𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝘆 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗴! 𝗜'𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗴 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲. 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱, 𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿! 𝘄𝘄𝘄.𝘇𝘇𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘆.𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Our Baby has Arrived.

Just in case some of you didn't follow my Instagram (@zzanyy), I am 12 days post partum as on 18th Aug 2017, I've delivered our baby girl at 1:48am.

 Introducing our little bundle of love and joy,
Nur Sarah Tolentino


 Yes, that's her just born into the world photo; eyes wide opened with tongue sticking out and all.
 Cheeky little one.


 She definitely follows Jhon's genes and even though baby's features will keep on "changing" as days, weeks and months passed, it's pretty much obvious.


 I for sure do not have that kind of eyelashes, let alone that high nose bridge.

 The 3 of us are doing well and healthy as we can be. Besides the standard struggles of a new mom and dad, we are okay. Yes, I will post all the back logged posts and that includes my delivery story and more.
   

3rd Trimester, 8th Month (Breech, Breech, Baby)

          1st Trimester, Month 0-1Month 2 (pt.1 & pt. 2)Month 3
          2nd Trimester, Month 4Month 5Month 6, Month 7

5 July 2017 - 2 August 2017


Impromptu Hari Raya Maternity Photoshoot

As usual, my family and I went jalan raya on the 2nd week of the raya month and that's the day Jhon and I get to dress up real nice. While waiting for my brother, we took photos as per normal. Our couple photos looked so great (in my opinion) that it can pass as a maternity photoshoot but Hari Raya themed. I initially wanted to do a 'proper' maternity photoshoot but after this, no need lah. I am actually quite contented with the photos. 



After majority of my relatives had found out about my pregnancy, I decided to share it to my IG & FB account officially. In IG, I just wrote "Surprise" and in FB, I just put a 3-photo collage with no caption at all. haha I figured let the pictures do the talking and no point being so mushy and wordy about it. 

The Heaviness, Waddling and Water Retention Begins

At the beginning of July, my weight was at about 66.3kg so I have started to feel the heaviness while walking. I generally do not waddle unless I feel uncomfortable or in pain which thankfully not often or prolonged. I am at a stage where I can't sit too long, stand too long or walk too long so I'm often all over the house doing something different in different positions. By the end of the month, I was 70kg.

I did have slight swelling on my feet during my 2nd trimester but it was so little and for a very short time so it wasn't a big deal. But this time around, the swelling does stay quite sometime. I blame myself because on those days, I did not hydrate myself well. I made a conscious effort to drink more (almost felt like torture) and the swelling went away. BUT! after I hit my 35 week mark, the swelling won't go down no matter how much rest or water I take. A'las, I have to accept I have achy and jiggling feet now. 



I had a day when I just couldn't sleep from discomfort and pain. It was rather bad to a point I slept at 5am! After hours of self-pity, I got up, did pre-natal exercises, ate oatmeal and fell asleep almost immediately. I really should've done that earlier! Ever since then, I've made a conscious effort to massage my feet & calves with my favorite ointment (Rainbow Massage Oil) to relax with aromatherapy and at least 5 minutes of stretches/exercises. Of course, it's not a full proof plan because I would still get those occasional sleepless nights due to discomfort.

Mucus & Cramps

A few days after hitting the 34th week, I had some mucus discharge; not a lot to be a mucus plug but enough to say "ew". Now, I am no stranger to discharges because I've always have them but barely ever since I got pregnant. I did have very minor cramps hours later but they are so minuscule that I could just pass it off as nothing.  To be honest, I was a little concern. Although these are not 100% tell-tale signs of labor but it is a sign. I kept praying and telling Little One, that there's still plenty of time to 'bake'; no hurry.

Ever since, I would still get those 'practice contractions' of period cramps on and off. Again, it's still mild but enough to get my attention. I had another discharge days later with cramps. At this point, I am trying to think positive that it's just signs of body and Little One getting ready for an impending labor which was in 5 -/+ weeks time. Of course, the later the better but not so late ah?? For this 8th month pregnancy, I had lost some mucus discharge 3 times.

Packing & Cleaning

Due to my increased tiredness, pain and estimated due date is coming closer, I washed newborn clothes that we had bought over time. We also had hand me downs from now, toddler niece, Nadya Aqilah so in terms of outfits, we are full. Jhon and I pre-signed up for the baby cash gift and CDA account AND the mucus discharge kinda push me to at least 1/2 pack my hospital bag.

Doctor's Appointment

I'm not sure how many pre-natal scans an average woman gets throughout her pregnancy besides the dating scan, NT scan, anatomy scan and growth scan but I was set up for another scan this month. Mostly because the Little One was in breech during the last scan. I was at 29 months that time which was technically too early to call it a breech baby because there's still time and room to move.

I know that there are babies that stay in breech until 37 weeks or even close to delivery date but I won't deny I do get worrisome. But here's the kicker and a little info about me. I was a breech baby and Mak was a breech baby! Yes, breech can be hereditary. For Mak's case, she was actually born feet first while as for me, Mak said she was held in the hospital for 3 days in a breech tilt position.



I've been checking out ways to turn a breech baby but majority of the tilts just made me dizzy. I could only do a open-knee chest position. I also try to recite doa for a breech baby Fizah recommended me. After 2 days, Little One actually turned to transverse and it hurt! The next day, it seems to go back to breech.

On 19th July during the ultrasound, as expected, Little One is still in breech. I was glad I already had a rough research about breech babies with methods and solutions to fix it. So when the doctor mentioned about External Cephalic Version (ECV), I was not so confused about it. I had even mention it to Jhon so he didn't worry too much when the doctor brought it up.

What ECV is while hooked up with heartbeat monitors and constantly checked with an ultrasound, the doctor will externally and manual try to rotate the baby into position. We were given a pamphlet and the first thing I asked was success rate %. It was 50% to 65%. Almost immediately and unanimously, Jhon and I shook our head. It's not worth it but the doctor is giving us time to think about it until the next appointment which is in 2 weeks time.

After 2 Weeks

As expected, after scanning at 36 weeks, Little One is still head up. By then, Jhon and I are already mentally prepared to have a C-section. Lo' and behold! when the doctor wanted to book the operating theater at our preferred date, not only that date is booked, the entire month of August is booked! My EDD is 30th August so how?



We will try again in one's week time. At the most, the doctor said they can put me in as emergency c-section on the date I wanted. Unless Little One decides to come out at her own date and time, that's the current situation.

All these while, I've been going through subsidized consultations which means random doctors but with subsidized bills (I will blog how much I saved by doing so) but want a private ward for delivery. It's going to cost us a lot especially when I am having a c-section but after much deliberation and checking our savings, we are willing to pay for privacy and comfort (Jhon can sleep on the sofa). Since I get to choose a doctor and the fact that I am going to go under major surgery, I've started to research on preferred doctors by other moms too.

At this point, it's literally Allahu Alam which means Allah knows best.
We are putting everything in His hands now.








   

Pregnancy Old Wives Tales (Malay & Filipino's)

If you are born Asian, old wives tales are almost like bread and butter to almost everything thing in life especially if you are born in the years 80's and below. Sadly, old wives tales are becoming more taboo now. As for me, yes, some of them can sound and are silly but a few do make sense and does help especially while pregnant.

I am going through both Malay and Filipino's pregnancy old wives tales in one post. Even I had only visited Jhon's family once while pregnant for a week, believe me, they had made sure I followed some of their old wives tales too.

Not surprisingly, there are a few similarities in Malay and Filipino's pregnancy old wive's tales because being Asian, cultures sometimes do not stray very far. I am not going to cover standard beliefs like having a proper diet and having a healthy lifestyle like not smoking, drinking alcohol or encouraging exercise because if you really think about it, it's rather similar to an encouraged healthy diet anyways just with added precautions. (fear of salmonella, heart burn and such)


[source]

Hurting any animals for no practical reasons and your child will be deformed. (If you fish for leisure, your child might have a cleft palate)

Do not mock or mean to people whether they deserve it or not, especially if the person is of a special needs person or your child might receive the same flaws. (If you even joke about a friend about how dark their skin is, your child might have that same skin color)

Do no eat pineapples (prickly) or durian (heaty) fruits as it's not good for the baby.

Drinking coconut juice during early pregnancy may lead to miscarriage but encourage at the last trimester to have a "clean" and fair baby.

 Looking or going out during an eclipse will develop a birthmark on the baby.

Must always satisfy pregnant wife's cravings or baby will have a drooling problem (excessive drool).

Pregnant wife is not allowed to carry heavy items as it will put too much pressure on uterus.

If you eat twin foods (twin bananas or twin egg yolks), you can have twins.

Breech babies are believed can be healers when taught and have great intuition.

Additional under Filipino's beliefs'

 Drinking too much cold drinks will lead to a big baby.

Do not wear necklace or umbilical cord might wrap around baby's neck.

Pregnant women shouldn't share their food or drinks because their symptoms will be transferred to that person.

Whether you believe it or not, I think everyone should take it with a pinch of salt as a precaution. Honestly, I have seen some of the old wives' tales come true especially in hurting the animals and mocking others. For me, as long as it won't harm anything or anyone, I don't see a problem following suit.

With that said, I am grateful because as much as traditional Mak can be, she is actually quite lenient when it comes to these things. Under her wing, I can eat anything I want (except for pineapples or durians but if I crave for it, a bite won't hurt), I can do anything I want but I just need to be extra careful with the words I say. You know, even a funny sarcastic remark should be watchful of and such. In general, just do good deeds like sharing and caring and the baby will 'follow'.

For my 1 week pregnant stay with Jhon's parents in the Philippines, I wouldn't say it's torturous but it can be challenging but I just followed because I only had to deal it for a while right? haha They are more strict in such things. Every time Jhon help finished my meal (couldn't finish due to low/no appetite), they would always comment how he now will get my symptoms. When Jayden kept drinking from my water bottle and sucked my lollipop (he unbashfully grabbed it out of my hands lol), I had to pour the first water splash for his bath before I left for Singapore to 'cancel' out the symptoms.

Jayden was clingy with me at that time and wanted to be with me all the time. He would want to sit close and sit on my lap all the time. Jhon's family totally opposed to it even though I was comfortably sitting and not literally carrying him. Basically, there were plenty of things I had to watch out and not do. Like I said, I wasn't complaining because it IS their beliefs and I just respecting them. All I can say was I was just grateful we stayed for a while because I don't think I can tolerate it for 9 months and God knows what else I need to watch out after birth.

So like I said, following such pregnancy old wives tales can be challenging and annoying especially when you care already dealing with morning sickness and such. BUT there's nothing wrong taking it with a pinch of salt.

I'm pretty sure I probably missed out several pregnancy old wives tales so feel free to share for funsies!