yesbashtiahwrites

Yeah the title was emphasized as such in case I got another baby and had to write another post "My labor story: (name of second child)" A day before labor, I went to TCE Baby Expo , Fitnessium (Taayun and Am's gym), and had a good meal of lasagna. Yeah berjalan sakan I tell you. TCE Baby Expo . Got a lot of cheapo cheapo stylish clothes. But so packed will be thinking twice to go again next time. Being a first time mum, there were a lot of things I didn't know. I'm so glad my best friend is a doctor. I always refer her in case of any changes. The night before, I had major contractions like so bad so sakit... And there were clear fluid drippings. Like mengalir je like that. I thought there were normal discharges. Tita told me to look for brownish discharges, she didn't say anything about clear ones. So as usual, I reported to her, early in the morning right after subuh prayers. Belum 7am pun lagi. Told her malam tadi asyik discharge je tapi tak brownis...

A short story on how I came to know I'm pregnant (Sofia). Compulsory to put Sofia's name because it has been nearly 4 years already. People might get the wrong idea. Padahal siapa je baca blog ni? Been checking regularly (asalkan lambat seminggu dua je check) using the pregnancy test kit. Most of the time only one red line. Once, two red lines but one of it not so clear. Retest. Nope, one visible red line only. Tested so many times already, always negative so I took time off to chill and relax. More than two weeks then only I did the test. When I finally got two visible red lines (very clear ones..), which I immediately send a picture of it to Tita. Best friend of 22 years gotta know first, plus, she's a doctor too. Tried to surprise husband when he got home but failed. Told him to look at the bath tub nearly 3 times yet he didn't notice the strip so I have to point the strip to him myself. First question he asked, "Siapa yang bertanggungjawab ni?" ........

TCE Baby Expo at Mid Valley Megamall.

In the labor room. 

4.50 pm, Sunday 31st July 2016/ 26 Syawal 1437H 3 kg baby girl

Makan banyak salah, tak makan banyak also salah. At 37 weeks now, I weigh 49.5 kg. In just two weeks time, I gained 1.5 kg. I was surprised but at the same time happy at my weight gain. I thought I did a good job in growing myself/ the baby. Drinking milk and all. Until I went in to see my doctor and she ran a scan to check Baby A's weight. Baby A is now 2.9 kg... She gained a good 400 g in just two weeks.  My doctor said I have to make sure the baby didn't grow so big as it will be hard for me to push her out. I'm such a small person that a big baby may leave me no choice other than go for cesarean.  Deep inside, I was blaming my husband and this one male doctor I met. The doctor told me to add another 10 kg, at that moment I just gained a freaking 3 kg in just one month (yes, minum air gula thank you). Mak already advised not too have a big baby, susah nak teran ah lelaki tau apa bukan dorang yang beranak... And my previous doctor also advised the sam...

The very first thing of all things that I bought for my baby is a swimming diaper . Bought around April when I was 23 weeks. Swimming diaper from  Mermate , your swim mate. I bought it online from my friend, Zahra for only RM 25 if I'm not mistaken. I didn't know the gender at that time, hence the blue colour to keep it unisex. About a week later, Iz got our baby a football club t-shirt. Yes. The very first thing he bought for our baby is a t-shirt . Biased parents. We decided that our baby will decide what she wants to do. We'll give you freedom to choose... Don't worry... But you MUST know how to swim and kick balls.

Finally, Iz and I managed to go out together to buy stuffs for the baby, and me. We've been planning several times already; with me initiating it, and me, also, the one cancelling it. I would text him earlier to ask him out after work to get stuffs, but then I would be the one calling it off because 1) my feet got so swollen or 2) I was so exhausted. There was this one time, I was all set. I get ready early. The plan was to go out straight away after he came back from work. He would drop by just to pick me up. About 10 minutes before he left his office, I feel it coming. Oh, man... Not again! I feel my body so weak, legs hurting so bad. Urgh! I called him up and cancelled our plan... No can do. I was so exhausted I didn't even feel like going downstairs. Asked him to get me pizza (I ate a lot of pizza during this pregnancy period, seriously) and we watched Bangraji Bhaijaan together on YouTube. So, finally, last Saturday , we managed to go out. The whole day. From morn...

Iz told me one annoying joke on our way to a friend's wedding. "Did you know that after marrying Cinderella for quite some time the prince realized that she is just like her step sisters?" "Nope. Why?" "She couldn't fit in her shoe, just like them" Yes. I just realized I couldn't fit in my shoes anymore. I grew one size bigger. My feet didn't only felt sore every night, it became big.

I've started to have a thing for spicy food lately. Recently, after my monthly check up, I actually finished one whole bowl of mi kari by myself. Yesterday I craved for the super spicy sambal ayam penyet. Berpeluh-peluh berlecak makan, I tell you... Mak said she experienced the same thing while carrying me in the third semester. We were in the States back then and her Indonesian friend would always invite her over to eat sambal colek. Her friend said my mum's baby must be very hardworking later, kuat kerja ni, because kuat makan sambal. Well, it is true. Memang kuat kerja pun. Let's see how Baby A turned out to be. Kuat kerja ke kuat makan je. Hehe.

Water retention on both legs, late night sudden leg cramps, sore back, hands feeling numb, frequent trips to the toilet, tummy being kicked and punched so hard from the inside that sometimes it shows on the surface, sitting like an elephant, lying down and getting up like a tortoise, walking like a fat duck... I should be resting by now. Today I think I overworked myself. Gardening and laundry in the morning, grocery shopping in the afternoon, cleaning the pool in the evening, scrub the bathtub, organize folders, rearrange clothes in the closet... I didn't do all that on my own. My brother and mum assisted me (in other words, 'I' assisted them). By Maghrib, I was really exhausted I feel like crying. Because I know that I've reached my limit and that I should stop.  I still lingered around the kitchen to see what I could help, though. Still forcing myself despite my legs hurting already. Mum must have noticed. As soon as she told me to go lie down, I immedia...

Went for my monthly check up yesterday. The most exciting thing I look forward to during every appointment is definitely watching Baby A on the screen. Starting from the third trimester, it is quite difficult to see her full body on the screen. It's either face only, or feet only. Baby A has grown so much we could see her eyes, nose, and mouth already (Yes, Baby A is a girl, InshaAllah). Only thing is, this time around I'm not sure which one is which. My doctor would point it out but later when I got home to see for myself on my own, I'd lost it. During yesterday's appointment, 35 weeks already, Alhamdulillah, we did a scan. I am now 48 kg and my fetus weight is 2.5 kg. My weight before pregnancy was 39 kg, by the way. My doctor went, "Haa... See her eyes... Her cheeks... Oh such chubby cheeks!"  Lying on the bed, I stared at the screen ahead of me trying to figure out where exactly are the cheeks. I must have looked confused. She tilted the scree...

This year, Iz have no choice but to celebrate the first day of Eid at my place. Hehe... Last year we went back to his hometown, so it's my turn now! It doesn't matter my kampung is only a few hours from home, kampung is still a kampung. Hello #teamrayaKL I think the most important thing during Eid is the chance to meet and get to know your family. As in the whole family tree. Last year my in-laws brought me around Ipoh and Kelantan to introduce me to their relatives. My Eid has never been so hectic! 5 days! But that included short trips to Cameron Highlands and Pasar Siti Khadijah. Back home I was flat out. Over-socializing, I guess. Culture shock, for sure. Plus too many names to remember! By the end of the minta ampun session, Atuk asked me if I really remember each and everyone's name. HAHA. Honestly, no. The girls looked oh so similar to each other, wearing the same colour too, it was real hard for me to differentiate them. I tried to memorize their names by k...

Last night my feet was so swollen it looked like Big Foot! I know my feet has grown a bit as my shoe felt so tight already, but last night, it became bigger than usual! And this morning, my fingers were swollen. I kept looking at my fingers in disbelief. Whoa... Seriously. My feet was so swollen it looked cute. Gemuk-gemuk comel, jari kaki ketot. During my previous trip to the hospital for a check up, I did notice most of the ladies have swollen feet. So kembang... I never thought it would happen to me. Just because I went through quite a smooth first trimester with no morning sickness (well, not as bad as most people I know), I thought I'll get away with other symptoms as well. Nope. Say hello to third trimester.

Frequent visits to the toilet to pee phase. Haa... I can feel it coming just anytime. And if I got up or suddenly walked too fast, I'd immediately feel it coming. Zapp! Just like that. There were also times when Baby A kicked (or punched, I don't know also) hard that I actually went, "Adoi!". Because it was so sudden and so hard! Sometimes I purposely walk slow to avoid 'the feel'... I always tahan when I'm sitting. Not a good thing I know, but I'm trying to change that. Sometimes I just went to the toilet and less than 10 minutes already feel like pee-ing again! With this big tummy, getting up from the floor is a tough job okay... Going out is another thing. I already went to the toilet before going downstairs, Iz waiting for me outside. Grabbed my handbag, ready to go out, then I feel it coming.... "Kejap, kejap, kejap! Gi toilet jap!" Iz looking at me, "Bukan tadi dah gi toilet?" What... When nature calls, you just gotta go...

Pulau Bum-Bum, Semporna Too good to be true I thought it was a scam, until Tuah send me the ticket itinerary and Iz confirmed the ticket with AirAsia. Alhamdulillah. Ruang dan peluang, rezeki dan nikmat. IRenang got invited all the way to Semporna to conduct an aquatic therapy and swimming program for students in Pulau Bum-Bum, Semporna, Sabah . All four of us went to Semporna, all expenses paid for two . Y ou may read more details on the program at IRenang's blog . Tiada yang mustahil di Semporna... Is a tagline given by Tuah, a very dedicated teacher in SK Terusan Tengah who is in charge of this whole program. He rebranded his remedial class to Akademi IQ and conducted weekly weekend out of school program for his 11 students. Ours was the last session for the year 2016. His dedication, how he went out of his way for all his students might put some teachers to shame. I've never met a teacher so dedicated and committed as he is. 5 Days 4 Nights in Semporna....

African flower granny backpack This bag is one of the many unfinished crochet projects I had. All 23 hexagons (24 including the base) were stitched together to form a bag and left just like that. I didn't complete it as it turned out to be so small I didn't know what to do with it.  I finally decided to turn it into a backpack for my baby. You can make even bigger bags using this simple pattern. The bigger you want your bag to be, the more hexagons you have to do. Here's the pattern. African flower hexagon pattern (Google) I'd like to maintain the shape of my bag so I made a bag lining. This way I can avoid the bag from over stretching. The vinyl cords will be used to pull close the bag. As for the STRAPS. I bought a matching vinyl tape. Sew it between the lining and the crochet bag. I didn't use a sewing machine for this as I'm afraid the wool might get stuck... Haha. I wanted ADJUSTABLE straps. So that it can ...

It has been nearly 10 years since I last took a flight and I just had to fly now at 28 weeks pregnant. Flight tickets were sponsored, come on... Rezeki anak ni... First time flying pregnant, I wasn't sure I needed any documentation. At the very last minute, husband said he just found out I needed a  medical clearance letter  because I'm already  past 26 weeks . He read it up on AirAsia's website. Smart guy. Went to the clinic where I had my monthly antenatal check up and it happened that my doctor was in. So we requested to see my doctor. I just had a check up with her last week... Hahaha. Meet her for less than 10 minutes, asked for a letter, and paid RM29 at the counter. Terkedu. Just for that one piece of paper. I could have just ask from Tita... But at the last minute, all that matters is to get things done. My doctor stated that I am 29 weeks pregnant and also included my due date. So basically for 26 weeks and over you need a medical clearance letter fro...

Being a full time swimming instructor, here was how I survived my first trimester in the pool.... When I found out about my pregnancy, I just completed a two weeks intensive swimming program. Swimming classes every single day. I was already 4-weeks pregnant by then. "Rehat dulu dari turun naik kolam..." So they said. But I didn't stop going to the pool completely... Hahah. Degil. It was only because of this one moment that I decided to slow down a bit; I suddenly realized I could no longer take in rice. Just so sudden like that. I had the usual portion in my plate, but only satu suap , and then cannot go on already! I felt nauseous trying to eat more. No appetite to eat rice at all. I started living on biscuits, bread, fruits, and soup. Lack of eating resulted in lack of energy... I became sluggish. I still went to the pool for personal classes, but I rescheduled them. Instead of doing back to back, I limited myself to only one class per day. Alhamdulillah for u...