21W6D (Pregnancy Updates)

PREGNANCY UPDATES

How far along?

21 weeks 6 days

Total weight gain?

4 KGs

Maternity clothes?

Some of slim-cut clothes don't fit anymore, but I still feel the maternity dresses Mum gave are too loose, except those maternity leggings ;)

Sleep:

Feeling lots of kicks especially at night, actually husband felt one of his kicks with his palm on my belly just last night!

Miss anything? 

Energy and being leaner, and most importantly my PARENTS!

Food cravings:

Nasi Padang

Anything making you queasy or sick?

Steamy or smoky environment, such as in a steamboat restaurant or bbq events

Gender?

We're certain now it's a BOY! Immediately went online to buy some baby stuffs! :)

Labor signs?

Lower abdomen cramps during swimming yesterday, probably because it's the first time I've been swimming for this whole year, and I was swimming free style instead of starting slow with frog style.

Symptoms:

Hungry easily

Happy or moody most of the time?

It depends on what occassion, but I would say I'm quite moody generally at home and happier when I'm outside (poor husband has to tolerate my tempers)

Looking forward to:

Moving into our new home in the last week of August and proceeding into 3rd trimester!

"I like to move it, move it!"

One of the greatest changes I felt this week is baby kicks inside my belly. I could feel them strongest in the morning and late night when I'm resting on my bed. Funny it felt like waves inside and I tried as much as I can trying to feel it with my palm across the belly. Sometimes I could palpate his kicks, while other times not. Like as of now I'm typing, the kicks are towards my left belly. So far today I have felt more than 10 kicks already. I still have yet to get Andreas to feel his kick across my belly.

Many mamas said this is one of the things they missed about pregnancies. So I will try to enjoy it while I can. It's both fascinating and also strange at the same time. It's because there's lots of involuntary movement in there, which is similar to a stomach gas I guess but not painful in any way.

And now the kick is towards my bottom centre of belly. The fetus has still lots of room to change its position around until late in his 3rd trimester, at which point in time I hope it'll be facing head down in my pelvis. Most importantly, I hope that the baby is growing healthily and it will be a smooth pregnancy in Jesus Name! Amen.

21W1D

Dear baby,

Today we are 100% sure WE ARE EXPECTING A BOY based on today's ultrasound findings! Mummy immediately got home and ordered you clothes online in excitement. Now all we want is for you to be healthy and grow to be stronger everyday.

The doctor said that everything was perfect with your brain, abdomen, spine, kidneys and almost perfect with your heart, except that she found small white lesion on the wall of left ventricle. She assured Mummy that it was a one of the common founding on ultrasound in this second trimester and it should go away as the pregnancy lengthens. In Wikipedia, it states that this occurs in about 3-5% of normal pregnancies and causes no health problems. Mummy hopes so too! This 'soft marker' has been associated with Trisomy 13, 18 and 21 and there are tests available if we would like to exclude the chromosomal abnormalities altogether but the specialist did not think it's necessary. Mummy is still young and so there is no other risk suggesting that as well. Moreover, the test cost us 400+ Euro! So she suggested us to come back in 4 weeks' time for her to have a look at it again and also to get a better view of your face. You were hiding it despite the shakes the doctor gave. Today you were doing this feet-up-to-the-front-of-your-face pose the whole time during ultrasound and doctor said you are 'sporty'! You are about 440 grams heavy now and about the size of a carrot. :) Mummy did not have any pictures of you for this ultrasound because the doctor captures her shots in a CD instead. Mummy wished she could video instead. Oh well.

Your soon-to-be Mummy,
R

21W0D

The past few days were the best days we had in Germany: 8 days of road trip from Duessie - Roermond - Badenburg - Stuttgart - Ingolstadt - Munich - Hohenschwangau - Ravenburg- Constanz - Triberg - Offenburg - Strassburg - Heidelberg - Frankfurt - Duessie. Although everyday was a hassle, sometimes visiting 2 cities in a day, we were able to see different cities and enjoy different environment. It was definitely tiring, especially for my parents, but I'm sure they enjoyed their time here with us. This trip surely is an eye-opening experience for my parents, about life in Germany and its people. I am extremely thankful to my parents for visiting us and pampering us every day they are here! Everyday was filled with laughters with them around. Their narcism at photo taking or selfies, and fashion styles, cracked us up. They are planning to come visit again in late November-December when the baby is due. We are expecting a full house in December!

Andre drove us all the while, and for that we were forever grateful. I'm so blessed to have such caring and capable husband. Although he's tired, he didn't complain much. Only when we arrived at the hotel and there were stairs instead of elevator, he'd get really pissed off. I agree, it's my fault for not doing my research well enough. Some of the hotels I booked doesn't have aircon and parking on-site. Next time I'll make sure of those details especially when travelling with my parents.

The past weeks I've been feeling baby kicks/flutters in me. Especially last 2 weeks when I put on Hillsong music using belly buds. They say this is one of the best feeling you get from pregnancy. It's true because not only is your belly growing with the baby but also you would anticipate movements to be felt as the baby grows bigger and stronger. It's also good signs to know that your baby is growing and alive inside of you. Also, my nausea had dissipated which is a real relief. It only comes back when I'm super super hungry. Slight hunger would not trigger it unlike before. However, I need to be more disciplined in taking multivits. I think I've skipped 3 days already so far. Naughty me.

Just an update of last ultrasound: Doctor Schmidt thought we would be expecting a boy!Although she could not be 100% sure, I agree after looking at its 'Popo' (meaning 'bottom' in german). But who knows we could always be wrong with ultrasound scans. And tomorrow is going to be my scheduled fetal anomaly scan at Andre's hospital by his colleague. It is usually done in 2nd trimester between 18 to 22 weeks. I hope by tomorrow the gender of the baby can be 100% confirmed! Of course, more importantly, I hope that all will be well with the little one. :)

Til here for now. Later peeps!

18W5D

There are certain kinds of food that make me feel nauseous:

bbq food (smoke smell), chinese hotpot (probably because of the hot weather), looking/touching raw meat (slimy), pork, carbonated water (because it makes me gassy)

On the other hand, there are certain types of food that I feel positive about:

fruits (watermelon, oranges, grapes, bananas), curries, chicken/beef, instant noodles (sadly, yes), chocolate milk, egg, tofu, bread (waffles or simply white bread)

Let's see if our baby will have the same food preference as what I'm having at the moment.

Also I'm feeling these prominent lump in my tummy when I'm lying on my tummy. I guess this is the beginning of feeling the baby inside of me.

OH I HAVE SOME EXCITING AND GRATEFUL NEWS! We found ourselves an apartment nearer to Andreas' hospital, which is so convenient when my water burst near to the delivery date. Also it is on ground floor, which means it will be convenient for us to move in. I also really love the apartment room positioning and the space of the living room area. The previous renter sold us her kitchen, wardrobe, cupboards in kitchen and room and her bed for a very reasonable price, which is a WIN-WIN. Last but not least, the rental price is within our budget and very reasonable. So THANK YOU GOD for giving us the best of the best! I remember then, that I cried when the previous apartment in the same neighbourhood (so crazy and it is not a coincidence) rejected us. But the guy called us back the day we inspected our approved apartment to renegotiate terms for us to take over his apartment. That was when we realised that his apartment was not the best for us after all. The room positioning was not ideal and his furniture conditions were below our comfort zone standard. Although he had bigger garden than what we had now, it is still overall not worth the price which was more than 150 Euro/mth and with a minimum of 2 years rental period which we are not even sure if Andreas is gonna be working at the hospital by then. So overall the pressure on money is definitely lesser for the current apartment with greater comfort and peace of mind. The previous lady in this apartment keeps it really spick and span and she has really top quality furnitures which we will be taking over possession. Once again, PRAISE AND GLORY TO GOD! PRAYER INDEED WORKS MIRACLES. What I thought is not possible (same neighbourhood as the previous offer is rare in the area, cheap price for this neighbourhood) and I almost gave up hope, our prayers and efforts definitely work wonders.

Next week is my next ultrasound visit at the doctor's so hopefully the doctor can let me know a more confident judgement on whether we will be having a boy or a girl. So cool! Also, my parents will be here for over 2 weekends! And we have plans for road trips with them to cool places of South-West Germany. Can't wait for them to be here!

Tomorrow we are checking out cameras and might be bringing one home. Hopefully we make the right best decision. We are also having connect group at a friend's house and they are thinking of bbqing for dinner. To be honest, I am so sick of it. Seriously. I might have to eat at home before going over there.

Til later!!!