Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Pregnancy 1: Edward's Arrival



After 37.5 weeks being pregnant, there was one thing I wanted badly, was to be un-pregnant ASAP. The pressure on the pelvic, the trouble sleeping, the backache, and many more had my pregnancy physically unpleasant and worrying.

Baby's initial estimated due date was 2nd november, however doctor diagnosed me with short cervix, which means I wouldn't be able to make it full term to the date (last post: preterm labor threat) Therefore, hubby flew in early to anticipate earlier labor than the estimated date. So here we were waited and waited on week 36 onwards for his arrival with the help of tons of medicine and hormone injections.

After waited for a week or so, all of us (inclusive my family) were getting impatient and over anxious for baby arrival. Many suggested me to walk more to induce the labor naturally. Some readings suggested yoga. Some even said eating spicy food may help. So out of desperation & over-anxiety, I did try all the above mentioned.

Saturday, 15 Oct 2011
I was silently wishing that baby might be out on that day because 15 is always special day for both hubby and me. My mom suggested us to go to temple and pray for smooth delivery. We went and I was joking about how I will give birth the day after because the Goddess of Mercy had heard my prayers.
When dinner time arrived, hubby suggested me to walk the long way to our dinner place. May I add, the long way is also an incline pathway for disabled or cycles. It's a long slow walk but it sure triggered the contraction the day after

Sunday, 16 Oct 2011
I can still remember vividly every single details of the day. I woke up around 0730 and found that my water might have  broken. I was hesitating if I should wake hubby up because I was unsure if it's the case. Finally, I woke him up and he was surprised cum unprepared for the morning news.
Pain level: 1/10

We rushed to TMC immediately with my mom and younger sister too. I was still bubbly, goofy and excited about the labor. We bumped into Lilian, a lactation consultant whom my elder sister always brag about. She wished me smooth delivery and there we off to the admission counter. As of then, I could feel the water stream was getting stronger. Pain level: 2/10

We were then told to proceed to labour ward. And coincidentally my gynae Dr. W.K. Tan was also there, perhaps there was another mother delivering too under her care. 16 Oct must be a hot date for delivery. The observation room was actually full house. There was no bed for me! Dr. W.K Tan swiftly asked one of the nurse to guide me to delivery room. So, I wasn't kept at the cramped observation room for waiting. Instead, I was placed at a spacious delivery room to wait for full dilation.


Doctor then checked my dilation, and informed I was actually 1.5cm dilated. She was pretty sure that I should be able to deliver before dinner (another 8hours to go). At that point of time, pain was minimum and bearable. I was texting friends, joked around with my nervous hubby.
Pain level: 3/10

At noon time, a sharp continuous pain started to attack. A severe menstrual cramp like. And I know this was going to get crazier. Nurse informed me that I was 5cm dilated. I shouted for epidural after laughing gas failed to comfort me
Pain level: 100/10

By the time the anaesthetist came, the pain was intense. Honestly, I just wanted the needle to go in fast and end the pain. The pain level was 1000/10, but when the epidural went in,... It is all fine! Happidural as the nurse said

At 1600, I was fully dilated. After pushing for an hour, doctor finally vacuumed baby out of me and baby Edward was born.


I can remember vividly Edward's look and cry when he was just born. Couldn't help myself but crying for the happiness too. He was a tiny baby but cried loudly.

Was eversince blessed with his arrival and enjoying watching him grow up.


That's how God send me my little angel





Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Pregnancy 1 : Week 33 Preterm Labor Threat

Friday, 10 Sep 2011
I woke up with pretty unusual pressure on my left hip. I figured it must have been the side sleeping posture that caused it. Told my mom about it, read some books and articles about it and concluded that it was just part of the pregnancy parcels.
I was supposed to attend my afternoon yoga class held at Tanglin mall, but after many consideration, i decided to miss the class. (wise decision, now i think back)

Saturday, 11 Sep 2011
Couldn't manage to sleep till 1 am morning as the hip pain was getting from bad to worse. Finally found peace by sleeping while sitting upright. However, woke up at 4am as i felt minor frequent contraction on my lower abdomen. I suspected it as braxton hicks or any other false alarm, however, boy it is getting stronger. I decided that i must go to my gynae the first thing in morning before other patient reaches, and couldn't put my mind to sleep anymore.

Thank God that my younger sister was off work that Saturday and managed to company me to clinic. We rushed to the clinic and was the first one checking in (winner!). But wait, nurse told us, Dr WK Tan was on leave and only be back by the next day. As I told them, I had this contraction, nurse directed me to the 2nd floor for observation right away. I was attached to a machine which tracks my foetal heartbeat and contraction.

The result was brought to Dr Benjamin Tham, and I thought to myself this will be just a procedure where he will say.."don't worry, nothing is wrong" but turned out, he told me that he will admit me for a day for monitoring and steroids injection. This is because I am experiencing cervix shortening and may deliver the baby by the next day. I was flabbergasted.

I was immediately bombarded with lotsa medicine to stabilise uterus contraction and all. I was still dumbfounded that I might be delivering my baby by the next day. Hubby was rushing to Singapore as well as my parents. I was injected with 2 steroids injection to mature baby's lung and bombarded with medicine and monitoring device to make sure no more contractions happening before I could be discharged

Sunday, 12 Sep 20011
Dr WK Tan finally is back, although it was Sunday. She visited me and ensured me that everything was under control and I was discharged. However, I was to meet her again few days later to monitor the pregnancy. I was also put under bedrest (of course, with toilet exception)


After my meeting with Dr WK Tan, she told me that I might be born with short cervix. This means she is almost positive, my pregnancy will end up as preterm labor. However, as long as I can keep the baby inside until 36 weeks, it should be fine, she said.

I'm praying hard that baby will be fine and calm until week 36. This is to ensure that he can be treated like a normal baby instead of admitted to NICU.
Please pray for me and baby...


Saturday, August 27, 2011

Pregnancy : Overcoming the Fear

This maybe a pointless rant post...

Recently, I started to develop fears against the labour process. Baby is now 30 weeks old and it is only 6-10 weeks away from welcoming him to the world. However, as closer to date, I realized that it won't be too far from the pain which many women failed to find the perfect word to describe it. Agonizing is just underestimation of the pain, they claimed.

1 month ago, my elder sister gave birth to my healthy nephew, Lincoln. We often share information during our pregnancy as we only differ by 3 months away. I deliberately asked her how the experience was, and how painful the process was. She told me: 1000 x our menstrual cramps. I was not too encouraged with that. When I had my menstrual cramps, I literally curled myself in the bed and swearing while panting. So, if that is magnified by 1000 as she described, I may lost my mind.

My hubby just texted me few mins ago to share about water birth and asked me why we were not offered this option in TMC. I told him right away, I can't go pure au naturale for this birth. I don't think I have the courage. I will absolutely opt for epidural to minimize the pain.

I have frequent nightmares about giving birth. I'm not sure if it's normal, but it is not pleasant. Last night, I dreamt that my gynae telling me to c-sect my baby out because it's already more than 30 weeks..duh!

I tried yoga, reading books, talking to my mom, getting some wise words from hubby, but none is helpful. One of my friend told me to just don't think about it cos the baby is already there and no turn back this time. I guess she is right, but.....

6 weeks away ....wish me a smooth delivery, people

Thursday, August 11, 2011

I see you, my son!

So, yesterday, we decided to give 4D a go after contemplating for sometimes. Looking at my sister's adorable son makes us curious about how our son will look like.
So, here it is, our 28 weeks old baby boy and we can't wait to finally hug you in our arms.

Xoxo,
Mommy Bee



Tuesday, June 21, 2011

My Daily Skincare

I don't have perfect flawless porcelain skin, but I do try to maintain the daily rituals to keep my skin fresh and radiant as much as I can. So, today, while I am still amused by our newly bought Dunbo, he's going to present my step-by-step daily skin care. Below are in chronological order of my routine.

1. Milk Cleanser: Simple Cleansing Lotion
I use this daily, mostly at night before sleep to clean up my day make up. Even without make up on, I usually will still use this as it gives me assurance no makeup residue.
However, warning: Clean up your face with water and followed by facial wash as soon as you finish applying this. It tends to be a little oily, so avoid it gets clogged into our skin
I missed out to shoot Dunbo with this product, but here it is snapped from Simple Skincare website.

Pros: It is suitable for my sensitive skin and does not leave red marks when we wipe with cotton pad.
Simple Cleansing Lotion

2. Facial Wash: Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar
This is one of my best finding of all skincare product that I use. Historically, (i hope history won't repeat), I used to have very bad facial skin condition after my trip to sun-filled Bali. It was beautiful island but did big harm to my skin as it's humid, hot and let alone unhealthy food routine.
I lost track of doctor that I had seen to resolve the condition, was prescribed with 101 different kind of facial wash from doctor but nothing seemed to work. Until one fine day, I came across the forum and they mentioned Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing bar for sensitive skin. I thought it was nothing to lose situation and gave it a try. This product is non-perfume and cleanse my skin thoroughly.

Usage: I use it at least twice a day, Morning and night.
Pros: Cheap, non-perfume, work for my sensitive skin
Cons: Difficult to store as it is a soap bar
Dunbo & Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar

3. Toner: Kose Sekkisei Lotion
I've been using this toner for years, starting when I was hooked with Kose product range. But slowly as my skin got more sensitive, most of Kose products were abandoned by me. But, this product is still suitable for my skin up to today. I'm not really sure what toner function to our skin. However, it does give me a fresh feeling after facial wash.

Usage: twice daily, morning & night. Wipe entire face avoiding eyes using cotton pad
Pros: Fresh feeling to face.
Cons: Slightly pricey
**Now with Japan radiation news around, I start to wonder if I should change. Recommend me good toner if you know one for sensitive skin, please!

Dunbo & Kose Sekkisei Lotion

4. Eye Cream: Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Synchronized Complex
I just started use my first bottle of this eye cream. I'm still not convinced that this eye cream works for me, hence I just use it because I've bought it with very expensive price.
It was said to suppose to reduce the look of every visible key sign of aging: lines, wrinkles, puffiness, dark circles, more

Usage : Twice a day, after toner
Cons: Expensive :(

Dunbo & Estee Lauder Advanced Night Eye Repair Synchronized Complex


5. Serum: Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Complex Cream
I was introduced to this product by my sister in law. She has this flawless skin everybody will praise her kind. So I started to be copy cat and used this product. This has been my 4th bottle and still loving it. I love how the skin turn out dewy after we use it. Tight and silky feeling.

Usage : Twice a day
Pros : Easily absorbed, non-perfume
Cons: Expensive

Dunbo & Advanced Night Repair

6. Booster : Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Concentrate
Hmm what should I say, age had caught up? Serum itself is no longer sufficient to keep my skin rejuvenated. After consulting with the sales person (maybe wrong person to consult to), I decided that I need booster every 3 months to let my skin cells reproducing itself.

Usage: Use for 3 weeks, every 3 months duration. Only 1 time at night
Pros : Love the night after feeling
Cons: Pricey
7. Moisturizer: Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream
Another Cetaphil products that I will rave on. Actually I'm a big fans of Cetaphil and would love to use it for all my skin care steps. Unfortunately, Cetaphil doesn't have complete range of product such as serum, booster, toner and so. Hence, I have to browse around for other products to cater for those needs.
Back to the moisturiser. I loveeee this product to the max. Not only it moisturizes my skin, but it also treated my eczema. I brought this cream to Melbourne on our winter trip, and it works perfectly to clear the itchiness on the side of my cheek due to developing Eczema. I can't say more how much I love this cream.
My only worry is now that Cetaphil has repackage this cream, I'm not sure if the new ingredients are still the same as this current cream.

Usage: Twice a day or when necessary. I apply it to my lips too sometimes
Pros: Cheap and good!
Cons: Haven't come across one :)
Dunbo & my Fave Moisturizing Cream
8. Sunblock: Shiseido Sun Protection Lotion Spf 40
Last step of my day skincare is Sunblock. Ever since I moved back, I figured more freckles are coming up. Not helping much with the hormone inside me currently as I'm pregnant. Sunblock is almost essential armour for me to fight the mighty Sun!
I sourced for Shiseido Sunblock after many recommendation and turned out I kinda love it because it helps my make up application too!

Usage: Once a day after moisturizer
Pros: Absorbed easily
Cons: There is this funny smell that maybe some people can't take it

Dunbo & Shiseido Sunblock
I figured out my Dunbo did a great job introducing these products. My advice to all pregnant mom out there to not neglect their daily skincare routine as you may not want to deepen the damage hormone could do to your skin while you are pregnant

Hugs,