Latest baby's position

Just saw my OB today and have confirmed that baby's position is left lateral-posterior. Ob also mentioned that there's nothing we can do with the position because baby's constantly moving and trying to engage her head in the cervix. Oh well, we can only pray for a smooth delivery. Oh yeah, Ob also said there's a huge difference between anterior and posterior position, as much difference as a vaginal birth and a C-section.

A posterior position will mean a longer birth, unfortunately. =(

Pray pray pray for me please!

Packing my hospital bag

I've been gaining weight steadily, currently weight stands at 13kg, which is perfect as I've only 1 more month to go. Blood pressure's perfect too, and has been 100/60 all throughout pregnancy.

Anyway, I was talking some new mums, basically fishing for advice and I've been reminded again to start packing my bag, cuz I'll never know when baby's coming.

So, finally I've done it a few days ago and here's the list:

For Me

• Birth plan – in case they ask
• Personal details – medicare Card, HCF customer number, antenatal card
• Clothes

o Pyjamas – sarongs (x2), pants, baggy t-shirts, front button shorts
o Inner garments – undies, maternity feeding bras (x2), usual bra
o Check out from hospital – dress?
o Thick socks
o Towel
o Face towel (x2)
o Hot water bottle
o Sweater/warm jacket

• Toiletries

o Shampoo, soap, comb, toothbrush & toothpaste, deodorant, powder, elastic band,
skin care products, small packet of tissue, plastic bag for dirty laundry, make up

• Essentials

o Breast pads, sanitary pads, nipple cream, slipper

• Notepad and pen
• Snacks – lollies/biscuits

For Andrew

• Change of clothes – shirt, pants, pyjamas, underwear, etc
• Snacks
• Movies – Boston Legal
• PS2
• Laptop

For missy

• Car Seat
• Outfit for trip home
• Baby blanket
• Receiving blanket
• Nappies, wipes
• Socks, mittens, hat
• Muslin wraps
• Toiletries

o Shampoo (J&J), Bath (Top to Toe), Baby's lotion, Baby's oil, Powder, Cotton buds,
Cotton wool, pacifier

Last minute items

• Mobile phone
• Camera/charger
• Hair dryer
• Handbag

I know, you must think I'm packing like I'm going for holiday! haha.. well, I get to stay at this very expensive hospital, with my own room for 5 days. Best of all, my private health fund pays for the accommodation, so what the heck! I'm going to enjoy my stay there as long as I can.
Hopefully I don't miss anything.

35 weeks

I'm 35 weeks this week. Been having Braxton-Hicks contraction on and off. It feels particularly weird when baby kicks too hard and you can actually feel her feet. It's amazing how I can actually play with her. She doesn't seem to like it when I try to move/touch my belly button, as it probably pulls the umbilical cord. She will try to move around and shift her position, although she can't really do that anymore.

Her head is still at the constant position, ie at the bottom.

I have been trying to figure out what position is baby in.

Below are a few which I know is definite but couldn't figure out which out of the three. Baby's feet is kicking on top of my right rib and baby's been having hiccups everyday, and I can feel it at the bottom near my pubic area, which is how I was sure baby's head's down, ready for labour soon.

Left Posterior

Left Lateral

Left Anterior

Apparently, the best position for labour is anterior as labour is nearly always shorter and easier if the baby is anterior.

If baby is in posterior position,

• Your waters are more likely to break at the beginning of labour.
• You have a lot of backache during and in between contractions.
• Labour is slower.
• You may need forceps to help you give birth to your baby.

Baby's been having hiccups everyday and everytime, it last about 5-10 minutes. At first it was quite annoying, it feels like very strong heartbeat and it just distracts you from working. But when I learnt that it all indicates baby's lung is developing and preparing itself to function when baby comes out, I was okay with it. Meaning to say, baby needs to hiccup.

Alrighty, that's all for now. Dinner time!

Preparation for baby's arrival

God has truly been faithful and good to us. Slowly but surely, friends are passing us baby stuffs which means, there's really not much for us to spend on. Personally, I think it's a waste of money to buy brand new stuffs for baby although of course, it's always nice to have new things.

I have been spending minimally on baby. Even maternity clothes are hand-me-downs. I only had to buy a couple of pants and inner garments, but that's really it. It's winter now and I've been wearing hubby's warm jacket everywhere I go. I didn't feel the need to be fanciful with clothings, so didn't bother to get nice maternity clothings.

Our church members and friends have been really gracious and kind to us to pass us most of the essentials. So, we are forever grateful and thankful. Some of things we've collected so far are:

1. Avent milk bottles and teethers






2. Milk bottle sterilizer


3. Changing table


4. Stroller


5. Baby's bag and clothings


6. Baby's feeding chair (for later use, given to us by our landlord's daughter and is currently stored in our landlord's home). It looks something like this and is also brand new,


7. Bassinette
Not sure how it looks like as we will be getting them later on. A basinette is basically this:


7. Baby's bed
Bought the mattress and bed sets from Ikea during its half-year clearance sale. But I guess, it's a little too big for baby. Perhaps, I will only use it when baby's slightly older.


8. Baby's capsule
Got this from Salvos for only 8 bucks! How cool is that? Since baby only uses capsules until they are about 6 months old, I thought I'd just make do with this one and get a car seat for her later on.


Since we haven't got a new place, there won't be any baby room, unfortunately. I do envy friends who specially dedicated a room for their newborn baby, with all the nice little baby trinkets, furnitures and etc. Oh well, I'm thrilled regardless with baby's arrival, which will be soon, very soon =)

33 weeks

Lately, growth has been tremendous that I've been having rib pain on my left side 3 days in a row now. I'm carrying the baby high (usually a girl, so they say as opposed to carrying low, which is a boy). The uterus/baby is pushing against my rib and so I find it extremely hard to sneeze or cough or laugh even. I don't know how long this will last but it seems nothing I do eases the pain. Thank God however, I slept well last night by just sleeping on my right.

I am getting impatient now, I'm so anxious to have baby out. But I've got to be patient. I pray against any problems that might cause harm to the baby or having to deliver baby prematurely.

This is such an exciting time.

32 weeks and counting

Other than the fact that I catch cold quite easily these days, pregnancy has been enjoyable.

Current weight gain stands at 11.5kg. From my latest scan, baby has gained more weight as can tell from her rounded face. I am so excited that she looks more like Andrew ie she inherited his nose (which I'm most glad) and his mouth (not too glad). haha! Still, it has a nice shape!

She's been been very active and I have to watch out for movements every other minute as I have some concerns after I saw the scan. The umbilical cord was wrapping around her neck although Doppler ultrasound (use to measure blood flow in this instance, the umbilical cord) shows the cord was just resting on her neck and not AROUND her neck. Still, if her movements and growth are causing the cord to restrict around her neck, I'm afraid she'll suffocate.. oh dear God. Please see to this matter!

Over the past month, tummy has been growing so fast and when I finally look at my tummy in the mirror one day, I was amazed at how big my tummy was. I am glad I haven't put on weight on any other part of my body, just the tummy and a little in my bum and thigh. Breast wise, hm, I think it only grew half a cup to my disappointment. But amazingly, I am starting to leak milk or rather colostrum (as milk only comes after delivery). So, there you go, the amount of breastmilk does not correlate with the size of the breast. Anyone, can breastfeed!

Sleeping has been difficult. Though my sleep has been cut short every time I make a trip to the loo in the middle of the night, I have had good quality sleep. Never once baby wakes me up with her hyperactive movement and strong kicks. When I try to lie very still, she thinks I'm asleep, so she doesn't move, but the moment I start moving, she will be kicking non-stop. At times, I'm so sure I can feel her tiny fingers scraping the wall of my tummy. It is so hilarious!

Here are some of her latest scan photos:

24 weeks now

Somehow, I feel time is passing a little too slow.. probably because I can't wait for my baby's arrival. Thank goodness I have been well so far, praise the Lord. I have not fallen sick at all since being pregnant.. morning sickness doesn't qualify as sickness because they are primarily symptoms of being pregnant. Being in the 2nd trimester is absolutely awesome. I am able to eat anything and everything albeit in a smaller portion but more times a day. I have been enjoying dessert (all those sinful calories that I used to avoid feeding my body) like never before. I am enjoying every moment of my pregnancy.

Anyway, baby is doing fine. Kicking so much and probably doing lots of somersault in her tiny confinement space. If she's really going to be tall and thin and beautiful, I will consider taking her to ballet lessons or even be a gymnast! I think I am one of those mums who will make their children live dreams which they never had. Oh well, that's when my husband will exercise his authority by putting a stop to all my unrealistic desire.

We have a name in mind for the baby, but dare not make it known publicly because finding out baby's gender through ultrasound is never 100%. Moreover, I found out about baby's gender at 17-19 weeks. So, that might be a little too early to confirm. So, personally I am having some reservations until the day of delivery.

If you ask me if I have any preference for baby's gender, well, I would be lying if I say no. I'm sure everyone prefers something over another. Having said that, it doesn't mean that, what you prefer less would mean rejected, in spiritual sense. Of course I thank the Lord, whichever he decides to give, because He knows what is best for me which I definitely don't for myself.

Anyway, my ideal family would be 4 children, 2 boys and 2 girls. That's my dream family. Hopefully, my husband would be keen to have more children after our first child! =)

Talking of which, I have to mention this. I have such a wonderful husband, if not the best in the world. He made some chicken essence for me the other day, and I was so surprised he knows how to double boil a chicken. When I asked him, how he knew it, he then told me the story of how his dad taught him when he was a teenager, to cook for his future pregnant wife. I was so touched to have such a great father in law who seriously knows how to pass down good teaching and knowledge. This is how a father should be. Well, to proove that Andrew did what his dad taught him, here's some pictures.