Another amusing thing about being heavily pregnant... I get to scare people with my tummy! Especially little kids heheh.
The one and only time I went swimming during pregnancy, I was floating on my back when from the corner of my eye I saw a little boy standing by the poolside, transfixed. He was staring at my tummy sticking out from the water and bobbing up and down, probably wondering what it was. I smiled at him and he ran away.
These few months such incidents have become more frequent. I noticed little children gaping at my tummy, and sometimes adults also stare. So rude hor. My tummy really very big meh???
Then how come there are still 'blind' people who can don't notice and bang into me :s
At my final gynae visit last night, Dr. John Tee said that Boy Boy would be arriving this weekend. Latest latest Monday morning, which is when he has slotted us to prick my water bag if Boy Boy still doesn't come.
He reached this conclusion after doing a cervix examination for me. Which BTW, hurts like hell! He literally stuffed his fingers into my cervix and managed to stick 2 fingers in. I.E. 2cm dilated. Apparently the nurses at KK will continue to do that when I am in labour, to gauge how many cm my cervix has opened and whether I can start pushing the baby out.
Okaaaaaay... I was totally not prepared for this 'molestation', but I guess it's necessary. Like my MIL says, after women give birth, they become super thick-skinned already, because they have been so 'exposed'. Haha! Anyway I took revenge on Dr. Tee by grabbing and squeezing his other arm like crazy to relieve my pain ;)
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Now that Boy Boy isreally coming, my mix of anticipation and apprehension have really come to a peak. Can't wait to start the next phase of my life, yet very worried about the labour process, my health recovery, baby's health, and whether I will be a good parent.
It's also time to take stock of what I've experienced this past 10 months, which frankly speaking, seemed to have passed by so very quickly. I think I will be very un-used to the feeling of having no movements in my tummy.
Being pregnant has made me talk to strangers more often. Or rather, reply to them when they chat me up about my pregnancy. Aunties from random passers-by to shop-owners have queried me about the gender of my baby, and offered their analyses of whether the baby has reached the 'engaged' position in my pelvis. Quite amusing if you think about it.
Pregnancy has also made me realise that I'm more important to some people than I expected. Like the girlfriends who popped in with homemade cheese cakes to relieve my cravings when they saw it mentioned on Facebook.
My mother's sister also visited for the first time. She bought so many baby accessories from Philips Avent for us, although she has been retrenched and the items are not cheap. Also prepared lots of herbal wines and bee hoon for my confinement nanny to use for cooking.
It's really a cocktail of emotions. Don't really know what else to write. I'm sure there'll be more to say once I start on the parenting roadtrip next week. EEPS!!!! IT'S JUST NEXT WEEK!!!!!!
Ending off with a CTG recording of Boy Boy's heartbeat done last night at gynae's. Gynae says he is very active ;)
Since my pregnancy, I've gained a total of 20kg. Horrors!!! I hope I'll be able to lose the whole lot.
Since my pregnancy, Hubby has gained a total of 10kg. Which is good, since he was too skinny before that. All thanks to the rigours of teaching students who make him want to pull his hair out.
What is not good, is that I am 'entitled' to cravings and greediness at this point in time. Hubby, however, has 'strange' cravings that make him want to pig out as well. Sometimes this pregnant woman has to accompany him to satisfy his cravings, instead of the other way round.
He also eats into my stash of tid-bits, fruit juice and other trash food like canned lychees. Which leaves my cravings unfulfilled at times.
Haha! I think it's just an excuse for Hubby to pig out. He keeps reiterating that he is 'showing support' to me by being gluttony together with me ;) Interestingly, yesterday's ST Mind Your Body supplement had an article saying that people tend to eat as much as the person they are having the meal with.
Last night we went for dinner after our final gynae visit. It's like the proverbial Last Supper for me! Only confinement food after Boy Boy is out. So we sought out a Pizza Hut branch to try its new Pasta Perfetto.
Verdict: don't bother. Starting at $5.90 for plain pasta with veggies, the portions weren't even enough to fill our stomachs even with an added soup (which was watery) and drink.
So I ended up buying KFC home for supper. Finished off 2 pieces of chicken, a coleslaw, a mashed potato and a regular iced lemon tea all by myself. And I didn't even feel over-full.
And for breakfast this morning, I bought a huge slab of kaya cake, a huge slab of walnut cake, and a mini round pandan chiffon cake. Just because I felt like eating them. Don't care! Haha! Of course I managed to only consume the 1st item.
This is me at Ikea, pigging out on its chicken wings. Still lose to KFC.
My ET t-shirt has been with my throughout this pregnancy, being the only piece of clothing that can really stretch, is loose enough, and thin enough for me who's sweating like a pig. It has collected many 'battle scars', a record of how much I've been eating all this while.
My elder sis is always amused when she sees me wearing this tee. It looks like ET is pregnant!
With the birth of Boy Boy, I will be changing my blog access to privacy mode, so I can put up family photos without worrying about who's seeing them ;)
Which means I need to invite you before you can read my blog. So if you're reading my blog, let me know? Also which email address you want to log-in with, then I use that to invite you.
Copper is becoming more and more like a ninja cat. He is always so calm and stealthy (except for some crazy moments), watching and observing the on-goings from wherever he is perched. If you catch him staring and stare back, sometimes he will give a "mmm?" or a "yeowk!" as if to say "le kuah simi?"
Hubby and I have fun trying to catch him unaware and provoking this reaction ;) After being pregnant I've caught him a few times staring at my tummy. I think he must be wondering what illness Mummy is down with.
I would like to think of him as my guardian angel :) Sometimes when I'm napping on the sofa, Copper would come around and sniff at me, then put a paw on me as if to check "你没事吧？" If I react to him, he then goes away satisfied. Sometimes he would also insist on squeezing in and sleeping with me.
Nowadays Copper has also become rather sticky, preferring to follow and sit in the same room as me. As I'm typing this, he is sleeping at my feet. Not sure if it's because he can sense a baby coming i.e. insecurity... but I don't think the cats know I'm pregnant.
When Hubby goes to work in the mornings, Copper would also meow unceasingly outside my bedroom door, sometimes scratching at it vigorously. Hubby told me that one afternoon when I was napping in the bedroom, Copper sat at attention outside it for a whole 10 minutes before giving up!
There's a saying that the mother-and-daughter relationship is always a complicated one with love-hate dynamics. The daughter grows up so tied to the mother that there is a struggle to break free in adulthood, and the mother grabs on and must learn to let go. There is also a sort of unspoken rivalry, as daughter tries to show she is capable of living her own life, while mother tries to prove that she still knows best.
I am starting to see signs of the above, especially during this pregnancy period of mine. My mum has been confusing me with her actions, sometimes caring, but other times seemingly inconsiderate. I'm also beginning to see her as more of an individual with different facets, unlike in our childhood when our parents are forever so perfect ;)
I remember one Chinese New Year years back when I awoke bright and early and entered the kitchen, ready to join my Mum and her sisters in preparing the day's lunch. It was an annual ritual of sorts for them, and had been skipped for a few years. So I was really looking forward to helping out. Unexpectedly, I was chased out of the kitchen by Mum, who announced to everyone that I would just get in the way and mess things up. Crushed, I retreated to my bedroom tearing.
For me, that was a defining moment when I realised that I would not be forever welcomed in my own home. Kind of made me harden my heart and decide to live my own life.
During this pregnancy, Mum's consideration for the dog, over my safety, has become a sore point. Just the other day, she asked me over to her new place across the road, presumably to have lunch together, as well as to help her unpack. Note that at that moment, I was 2 weeks away from delivery.
When I reached her place, I was left alone to babysit the dog while Mum and Dad went grocery shopping. Apparently the dog was afraid of staying home alone in their new place. And so they needed someone else around.
Very good, leaving a super-heavily pregnant woman with a jumping, pouncing, full-length mongrel. I was lucky she settled down to sleep after a few pounces to my stomach.
Hubby was obviously upset when he heard about this. On hindsight I also wonder what my Mum was thinking. What if something had happened to me while I was alone with the dog?
Yet Mum has also been showing concern for me by passing me herbs and meat to cook, buying fruits and abalone and birds nest.
I have the feeling that our tug-of-war will escalate after Boy Boy's arrival, when I will refuse to bring him over to her place while the pouncing, barking dog is still there.
Very strange isn't it... the things that parents do?
Yes you heard right. But it's not what you're thinking.
The weather has been so hot lately, and coupled with my high pregnancy body temperature, I start to sweat even while I am taking my shower. So Hubby and I have settled into a routine to bathe only just before sleep, and hiding in our aircon bedroom after that.
But sometimes it is still a bit early, or we have to wait for our hair to dry after washing it. To kill time we used to read or play boardgames, but have exhausted our supply of boardgames --- became quite boring after a while.
After re-arranging our 'playroom' into Boy Boy's room, the TV was moved onto our platform bed as that was the only available space left. Hubby hence hit upon the idea of gaming in bed.
I had bought this pirated playstation system a few years ago from a dodgy pushcart uncle in Pearls' Centre. It cost me only about $49 and I coverted it because it contained the old-school arcade type games :D But somehow I never got around to playing it.
Do not be misled by the cover as I was. 76000 games in 1? Pui!!! It's basically about 20 games, repeated under different names. Ok lah, have to give the Ah Bengs credit for being creative with some of the names ;)
Hubby had played many of the games when he was younger, so now it's super irritating that he is beating me in many of them when we play 2-player rounds.
He has also dug up his old games, which surprising can be loaded into the pirated set. Haha! His game catridges were pirated too, so he made his own casings for them as a child.
My favourite game now is called 'Arithmetics', which is sort of a Maths competition game. The gorilla in the centre will give a number, say "67", and each player has to climb around the vines collecting numbers and +-etc in the correct order. The winner is the one who arrives at the answer first.
It gets quite challenging if you choose the Advanced setting where the answer is 3 figures, and there are positive and negative values.
Quite fun! But I should know better than to play against a Maths teacher. More or less forgot my multiplication tables already :6
Maybe women get more competitive when they are pregnant. A 'survival of the fittest' thingy.
I have friends who are pregnant at this same time as me, so we do discuss issues such as nutrition and how our foetuses are developing. I've come to realise that one big insecurity that mummies-to-be have, is that their foetus is not growing enough.
That is understandable, cos if the baby comes out too small or malnutritioned, it will have an impact on their future health. Not to mention incur a really high bill due to their NICU stay.
In my second trimester, I used to be paranoid and worry all the time about my tummy being too small. Whenever we pass another pregnant lady on the streets, I would ask Hubby, "Who wins?" i.e. whose tummy is bigger. My paranoia only ceased when his answer began to be "You", as my tummy grew exponentially.
Now, it feels (and unfortunately also looks) like a huge watermelon, so much so that instead of wondering if it's too small, I wonder when the baby will finally be willing to come out! Can't wait to be able to breathe properly again.
It just miffs me that during my conversations with other first-time preggies, some of them insist on putting me down to elevate themselves.
I share that my tummy is too big for my comfort, and they say "No lah it's small." I ponder aloud if a dimple pillow will work to prevent flat head, and they laugh at me condescendingly.
Hello, it's not like you've been through it already and know better than me. If I'm feeling a certain way, it's not up to you to decide whether it's valid or not. Cos it is indeed how I am feeling.
Some who have already had children also tend to talk-down and give instructions in an abrasive way. I try to give them the benefit of the doubt --- that they are trying to be helpful. Maybe when one becomes a mother, a nagging and no-buts tone creeps into the voice naturally!
Finally, my dim sum craving was fulfilled! After about a month ;)
Unlike the usual scenario where the hubby goes out in the middle of the night to satisfy his wife's food craving, Hubby needs his 'beauty sleep' or he can't function the next day. And that's why I end up 'postponing' my cravings. Haha, maybe the craving is not that desperate if it can be postponed in the first place.
Anyway, we ended up at Swee Choon on Jalan Besar Rd, where the food is cheap ($1 to $2+) and quite special. Although the variety is not wide, but I think the price is quite important in dim sum, else usually the bill can come to quite high. The two of us ordered until we exploded, and the bill was under $30.
Don't know if it's a case of 乐极生悲... We left the cafe very satisfied and shiok, but a few minutes later had a bad experience :(
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To whom it may concern,
I am writing in to complain about the unsafe driving of taxi number SHA301G.
I am currently more than 9 months pregnant. On the night of Saturday, 8 August, I was waiting with my husband to cross the small lane at the junction of Desker Road and Jalan Besar.
Due to my condition, we were very careful to make sure that vehicles parallel-parked on both sides were stationery before we stepped onto the road. The time was about 8.40pm, and the area was brightly lit because it was just in front of a bustling coffeeshop.
However, before we could cross, the taxi on our right suddenly reversed and rammed into the right side of my body. It then continued to drive out of the lot and away, without even stopping to check on me. Through the rear windscreen we could see the driver gesturing and chatting away with his passenger.
The driver had obviously not checked his rear view mirror before reversing. He was also totally unaware that he had hit someone. If he had checked, it was impossible to miss the two of us, as we had been standing there for at least a minute while waiting for passing traffic to clear.
I was fortunate that the impact threw me against my husband instead of onto the ground, cushioning the blow somewhat. Fellow pedestrians and some patrons at the coffeeshop witnessed the incident and were equally appalled. They agreed with us that the driver did not look before reversing.
The impact has aggravated my existing backache. I am also closely monitoring my baby's condition and reserve the right to hold the driver responsible if anything happens. I hope City Cab can take the relevant action against this driver and ensure that he is careful and does not endanger other lives again.
Since becoming pregnant, I've been reading up on motherhood forums and chatting with friends who have been through pregnancy. Many of them talk about having really bad backaches and not being able to bend over to pick things up from the ground, or having difficulty getting up after sitting on the floor.
Indeed I've been getting backaches these few weeks as Boy Boy grows heavier --- I gained 2 kg in the last 2 weeks! He's so heavy that I cannot sleep on my back anymore, as he squashes all my organs and makes it hard for me to breathe.
Sleeping on my sides helps me breathe better, but it squashes a bit of Boy Boy's hands/legs on each side, and he retaliates by giving huge punches/kicks that keep me up all night!
Strangely for me, bending over and getting up from the floor is still okay. Every day I sit on a huge cushion on the floor to use my laptop, and often have to get up to pick up the home phone or just to respond to the cats.
Maybe that is why. Having to constantly 'entertain' the two pesky cats is forcing me to 'exercise' my muscles, although I don't know if that's good or bad for my pregnancy.
My main exercise nowadays is playing 'Bean Bean' with Copper. By coincidence one day, I realised that he enjoys chasing soyabeans. I think it is because the size is just right and similar to bugs, which the cats like to chase around the house.
They will slam their paws down on the unlucky bug, who then gets stuck in between their paw pads. It's actually quite funny when the cats can't figure out where the bug went.
Most importantly, soyabeans are so much cheaper than cat toys sold in pet shops, which sometimes the cats don't even touch after we bring the toys home.
Here's a video of Copper playing Bean Bean.
Unfortunately the beans often roll under the sofa and into nooks and crannies and disappear. One day Hubby found out where all the beans go to die:
So I have to keep climbing up from the floor to throw the bean for Copper. Sometimes I got to crawl on all fours, or look under the sofa to get his bean out too.
Nowdays Copper is clever and will meow and hang around the area, waiting for me to pick the bean out for him. Sometimes when he comes to me dejected after losing his beans (haha!), I will ask him to show me, and he'll bring me to where the bean is stuck.
Hubby is skeptical when I tell him this ;) I'm sure you're rolling your eyes too. But it's true!
After 32 years of hiding in the dark, this fellow started to pop out last month as my tummy got bigger. Initially I had thought that only women with 'popped out' belly buttons will get this during their pregnancy, but apparently not!
I was reading on the motherhood forums, and some mummies even got whole pieces of black stuff dropping out as their belly buttons pop. Mine isn't that dirty ;)
Showed my belly button to Copper yesterday as he was nua-ing in front of me. He took a sniff, then proceeded to poke it with his paw. Then he tried to roll it towards him by doing a scooping motion. Ticklish!!!
New friend No.2:
My 'linea nigra'.
This is a line that apparently all women have, but lie dormant until their pregnancy. Pregnancy hormones darken this vertical stripe that supposedly fades away after birth. I sure hope it does!
Interestingly, I noticed last night that the hairs on my tummy grow in different directions beginning from this line.
I call it the 'cutting line'. The alien in my stomach will probably burst out, using this line as a reference guide. Doctors can probably follow it too, aside from the fact that caesarean cuts are done vertically under the tummy ;)
New friend No.3:
The dreaded stretchmarks.
I had been faithfully applying Palmer's cocoa butter to my tummy every night, and was secretly delighting in the fact that no stretchmarks appeared. Until one day when I glanced into the mirror and saw the first ones... almost like a cat's paw had scratched it into my tummy.
Then one other day, Boy Boy decided to squirm his way and settled into my pelvis, all ready to be born. In that day, numerous stretchmarks appeared beneath my tummy. I think because Boy Boy moved in too suddenly and strained the skin. Boo hoo.
Was discussing this with my MIL and she suddenly pulled down her pants and showed me her marks, silvery streaks now. Hahaa... My Hubby calls them 'lightning'.
Being pregnant is supposed to make one clumsy. I hadn't really felt the effects until today, and Copper suffered because of it :(
I was playing 'stick the sticker on Copper' when his sticker went underneath our boxy woofer speaker. Copper stuck his right paw underneath it, trying to peel it out. I was sitting near him, and tried to help by lifting the speaker a little.
Unfortunately it tilted too much and started to fall over. I lurched forward to stop it from falling onto him but my tummy got in the way and I was not in time. The speaker fell with a thud, and Copper zipped away.
He looked very startled and held his right arm above the ground. When we tried to comfort him he ran away from us. We observed him to see if his arm was ok, and later Hubby grabbed and felt his arms to see if they were fractured.
Copper started to behave normally and jumped around as usual, using his right arm. This gave us a sense of relief until I noticed blood on the floor. Quickly checked if it came from his nose or ears. Turns out his paw was bleeding a little, but we ultimately couldn't find the wound because his fur is dark brown.
The bleeding stopped by itself and Copper is now back to normal, sleeping on the window ledge beside me as I'm typing on my PC. But I think we shall watch him closely, in case there are any after-effects of the accident. Feel so guilty!!!
It's 530am in the morning and I've been awake for 2 hours. Went for a birthday dinner at Dempsey's House for one of Hubby's friends, and we started eating only at 930pm! So of course I am now suffering from a case of heartburn, especially since the meal included a meat patty, which takes about 4 hours to digest.
Not the first time I'm having pregnancy-related insomnia, so decided not to waste time staring into space. Woke up to work on my copywriting projects.
It's nice to be in the still of the night, accompanied only by soft music and my 2 groggy cats who wonder what I'm doing intruding on their nocturnal space. That is, until Marvel starts his engine and starts meowing away. Hope Hubby does not get awakened, it being a weekend morning soon.
The birthday girl is a mum, and I was talking with her about pregnancy stuff. Which got me thinking.
What I like about being pregnant:
The delightful feeling of the baby moving inside my tummy, especially at this stage when his punches and kicks actually result in movement bumps appearing on the outside. Tried to video it, but the effect wasn't obvious through the camera.
What I don't like about being pregnant:
The worry.
I was actually feeling complacent, thinking that at this late stage, everything should be on its way and going smoothly. Until I read the ST supplement 'Mind Your Body' this past Thursday, which had an article on still-births.
Apparently people are having freak accidents where their babies die in the tummy as late as 36 weeks. I'm 35 weeks + now. My Mum also shared that her friend's daughter-in-law lost her baby just a few days short of the EDD (expected delivery date). How horrible is that?
Both incidents were due to the umbilical cord getting wrapped around the baby's neck, suffocating it. Apparently, the mothers were busy at work and failed to notice whether their baby moved that day. The next day when they saw the doctor, it was already too late. And they still had to go through the entire process of labour to get the dead baby out :(((
So I am really paranoid now. Been poking the baby to make sure he moves morning, afternoon and night. He's being very good now, kicking away. Probably protesting against Mummy not getting enough sleep.
I guess this is the start of a parent's worrying over their child. Cliched, but true --- only as a parent will we understand why our parents are so (over?) protective of us.
Decided to change my 'soundtrack' so that it's not so religious haha. The new song also reflects my current mood.
范逸臣 Van Fan's "国境之南" is from the soundtrack of his movie "海角七号" Cape No.7. It was a nice story, but spoilt due to the very bad acting by the female Japanese lead, as well as a totally not believable love story between the leads.
But I like the feel of this song. It's very acoustic and uses traditional instruments, totally bringing out the mood of listening to it 'live' at night, by the sea, as the waves wash shore.
That's my mood nowadays: Rather neutral and peaceful, as I await Boy Boy's arrival... but also a bit of anticipation and a bit of apprehension. But leaving everything to fate and seeing how it goes :)
Boy Boy's coming soon but the construction works around my estate is showing no sign of stopping. In the photo, my estate is the pink one on the right. To the left is a construction site, and there's another one opposite it (not in photo).
Both sites are in the initial piling stage, which means Monday to Saturday, 830am - 630pm, all I can hear is BOM BOM BOM. It's especially loud from my bedroom. What 'wondrous' sound to wake up to every day. Hubby also gets irritated coming home to such noise even on weekends.
I was initially hoping that the piling works would be completed by Boy Boy's arrival, so at least the noise won't be so bad. But looks like he might have to learn to adapt to the noise. I just hope that it doesn't turn Boy Boy into a fretful baby who doesn't get enough sleep and can't grow properly :(((
In the centre of the photo is an empty plot of land. It used to be cordoned off with fencing as an archery field, and people play soccer there every weekend. It was marked so in the Street Directory. But alas, after we bought the place the fencing came down and the land was put up for sale.
To build an executive condominium. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! I hope no one buys the land. It failed the 1st round, but the government put it up for sale again. If the piling works start there when Boy Boy is here, I really don't know what to do. All the rooms in my flat face this plot directly. £@$%!!
My backup plan was to escape to my parents' place across the road during the day. But that's screwed because now they have a loud, pouncing dog. I hope I won't have to resort to moving to my PILs' place, because after all, my own home is still the most comfortable. I just wish there could be some limit on the construction noise pollution we have to undergo :(
Not to mention the 'upsize' we get when neighbours renovate their place. Once, there were 2 renovations going on at the same time as the piling from the 2 construction sites. Can die!
It used to be that "山顶人" were restricted to mountainous or kampung areas, supposedly where people were less educated and hence uncivilised. But now it seems they have invaded every niche of Singapore.
Hubby and I were pondering why. Is it due to the influx of less-cultured immigrants, that Singaporeans now see no need for themselves to upgrade their culture? Or is it that everyone is so caught up with bread and butter issues that they have no time to 'upgrade' themselves internally? Or are the immigrants the very people behaving badly?
Recently there have been a few incidents that brought up this issue again and again for us.
(1)
Last week Hubby and I decided to venture to Eastpoint as there is a big pet accessories shop there. We needed to get a new cat tree. Happily leaving with our purchase, Hubby told me to wait in the shopping centre while he put it in the car and return to have dinner with me.
While Hubby was on his way to the carpark, a furry padded corner of the cat tree accidentally bumped into an Uncle who stopped suddenly in front of him, in the very public area. Hubby apologised in English and tried to move on. The Uncle started scolding him so loudly in Cantonese that his wife and daughter tried to restrain him. Hubby apologised again in Mandarin, but the Uncle didn't seem to understand or take it in.
So Hubby continued up to the carpark, only to hear the Uncle shouting at him from downstairs. He rushed downstairs and asked the Uncle what exactly he wanted, mentally prepared to 'fight'. Luckily the guy's family pulled him away.
We left the place immediately, mood totally spoilt. Hubby was saying, luckily I wasn't with him when the incident happened, or who knows if the Uncle would have turned on the pregnant woman for 'vengeance'.
(2)
I was at a foodcourt. The man in front of me, in his 40s, ordered so many dishes that he left with his 1st tray, leaving the 2nd tray behind. I paid for my food and was waiting with my change and receipt on my tray.
When the man returned, I politely stepped back so he could access his 2nd tray. Instead, he started picking up my change from my tray. I said, "Excuse me, that's my change. Yours is still with the cashier."
He stared at me and put the coins back. Then on second thoughts, he started flicking the coins away so he could see my receipt, just to double-check that it was not his order!
I stared at him with disbelief. How rude. Then as the cashier passed him his change, he still dared to ask her if the money in my tray is his!!! Kudos to the cashier for ignoring him.
Stupid man!!!! Still turned and grinned at me before he left.
(3)
I was at AMK Hub. There's a Thomson Medical Centre clinic there, so there're usually many pregnant women waddling around. I was walking on this particular floor with the clinic when 3 boys came out of a tuition centre. Their mothers greeted them and continued walking ahead while gossiping.
As I walked in line with these mothers, suddenly the boys shouted "Make way!!!" and raced towards us from behind, squeezing in between me and their mothers.
Luckily my reaction was fast, as I jumped to the side and faced the wall. As the boys ran past I couldn't help shouting at them. Super angry.
In actual fact I wanted to stick out my arm and grab one of them by the collar so I could jerk him around and give him a huge dressing down. But in view of my own safety I decided not to.
My shouting did not make them even slow down. The mother closest to me quickly acted blur and moved away when she realised what her kid had done. Soon she herded the whole gang into the lift and away from the crazy woman.
I was even angrier because of the mother's behaviour. She should teach her kid basic manners. And to be careful, especially around the maternity clinic. Or at least say sorry on his behalf >:(
Or maybe AMK is a sua teng area and I should just avoid it if I don't want to be pushed to the ground during my pregnancy.
Alas. Just as I was celebrating Boy Boy's new position, and my relief from being kicked in the ribs, he moved again! Now his feet are back in my ribs ;)
Gynae says Boy Boy's actually in the correct position for delivery already, facing down and getting ready to 'dive' out!
As delivery nears, I've also been getting 'practice contractions' that feel similar to menstrual cramps. They usually come at night when I'm sleeping and can last for hours. So I'v been waking up with a tightness in my tummy, what a way to start my day :(
From 28 weeks, babies in their mummies' tummies are able to hear. Studies have also shown that they actually jerk and fling their limbs outwards when startled by loud noises such as blenders.
I went back to my Mum's place to pack my remaining stuff last week, as my parents will be shifting to their new place in a few months. Thought I better get it done and over with before my tummy gets even bigger and inconvenient. Unfortunately, it seems like I would need to go back another 2-3 times to finish clearing my 'rubbish' ;)
Anyway, my sister's dog was as usual a very good host, jumping up and down to greet me. I even got French-kissed 3 times in my efforts to escape her. As I sat on a stool packing, she came to kaypoh many times, squeezing herself under and through my stool and threatening to upset it. I think she still sees herself as a puppy.
She also barked many times, surprising neighbours walking past the common corridor. One poor old couple nearly got heart-attack. During dinnertime, she barked a lot as usual, unhappy at being leashed up.
The next morning when I woke up, Boy Boy had changed positions quite drastically. I worry that it's because he was frightened by the loud barks :(
Now my tummy looks like this, instead of the previous position. Boy Boy rotated himself 90 degrees!
Makes my breathing easier; at least no one is jabbing me in the ribs all the time. But now Boy Boy sits on my bladder, which means more frequent toilet runs for me!
Pregnant women are hot. Literally. Our body temperatures rise as we become sort of an incubator for the babies inside us.
So every day I've been sweating buckets, so much so that I've resorted to appropriating Hubbby's cotton handkerchieves for my use, going through even 2 of them on especially sweltering days.
This also means that it is virtually impossible for me to sleep nowadays without switching on the aircon (sorry Mother Earth!), else I'll totally soak the bedsheets and mattress, not to mention end up with rashes all over.
Poor Hubby, who's susceptible to cold, has no choice but to bear with the freeze. As I told him, it's actually a logical solution. If he's cold, he can always pile on more layers. But if I'm hot, I can't peel off my skin ;)
As a compromise we switch on the aircon at 16 degrees celsius for the first 30 minutes, then adjust it to 26 degrees for the rest of the night. This way the room will be cooled down quickly, and we won't be killing the earth too much. Of course, Hubby's concerned about the electricity bill as well.
At 26 degrees, Hubbby wears his long-sleeved thick cotton top, not unlike winter wear. He also cocoons himself up in the blanket. Me? I sleep in tank-top and shorts, without a blanket. It's too hot!
This contrast amuses me :) I would like to lower the temperature even further so I can cocoon in my blanket and sleep cosily. But then Hubby will become frozen.
Once I was so tired I fell asleep without adjusting the aircon. The next day Hubby complained of being damn cold, and we couldn't figure out why, until we looked at the airon control. Haha sabo!
Here's a super un-glam photo of me taken on June 6 at my PIL's place. Can see tummy better than the previous pic. That's almost a month ago, now tummy even bigger liao.
Boy Boy keeps kicking me in the ribs, sometimes I wake up in pain in the middle of the night. Hoi!!!!!
BTW, an Aunt insists that my baby should be a girl, judging from my tummy's shape and changes to my face. If baby really turns out to be a girl, wonder if all this calling of "Boy Boy" would have traumatised her!
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