Mopi is a watermelon

I think Mopi has had a major growth spurt.

For the last three days, my tummy has been feeling so heavy. Walking around the house, I even use my hands to help carry the watermelon that has become my stomach.

It was such a sudden thing. Overnight. Pop! Out came the tum. Waaaay out.

***

On another note, I've been confused for the longest time.

We know pregnancies last for 9 months, right?

Wrong.

Doctors calculate the gestation period and the various milestones over a period of 40 weeks. They start counting from when you get your period so for most of the first month, one isn't really pregnant at all.

Anyway 40 weeks = 10 months right?

So being at about 25 weeks, I've been telling everyone that I am 5 months pregnant. I thought in layman's terms, one would discount the first month.

Thus, 25 weeks - 4 weeks (for the first month) = 21 weeks, which is 5 months right?

Wrong.

I've JUST discovered that I am actually one more month pregnant that I thought!

In fact, I'm six and a half months pregnant.

ALREADY!?!?!

You see, last night Mopi was being particularly active and so was my mind. I just couldn't get to sleep. So I decided to flip through What to expect when you are expecting - a book I discarded after about 10 weeks. (Pregnancy books are tres zzzz... and I am also scared to read the last chapters so I stop halfway!)

According to the book, the 40 weeks so work out to 9 months:

First Trimester
Month 1: 1-4 weeks
Month 2: 5-8 weeks
Month 3: 9-13 weeks

Second Trimester
Month 4: 14-17 weeks
Month 5: 18-22 weeks
Month 6: 23-27 weeks --->>> ME! at 25 weeks!

Third Trimester
Month 7: 28-31 weeks
Month 8: 32-35 weeks
Month 9: 36-40 weeks

This is just really scary... coz I'm really quite advanced at 6.5 months, aren't I?

D-Day looms... and I still don't understand the maths of it all.

But the good news is, I've still got my innie!

More space needed for Mopi

So we've gone and found Mopi a new home.

It was quite a quick decision. We saw the place on Friday and we loved it. So we immediately put in an offer and it was approved this afternoon. We move in on the 7th of February - in two weeks!

The place is huge. There are two levels with a great view of the Twin Towers.

The first floor has a kitchen, dining area, lounge and a guest room. The second floor has a little family sitting area, master with study and three bedrooms. One bedroom will be Mopi's nursery and one will be turned into my study/office.

No doubt, there'll be lots of room for Mopi to crawl about.

Our new home is just upstairs from where we are. So we're moving on up from 9 to 23A, which is actually 24 but the Chinese don't like the number 4.

Chinese people are so superstitious. The landlord said to D: "You better check if the date is ok with your feng shui guy, coz it's the Fiery Year of the Dog, you know!"

Do people really have a feng shui guy on call?

While it may be the same block of apartments, but it will still be quite an effort to shift all our stuff.

We're getting movers, so hopefully it won't be too stressful. I'll just sit back and point: there, here, there, upstairs, room two... chop chop!

Anyway, it's quite exciting as Mopi will have her own room and since we'll be all settled in our new place by mid-February, I can take my time doing up the nursery.

So many options!

No pinks though!

24 weeks

Baby sensations:
Mopi has been kicking a lot more. The kicks are stronger now. Little karate chops. Hyaaaaayah! But they are still sporadic and there's no real time when she's particularly active. She seems to kick most when I am lying down on my back, probably in protest as I've read that's when space is most constricted. Incidentally, she seems to kick a lot when I pay mahjong as well. Maybe she likes the clicketyclack of the tiles. Now that she kicks a lot, if I don't feel anything for a while I poke at my tummy trying to get her to respond, usually in vain. She does what she wants! When I was feeling really ill last week it was nice to feel her kick, kinda reassuring to know she was alright and that I wasn't all alone in my suffering. Hope the meds didn't affect her too much. Poor doped up baby!

Baby's likes and dislikes:
She doesn't really like classical music, especially hates opera (or maybe that's just me). She seems to like Enya though. During one particular song, she kicked for quite an extended period of time in rhythm to the music. Hilarious! But maybe that's only funny to me...

At this month's prenatal visit we learnt that:
All test results came back clean. Mopi is at very very low risk of neural tube defects and down syndrome. Thank God!
Risk of NTD: 1 in 10000
Risk of Down: 1 in 1425
(Age related Down risk 1 in 538)

Anyway, I got to see some pretty cool pictures this visit to Dr R's. D didn't make it coz we had already been to see Dr AT and Dr Y in Singapore. Dr R put up a 4D (what does that mean?) scan and you could really see quite clearly a picture of Mopi floating around and waving away. It was surreal. Dr R says it becomes even more so in the coming months coz the face will become more detailed - and at the very end we'll be able to see what Mopi looks like even before she pops out!

It's still not so clear but here's a pic of the bubs - she was waving her arm at us all through this scan. Helllooooo!

This month has been:
REALLY TOUGH. Somehow I got me the shingles. And it was such a horrible, painful, disgusting experience.

We went to see Dr R who confirmed it and he gave me some painkillers and cream. But the rash progressively got worse. It was like some flesh eating virus. Blisters popped up the size of grapes and in fact, were in clusters like grapes. The pain was BAAAD - a deep stabbing, relentless, pounding sensation. GIVE ME AN EPIDURAL ALREADY!

Finally, I caved in and went to see a specialist who painstaking explained to D and I the risks associated with taking the meds. So the three of us weighed up the pros and cons and I went on the meds. Ahhhhh drugs. *Bliss*

The blisters have popped and gone crusty (yum yum) and I am feeling stronger, though not enough to venture out of the house as yet, which is why this blog is getting so much attention!

Baby bag

I thought this may be cute to carry Mopi's things about town...



... then I discovered the price.

A mere USD$498.

Mopi's chin

There's no doubt, she's got my pointy chin!

When I discovered this, I showed D and he was like: "OH NOOOOooooooooooo! She's gonna look like you!"

Nice.

Not!

21 weeks

The first time I felt you kick:
[Saturday 10 December] It was in the deep dark hours of the morning and I was kinda awake, which is the norm these days. Sleepless nights. Anyway, I was just lying there on my side trying to will myself back to sleep. It was quiet and still... and suddenly I felt this little sensation in my tum. I wondered for a while if it was gas or a tummy rumble but I think it was the baby.

It felt like:
Blowing bubbles through a straw in a big glass of water. You know, bubble bubble blub blub blub. But it was a very slight sensation not violent or strong. Anyway, I thought it quite interesting but I didn't feel super excited, not enough to wake D and certainly not enough to not go back to sleep. So that's what I did, I went back to sleep.

I discussed this movement with P and she said her sensation is like a snake crawling under sand. Hmmm.

I told D on sat night and he was like "How come you didn't tell me sooner?" I dunno.

At this month's prenatal visit:
We found out that MOPI IS A GIRL!!!!!! We did the scan in Singapore as we were there for the Christmas break.

WHEE!!!!!!!!!

Apparantly, if you see three lines it's a girl and if you see one beeeg one, it's a boy. Go figure. We did a super dooper scan and everything is "normal" and "good" and positive - oh, except for a low lying placenta.

Stocking up

Mopi's taking up quite a but of space now... or maybe it's all the turkey, christmas pudd and nachos over Christmas.

The baby is moving a lot more now and since Monday night there have been rather distinctive kicking. D felt it too but until I said: "Did you feel that?", he thought I was gassing in my tummy. The kicking isn't rhythmic like people have told me to expect but rather a thud now and then. It's kinda weird.

Today, we're off to check out the Robinsons sale. Life as I know it is over.

Mopi's first Christmas present

All the way from America...

16 weeks

The best bit of advice I've received is:
To check out all the baby stuff that I would need and then wait for the sales to come... then to just grab them then!


This month's ultrasound was:
[Monday 28 November] A HUGE let down! We were supposed to be able to find out if Mopi is a GIRL or a boy this visit but the baby wouldn't turn around. The baby kept its back and butt to us and refused to flip over. Despite all the prodding and poking, Dr R just couldn't get Mopi to turn. Finally, we managed to isolate Mopi's legs but then the baby wouldn't spread them! ARGH! Anyway, the baby's heart rate was at a rapid 158! Everything else was normal - blood flow, placenta, head, brain, spine etc. Dr R also took a LOT of blood for a series of tests and indicators for Down's and other congenital abnormalities. Ow.

Spilling the beans

Well, we got the all-clear and we started telling... though I must say D spilled the beans a few times when he wasn't supposed to.

Everyone was really happy for us and most people were like, "It's about time!"

*Rolls eyes*

From New York:

From London:

From Singapore:

And a grin-inducing email from Colorado:
YIPPEEE! I am SO happy for you!!! I think about you and your bub to be all the time!!!! Hope she's doing well ;) Can't wait to hear more!!!! Ill have to start reading your blog again. It's bound to be hilarious. Pregnancy is pretty weird..... Anyway, I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO happy for you!!!!!! You will have such a beautiful little one!!!!!! I can hardly wait for you!!!!Take care. I will keep sending baby dust, and just so you know, it has always been pink. - Kizaroonie

The first thing we bought for Mopi

It was on sale so I couldn't resist.


How cute is this little outfit!

12 weeks

What I'm enjoying the most about my pregnancy so far is:

Some foods seem to taste sooooooooo gooooood - like cold Twix bars and Almond Caramel Auntie Ann's pretzels.

The strangest advice I've received is:
Don't hang anything up on walls... supposedly the knocking is bad might give the baby a hole in the had or something.

Names that I've been thinking of:
But not necessarily like all that much: Isabelle, Riley, Olivia for a girl and Lachlan, Riley, Keiren for a boy.

Girl or boy? I think you will be a:
Girl! PLEASE BE A GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!

The old wives tales predict:
D: Pink
Mum: Pink
Dad: ?
RK: Blue
Dr: ?
Keng: Blue
Marilyn: Pink
C: Pink
Yvette: Blue
Smell: Blue

At my prenatal visit this month I found out that:
[Friday 28 October] Cramping is normal... Turns out cramps are caused by the stretching of the lingaments and uterus.

On the U/S we saw Mopi crouched in a boxer pose. So D has nicknamed the baby "The Boxer" but that is just too blue for me. Veto!

8 weeks

This month we told:
The Parents

The maternal foggies:
I called Mum in the morning. No one picked up. So I sms-ed her and she rang back about 11. She was like waasssup? Then I said, "You are going to be a grandma!" She said: "Oh I'm so happy!" in a soft voice. We chatted for a while. She said she and Dad never told anyone till quite a while after.

She had a funny story. The first time she she thought she was pregnant, dad was so great and refused to let her do anything... so she ordered him around and he did all the hosuework and stuff. Then her period came; "He gave me a kick!" Ha ha.

I told her not to tell anyone coz D needed to tell his oldies first. And she was off to play MJ at the in-laws. I'm sure she must have had a tough time keeping the secret to herself. But sometimes it's nice to have secrets.

After speaking to Mum, I tried to tell Dad via MSN (technology!) but he was not at his desk. So he only found out after lunch. When I told him he was going to be a grandpa and he said: "Wah now I feel old loh." Then he said: "So you and D have been busy ah?" !!!! Geez.

The paternal grandparents:
Originally, we were going to send a photo of the pregnancy test to the Doc with a note saying: "So what exactly does this mean?" But in the end D told them over the phone too. I think his mother shed a happy tear or two.

This month at the prenatal visit we learned that:
[Monday 26 September] ...technology is amazing. D came with me to Dr R's and we saw the little heart pumping away and heard it beat. Freaky.

C had a theory that if the rate was 140+ the baby would be a boy. The baby's heart rate was 128beats/min... so hopefully she's right!

Pregnancy symptoms:
Well, there's been a startling absence of morning sickness and food cravings.

Mopi's first presents!

Popped into Perth for a week to spend time with the foggies and to catch up with Michy and Holly, who gave Mopi FIRST EVER pressies!

A bear and a cute little duckie jumpsuit...

Thanks Auntz Mich!
And a card for D and moi:

At 5 weeks

The discovery:
Monday 5 September. D went off to work and I was late and coz I was feeling awfully fat and bloated I thought I'd do a test and if it was negative, I'd go to spin class at 10am. Ha ha. Anything to get out of going to the gym! So at 8.20, I did a HPT which I had left over from a very long time ago. And pretty much instantaneously, two lines appeared. So CD31, 3 days late, a BFP!

The first person I told was:
D, of course! I let the info sink into my brain for about half an hour and then at 9am I called him at the office. I said: "How are you gonna fit a baby seat in your new car ah?"

Just one week after he collected his new - very practical - car.
He reacted by:
Saying, "Really?!?!" And then he asked skeptically, "How do you know?"

The first ultrasound was:

About 1pm Wednesday, 7 September 2005. It was kinda freaky to see something in my tum. I saw the gestation sac confirming the pregnancy. Surreal. D didn't come this time.



At my first prenatal visit I learned that:
My HCG was at 1254 and my progesterone was at 109. (Whatever that means!)

Our baby will be born:
From my calculations (which are yet unconfirmed by the doctors) on Friday May 12 2006!

The strangest symptom of pregnancy I had this month was:
I love Nutella!!

Right out of the bottle...