Tag Archives: pregnancy

Feb 25

Trotters feet

Pregnancy has been treating me quite well in general. While I’ve developed an aversion to garlic and suffer from increased indigestion, my complexion has improved and my weight hasn’t ballooned. Unfortunately, the scale has finally tipped and swollen feet are making this pregnancy a little more uncomfortable than I was ready for. At a mere 21 weeks, I am already feeling my feet tingle and swell. Shoes aren’t fitting anymore and prospects of having trotters-shaped feet in the third trimester are not at all uplifting.

You see, the condition I have, endema, is commonly an issue during the third trimester when excess fluid collects in your tissue due to increased water retention. As the baby grows, s/he will place more pressure on the pelvic veins and the vena cava (the large vein on the right side of the body that carries blood from your lower limbs back to the heart). This forces fluids to pool in the feet and ankles resulting in the swelling. So if my feet are already swelling now, imagine how much more swollen they will be when I’m in my third trimester.

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Feb 22

Don’t Panic

This is Wen Jr at 21/22 weeks.  We have this ultrasound a week earlier than planned because G was starting to worry that she couldn’t feel any kicking or movement.  While I tried my best to assure her that it was normal, we ended up at an all-night clinic talking crazy to a doc (apparently you can’t hear a baby move around with a stethoscope), and of course searching the web for answers.  So, sometimes the best thing to do and for peace of mind is just to go see the baby doc.  And as it turns out, the baby’s fine, growth normal, and yep, still a boy.

Eventually Junior will grow large enough for his kicks to be felt through the placenta, tummy, and extra thick skin…  (I always thought G to be rather thick skinned, and now we have medical proof).  But until that day, I’ll have to remind G, and myself, to relax and don’t panic.

Feb 21

Hormones overload

Last Friday night, I was crying in the car as we headed home from the 24-hour clinic because the doctor didn’t have a doptone machine to read my baby’s heartbeat. Apparently, a stethoscope is not adequate to read heartbeats through all the amniotic fluids. The doc might have sensed my impending breakdown because he waived the charge on our consult.

This morning, we made an emergency visit to the gynae even though our next appointment is just a week away because I was still worried all weekend about not feeling any baby kicks. The gynae cut short my apologetic ramblings by telling me that it’s normal to be worried and that she has mothers who come by almost everyday. My weight gain of 3kg in five weeks was also a good sign since I didn’t put on any weight in the first 15 weeks. I definitely felt much better with just those words alone because it meant I wasn’t the only crazy new mother in town.

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Feb 11

Missing my kicks

According to the BabyBump app on my iPhone, I should have felt some flutters by Day 126. The message showed up right around our Tokyo babymoon and I started to tear up. I managed to control the initial welling of emotions so I don’t think Wen realized how disturbed I was by the non-flutters until I felt teary again later that same day (and told him about it). He proceeded to do some quick research and reassured me that my high placenta position and this being our first baby makes it perfectly normal not to feel any kicks until even the 5th or 6th month.

Unfortunately, it certainly didn’t help that Day 135 said “By now, baby has started moving around in your tummy, and you’re probably wondering what on earth he/she is doing in there.” Yeah, thanks.  Now I’m wondering if my baby is truly healthy because I’m not sure I’ve felt any movement. So I console myself that the baby must be kicking my bladder and causing that need to pee every other hour. Or maybe the slight soreness and indigestion I feel is really the baby kicking around. But mainly, I think I’m just so clueless that I need to literally see a slight imprint of his foot on my tummy (from inside out) to really feel his kick.

Whatever the reason, I definitely cannot imagine or be sympathetic to any complaints from pregnant women about the kicks they feel from their baby. It must be one of the top ten best moments for a mother and I can’t wait to say “Yes! That’s definitely a kick!”

Jan 17

Tip: Coconut Water

We went to our favorite beef place today because Wen read that Japanese beef has an equal content of Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids. Since I haven’t gained any weight since conceiving 4 months ago (the gynae appointment today measured a loss of 0.3 kg), I figure this indulgence is more than timely. And, the hubby says it’s our wedding anniversary dinner so who am I to argue with that.

Anyhoo, the manager there is now pretty familiar with our tastes and basically helped to place our orders for us. She also recommended that I continue to resist eating my favorite raw beef salad when I tried my luck asking if that was ok. Instead she recommended an oxtail soup that she said would help build up the baby’s bones. Then she gave me a few other dietary tips, including one on coconut water – drink at least 2 coconut’s worth of water per day in the last month of pregnancy.

According to Judy, coconut water helps to reduce the jaundiced effects of newborn babies. I’m not sure if this is an Asian thing but I was definitely jaundiced when I was born and had to be ‘sunned’. One time, my mum even forgot to take me back in after a long bout of sun-tanning so I’m really not sure why I’m so fair. Judy’s first child was severely jaundiced and not only required UV rays (no more risks of forgetting your newborn under the sun now that technology can provide controlled UV rays) but also had to be fed goat milk for a few days before she lost the yellowness and developed a fair complexion.

I did some googling and found this. I suppose it makes sense because coconut water promotes digestive health. Also, from a TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) point of view, coconut is a ‘cooling’ fruit and is a life-saver during that last month of pregnancy when you’re probably going to perspire a lot from all that internal heat (the oven is almost done baking after all).

Still not convinced on the miraculous properties of coconut water for pregnancy? Read this article and you’ll even find that this miracle fruit may just be something you want in your diet the minute you find out that you’re pregnant!

Jan 16

Confinement period and Jamu massage

Have you heard of “confinement period”? Or as some Chinese call it, “做月子”.

This refers to the period immediately after giving birth where the mother is “confined” for a variety of reasons but largely because it is the most critical period for the mother’s body to recuperate. Some believe that if done properly, the confinement period can at minimum, reduce the potential for aches and other discomforts for the mother that could be sustained for the rest of her life. And if you’re planning to have more than one child, then this confinement period is even more critical in helping you regain the strength you’ll need to carry your next child.

Read here for a detailed article on “Confinement Period” and the varied practices among different races in parts of Asia.

When we lived in the US, I remember telling some friends that this would be an invaluable service and a huge reason for me to have my child in Singapore. Except for a “confinement hotel” in Los Angeles mentioned in this USAToday article, I do not believe there is any option to hire a confinement lady in the US as one would in Singapore. This CL would stay with you for 28 days upon your return home from the hospital and, depending on their rates, would take care of everything the mother and child needs from cooking to laundry. She would also usually cook for the husband and if there is an elder child, she may be willing to care for the child with an additional fee. The CL would cook food that help to dispel wind, increase the ‘Qi’ of the mother, and increase lactation. Rates could range from $2,000 to $2,200 not including auspicious red envelopes (about $28 going in and $80 or more for going out) for the CL.

UPDATE (Jul 24, 2011):

A Taiwanese friend of mine who is still living in the US and gave birth to two children there, told me that she hired a confinement nanny for her second child. For her first child, her mom flew over to help but it was too tiring for everyone and she decided that she did not want a repeat of that. Apparently the costs are about the same numerically but in USD.

Resources:  SingaporeMotherhood Forum |  GPLS Confinement Nanny Agency |  Confinement Catering

During this period, you would also need a Jamu (originating from Indonesia) masseur to help massage you back into shape. More importantly, this masseur would also do wraps that help to remove the wind. In some cases, the (often-times painful) jamu massage and wraps can even trim the mother down from a postnatal “5-month” bulge, to about her pre-pregnancy waist. The massage/wraps are typically over a period of 10 days and will also help to increase lactation. Rates could range from $40 to $100 per hour with possible complimentary tummy binders, creams and baby massages.

Some resources:  SingaporeMotherhood Forum |  Jamu Massage |  Origins Jamu Massage

Jan 14

A Life Less Garlicky

Two food ingredients that both of us love are pork and garlic, especially garlic.  I once made a cream of garlic soup, just because we both enjoyed the smell and taste of this bulbous herb that much.  But, three months into the pregnancy, G has developed an aversion to both items.  The pork isn’t so bad, she’ll just remove it from the dish (but will eat bacon, nature’s miracle meat).  Sadly though, she can no longer stand the smell or taste of garlic.  Even a little bit will induce nausea.

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