37 Weeks 3 Days: Mid-year review

Did my mid-year review with Rafael tonight. It is my last conference call for the year... hehe, isn't it so cool?

37 Weeks: Rashes

These pictures are something i'm not proud off, but to comemorate what happened during my pregnancy. Luckily for me, the rashes did not last all the way till delivery. It's kinda toned down now, Thank God..

36 Weeks 6 Days: 2nd attempt on Cupcakes

Today's attempt is quite a flop... The cupcakes did not rise at all. Looks like i need to do a fishbone analysis to determine the root cause (<-- this is what i call bringing work home). Well, at least the chocolate ganache topping is good.

Too bad, the cake is beyond redemption and human consumption so i did not bring it along for a friend's gathering that day. But it is still good enough for a picture..

36 Weeks 5 days: Updates

more working days for me. Low energy but i'm sleeping better nowadays, except for that 2-3 pee trips every night. Practically need to 'roll' out of bed for that.

A couple more areas to clean up before my 'nest' is ready So looking forward to the start of my ML. Nowadays, i just don't feel like talking, just want to be quiet. Last night, went for walk with DH, we walked almost 50 mins in silence and i didn't even want to hold hands. Luckily he understands and did not ask why i'm so quiet.

Well, so much for being in a melancholic mood. Hope the mood will perk up for me soon.

i think space is really limited, cos i can feel baby elbowing and kneeing me when he moves. And sometimes, i can sense he very pek chek, especially when i lie on my side, and restrict his space even further. Nowadays, i like to press around my belly firmly. Can feel certain body parts (but dunno which part). And if he does not like it, can feel him shifting away.

36 Weeks 5 Days: Fondant

Some of my creations using fondant. Not easy, and alot of preparations...

35 Weeks 6 Days: Mummy chopped off her hair in preparation for confinement

Decided it's time to cut off my mane in preparation for the confinement where i was told i couldn't luxuriously wash my hair everyday. Candy, my regular hair stylist, did a neat job. See the amount she cut off (haiz, i should have put a ruler beside when i take the picture... what happened to the engineer brain of mine)

35 Weeks 4 Days: 8-1/2 month check up

Dr Chee is starting to see me once every 3 weeks. Sigh, i've been failing majority of the glucose tests no matter how hard i try to control my diet. Baby is slightly on the big side. He is estimated to be about 2.8 kg. Gained 800g over 3 weeks. She says that if baby is big, there is a chance that i may have to induce earlier. After all 37th weeks onwards is considered full-term, in the interest of the child, we'll try not to keep baby in the sugary environment for too long and also bigger babies are harder/riskier to deliver for a 1st time mum.

The analogy: If the durian is ripe, then we can pluck, no need to wait until the durian drop. In my case, my gynae's rational is, if I continue keeping baby till the 40th week, baby will only get bigger (riskier for a natural delivery), and he will be exposed to the "sugary" environment longer. Not very advisable.

I like this scan. Can see baby's profile fairly clearly. Can see baby nicely snuggled in mummy's tummy.

Anyway, gong gong and po po nick-named my baby as 小牛。 Today, i called home and told them 小牛 become 大牛 liao.

35 Weeks 2 Days: 29th Birthday

34 Weeks 6 Days: Nesting Instinct

I can't remember when was the last time i cleaned out my sty so thoroughly. The attention to detail is so strong and i don't know where the extra energy came from. I was like packing and scrubbing. Took out every single item from my storeroom, resorted, wiped and packed again. I just need to get my place into a clean room condition. It seems to also affect my hubby. Normally when i do housework, he will be oblivious to what i'm doing. But he actually chipped in to help. Even help me chase out the resident lizard in the store. Usually, he will not throw junk away (i will do it secretly behind his back), but yesterday he was buang-ing things like no one's business. We went Ikea and bought many packing boxes to store our things (he was actually encouraging me, cos usually he will comment, boxes to store things, buy so nice for what). Hehe, i'm so so surprised by his change. So while the "heat" is still on, on my list, next is to clear up ..... *evil laughter* I am glad that the fussiness and demand for excellence did not drive him crazy. But now, my back is very sng from all the cleaning.

I am so glad that i stay in a 2-bedroom apartment after all the back breaking, but extremely satisfying house scrubs. But it's a good thing that this happened, otherwise my place will not be so speckless and organized.

I can't say more the stuff i did, but well, a pictures speaks a thousand words. Here are five...

That Nesting Instinct During Pregnancy
Reorganizing the closets, alphabetizing the spice rack, and thwarting dust-bunny breeding efforts under the bed? Welcome to a pre-labor ritual that helps get your home ready for the baby, and helps you pass the time.

Mother hamsters do it. Mama cats and dogs do it. Expectant birds do it. And, if you’re like many human moms-to-be, you’re doing it, too, these days: preparing your "nest" for your soon-to-arrive baby. Though it’s fortunately not manifested in the same behaviors (you’re more likely to recycle that pile of newspapers than shred them or reach for the feather duster rather than the feathers), the nesting instinct in humans can be as powerful as it is for our animal friends. Productive, as well — driving many human moms-to-be to sweep out the garage, pair up all the stray socks that have wandered into the Laundry Room Bermuda Triangle, defrost the frost-free refrigerator, and brighten the bathroom grout lines with a toothbrush. If the nesting instinct hits your nest, make the most of it — now, before life becomes too hectic and before finding a moment to shower (and rinse thoroughly) will be challenging enough.

Source: http://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/labor-and-delivery/preparing/nesting-phase.aspx

Nesting
Have you noticed that you have the urge to clean everything in sight lately? Are you rushing around your house, completing the ironing, reorganizing the cupboards, or color-coding your wardrobe? If so, then you might be experiencing what is commonly referred to as the nesting instinct. The nesting instinct is a frequent occurrence throughout pregnancy, and is often a sign that you are about to welcome your baby in to the world! But why do pregnant women experience this nesting instinct and is it safe and healthy for you and baby? Here are some of the basics about the nesting experience during pregnancy!

What is the Nesting Instinct?

The nesting instinct is the name given to the distinctive urge to clean, tidy, and organize that occurs during pregnancy. One of the many pregnancy symptoms that you will experience, the nesting instinct generally kicks in around the fifth month of pregnancy, however it can also occur much earlier or much later. Many women acutely experience the nesting instinct in the final days of their pregnancy, and this can often be a sign that labor and delivery is close at hand. Nesting tends to vary from woman to woman; in fact, some women don’t experience the nesting instinct at all when they are pregnant. Others experience mild forms of the instinct while others feel the urge much more severely.

What Causes the Nesting Instinct?

The nesting urge in pregnancy is thought to be caused by both biological and emotional factors.
Most females in the animal kingdom experience similar patterns of cleaning and preparation when they are pregnant. From birds to bears, female animals appear to have an intrinsic need to prepare ahead of time for their new arrival. It is believed that females are programmed to experience this nesting instinct in order to ensure that their offspring will be cared for properly after birth. By having your baby’s room ready, all her clothes organized, and her meals planned, you are ensuring that your baby will have the best chance for growth and survival after birth.
The nesting instinct probably also involves emotional components as well. Pregnancy is a time of intense hormonal fluctuations, and these changes can cause you to act in crazy ways! As your hormones settle down in the second trimester, you may feel increasingly energized and excited about your baby’s birth. This can incite many women to begin cleaning, organizing, and planning for their baby’s arrival. Furthermore, social expectations also play a role in the nesting instinct. Parents are often expected to do special things for their baby’s arrival, including decorating a nursery, cleaning house, and purchasing new clothes.

Source: http://www.pregnancy-info.net/nesting.html

34 Weeks 6 Days: Tummy

Many folks says that i assume that i'm carrying a girl, cos my tummy is nice and round. Boys are supposed to be sharp and pointed. So I'm a very fine example that the myth is not true.

34 Weeks 5 Days: Cupcakes

Not only influenced by the nesting instinct, i also had a very strong urge to bake. Talk about domestication. Signed up for a baking course on 11 Sept and made cupcakes as seen in the first picture.

Then when to buy all the equipment and ingrediants. And started my own practice session on the 20th of Sept.

The thing about baking is you start to realize what goes into these pretty little buscuits and cakes. And they are SINFUL. See the whipped cream on the last picture, that is about 3 blocks of butter.

34 Weeks 1 Day

So far , my tummy is pretty small (that's what a lot of folks commented), so hardly any stretch marks. But i'm scarred all over with the scratching and have scabs all over. =_= My legs are all disfigured now with '50 cents' and '10 cents'. I've been using lotsa Olive oil (it's $70 per bottle, pure enough for you to drink), my mum used that throughout her pregnancy and her belly is like baby skin.

I'm almost done with shopping. Just waiting for friends to pass me the big tic items like infant car seat, breast pump etc. Washing wise, hehe, i just passed everything to my mum :P (<= i'm such a spoilt brat)

33 Weeks 3 days : Nightmare

Last night, i had a nightmare. I dreamt that the hospital called me up to cut my perineal (if's that's how you spell). They explained if cut already, during delivery, the area will split at the wound nicely when the baby comes out. Then they enticed me with one day hospitalisation leave and i greedily said ok. Next scene was at the hospital, and the nurse was taking one of those nail scissors ready to snip my down there. I freaked out and was screaming and crying. Woke up in sweat! I guess much as i did not realized, i'm actually getting nervous about the delivery. 1st time mum mah, i've really been wondering what is my actual delivery day like.

33 Weeks 2 days: I'm going to pop next month

It's September already. I'm going to pop next month!