hope this entry helps to put some mummies' hearts at ease (especially if you thought you've committed the unforgivable crime of eating watermelon)! :)
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Our baby journey - Detailed scan
Two days ago, we went for our detailed scan at Mt Alvernia Hospital. We were naturally very excited because we were about to find out whether we belonged to Team Pink or Blue.
Our appointment was at 10.30am, so we reached right on the dot, informed the counter staff who gave me a queue number. It was indicated on the number slip that the waiting time was about an hour so the hubs and I went to grab some food at the cafe. After which, we went down to Basement 1 to wait again and soon it was our turn.
First thing the hubs told the radiologist (or whatever you call those people who do the ultrasound scans for you), was that we wanted to know the gender. She replied, sure she'll take a look and soon enough as she was scanning, she saw the penis hahaha and informed us it's a boy! Team Blue!
She then went on to take photos of the baby's four limbs (both upper and lower portion), abdomen, heart, brain, kidneys, spine, foetal profile, eyes, nose and lips. She said the fingers and toes are too small to count but we did manage to see them and they looked perfect! Overall she said baby is healthy which was a huge huge relief for us. The scan took about 45 mins (depending on how cooperative your baby is).
She said she would send the photos back to my gynae and he will review them with me at my next visit, which is this Friday. :)
Meanwhile, the hubs had already posted our baby's penis on Facebook for the world to see. -_-"
Now the important thing is to think of a name for him! :)
Our appointment was at 10.30am, so we reached right on the dot, informed the counter staff who gave me a queue number. It was indicated on the number slip that the waiting time was about an hour so the hubs and I went to grab some food at the cafe. After which, we went down to Basement 1 to wait again and soon it was our turn.
First thing the hubs told the radiologist (or whatever you call those people who do the ultrasound scans for you), was that we wanted to know the gender. She replied, sure she'll take a look and soon enough as she was scanning, she saw the penis hahaha and informed us it's a boy! Team Blue!
She then went on to take photos of the baby's four limbs (both upper and lower portion), abdomen, heart, brain, kidneys, spine, foetal profile, eyes, nose and lips. She said the fingers and toes are too small to count but we did manage to see them and they looked perfect! Overall she said baby is healthy which was a huge huge relief for us. The scan took about 45 mins (depending on how cooperative your baby is).
She said she would send the photos back to my gynae and he will review them with me at my next visit, which is this Friday. :)
Meanwhile, the hubs had already posted our baby's penis on Facebook for the world to see. -_-"
Now the important thing is to think of a name for him! :)
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Our baby journey - The essential fish oil
The fish oil my gynae gave me has finally finished. The clinic charged me $70 for each bottle, which lasted me exactly one month.
So I went to get my own and this brand came very highly recommended.
So I went to get my own and this brand came very highly recommended.
I like that I only have to take one capsule a day, instead of two capsules which the one my gynae gave me required me to take. This brand also has quite low EPA which is good.
This small little bottle contains 30 capsules, which also lasts me an entire month, but this bottle only costs $45.50 (from Watsons).
So I saved $24.50 every month. *beams* (It's even cheaper from hospital pharmacies I think)
I just googled it and realised this is a malaysian brand but online there are quite a number of mothers who recommended this so I shall just stick to it for now.
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Week 22 - the baby kicked!
Well, I suppose the baby has been kicking all along, just that I couldn't really feel it up to now.
It happened 2 days ago, when I woke up at 4.30am to go to the bathroom. When I got back to bed, it took me a while before I fell asleep. I felt it then, twice. It didn't feel like any of those things that people described online, not really butterflies fluttering etc, but more like a punch or a kick from inside my womb.
I placed my hand on my tummy and then I felt it, again. My hand moved together with my tummy and I smiled. I have been waiting for this day. I realised that I don't feel it very often, I can only feel it when I am lying in bed at night, or have been in the same position for a while (e.g. sitting on the bus).
It's awesome to feel the baby move. More awesome that we will be finding out the gender of the little one this coming Saturday!
It happened 2 days ago, when I woke up at 4.30am to go to the bathroom. When I got back to bed, it took me a while before I fell asleep. I felt it then, twice. It didn't feel like any of those things that people described online, not really butterflies fluttering etc, but more like a punch or a kick from inside my womb.
I placed my hand on my tummy and then I felt it, again. My hand moved together with my tummy and I smiled. I have been waiting for this day. I realised that I don't feel it very often, I can only feel it when I am lying in bed at night, or have been in the same position for a while (e.g. sitting on the bus).
It's awesome to feel the baby move. More awesome that we will be finding out the gender of the little one this coming Saturday!
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Food Review #17 - Dal In Korean Restaurant
Ever since I got pregnant, I've been eating quite a lot of Korean BBQ. The hubs love it but honestly I would be fine if I don't see another piece of grilled meat in front of me ever again.
Yesterday the hubs had craving for Korean bulgogi so I googled a bit and found Dal In Korean Restaurant at Boon Tat Street, so off we went!
The restaurant had some gas issues so we were escorted by one of the bosses I presume, to the second outlet, which offers BBQ~~~~ (sigh). The hubs was really tempted to go for the BBQ but I was insistent about not eating anymore BBQ food, it can't be good for the baby!
So we ordered ala carte items and the food was absolutely delicious!
This is the pork bulgogi which was decent, but we also ordered the beef which I forgot to take a pic of. The beef was fantastic. Highly recommended!
Also in the pic are the banchans (side dishes) which were refillable. The beancurd skin and kimchi and potato shreds were yummy!
My favourite! Kimchi soup! It came piping hot and it was really spicy but tasted super authentic! I loved this and their kimchi soup would probably be the yardstick I use to measure all kimchi soups henceforth!
All dinner orders came with a steamed egg which was so fluffy and soft and juicy and the portion was huge so definitely enough for two!
All in all, I would highly recommend Dal In to people looking for authentic Korean food! Prices are average, one beef bulgogi, pork bulgogi and kimchi soup (plus one extra white rice and a can of coke) set us back by about $53. The restaurant is small so reservations are recommended. You will see a lot of Koreans there as well, and to me, that is proof of how authentic the restaurant is.
The hubs and I were really impressed with the food and we vowed to return to try their BBQ one day. :)
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