Boiled Rice

photos

2006-10-02T15:45:00.000+01:00

2006-10-02T15:43:00.000+01:00

Welcome, Lewis!

2006-04-29T14:53:00.000+01:00

16 Feb 06
Thursday

First expected date of delivery based on my menstrual cycle. Nothing happened. Maybe the result of the dating scan at the hospital is correct?

23 Feb 06
Thursday

Ante-natal appointment with the midwife at Ash Lodge. Everything is ok. She booked me for an appointment with Ante-natal Clinic at the hospital for consultation re my dates. I have 3 due dates. Meaning, I could go on being pregnant for 11 months if this baby doesn’t come out on his own! Isn’t it better to round it off to 12 months? One year! My God, I’m pregnant for a year! Does that mean I’m a carabao or something? Also, the Midwife suggested to sweep my membrane there and then but I wasn’t ready. Let me think… sweep the membrane… sweep the membrane… she’s not gonna hoover me, is she?

26 Feb 06
Sunday

Second expected date of delivery based on the first dating scan and as calculated by the consultant. Still, nothing happened. If my menstrual cycle is reliable, this is already my 42nd week of pregnancy. How long should I keep on waiting?

27 Feb 06
Monday

10.30am

Midwife came and swept what needed to be swept. I expected her to use mop and brush as well but I only saw her gloved hand so maybe she decided for a scourer instead. Mind you I didn’t feel clean at all after all that.

20.48

In bed with a plastic cover for the bed, just in case my waters break in the night. I can feel the baby moving but other than a bit of lower backache, nothing spectacular seems to happen. Got to say good night for now and hopefully, some development would be in the offing before the sun shines tomorrow. (I hope it does shine despite the forecast of minus 3 degrees so that 10 years from now we would be able to say to the baby, It was a very cold but sunny morning…)

28 Feb 06
Tuesday

4.03am

First contraction started; somewhat like menstrual cramps.
I didn’t check the clock for the second one as I was too
tired and just wanted to continue sleeping. The third one
came along at 4.33, then 4.44, then 4.57. I fell asleep
again at half-five until 6.

8.03am

We had breakfast in bed. We opened our curtains to a cold but sunny morning, as hoped for. It’s beautiful. It feels beautiful. Karl stared at me for a bit, highly amused that after 3 weeks of anxious waiting, it’s finally going to happen. (Or is he staring at me to gauge if I just didn’t want this baby out to keep him from going to work?) It could be today, it could be tomorrow, but the signs are there that my body is doing something. We can’t help but keep on comparing how Zak’s birth happened over 3 years ago.

11.00am

Karl is so giddy he wants to put everything in the car now. The problem is he hasn’t even tried putting the car seat on so maybe he can try it with the baby on it already. He thinks I would be staying in the hospital now and is so anxious about what he’s gonna wear, etc.

11.30am

Appointment at the ante-natal clinic at the hospital as we have 3 due dates and we’re not quite sure how long I’ve been gestating. We have a scan and discovered that the fluid around the baby is low. The doctor advised that the baby has to come out soon as he’s obviously not happy inside anymore. Although I’m having regular mild contractions at the moment, I am scheduled to be at the hospital tomorrow at 8am if labour does not progress tonight. Mum wished this baby to be born 1st of March as it’s St. David’s Day/Welsh Day.

12.40pm

At the moment, I’m waiting for K who just went to the bank to complete his preparation process for this birth. I just spoke to mum and Zak and told them we’re going out for a meal. Zak has had his dinner of fish at his Nana’s. It’s a very clear sunny day, although very, very cold, but that’s better than having a dull grey sky over your head when you’re in an exciting mood.

13.30

We went out for a meal. We fancied a big dinner of roast chicken, boiled potatoes and carrots and I had two helpings of custard cake. My contraction interval was already 5 minutes but I still wasn’t sure if it was the real thing so we just continued going around the supermarket, buying some fruits and magazines to read.

14.30

Back at home. I tried to settle in bed to read but the contractions became intense. Karl timed the interval at 2 minutes. He kept on asking me if he should call the hospital but I thought we shouldn’t yet as the pain was still bearable. He called anyway and I had a chat with a midwife at the Central Delivery Suite of the maternity unit. She thought it was time for me to go to the hospital.

14.55

Went in the delivery room. I was officially admitted. My nurse/midwife is called Maria who looked too young for me but appeared confident and pleasant.

15.15

Karl went out to get the car. It took him a long time to find a parking space.

15.30

Maria asked if she could check me. I decided to get changed because I was still wearing my trousers. I was 8 cm dilated but 100% effaced.

15.35

Started the Entonox and already had to grab the bed rail as the pain was getting intense by the minute.

Karl is still outside.

15.40

I warned Maria that I felt like wanting to poo. She said it sounds promising; it’s already the baby coming down.

I started to push. Karl arrived. I started blabbering about pain relief or anything that could help me get through the pain. I was told it was too late.

16.05

After 25 minutes of pushing and grunting, Lewis Jack came out. There’s now four of us in the family. Four. K and I couldn’t be more happier.

28 February

2006-03-10T10:10:00.000Z

Baby Lewis

Up-to-date Update

2006-02-26T19:21:00.000Z

There are still photos to post but that can wait for now. As this is supposed to be an update on my pregnancy, I better say it now that I'm due to be induced tomorrow at 10am. At the moment,we're trying to rest, ready for when we have to start to push this baby out of my belly and into this wonderful, wonderful world of fish and chips and cuppateas.

I'm feeling some lower back pains already and a bit of cramps in my underbelly. Perhaps, my brain is telling my body to get ready and practice the most wanted pain of the month!

37 weeks

2006-02-20T12:55:00.000Z

36 weeks

2006-02-14T19:40:00.000Z

Oopps, not the right belly. Something's wrong with the focus.

(5Feb06)

Here we are.

35 weeks

2006-02-14T19:33:00.000Z

(29Jan06)

34 weeks

2006-01-24T19:21:00.000Z

I suppose I can keep on ranting about this pregnancy, oh it's uncomfortable, oh i can't sleep well, mygod I'm breathless, i feel dizzy again, but then, so what? Who cares? That's what most pregnant women experience, my darling, so just get on with it.

Sometimes, it feels like I have a "kumareng kunsensya" who reasons with me when I become unreasonable. Whoever is a 'reasonable' and 'sane' pregnant woman in the world, God please, i want to have a word with her, or if she happens to have a blog, oh, for goodness sake, let me know the URL.

33 weeks

2006-01-17T15:36:00.000Z

I’m just so impatient now. Discomfort in the night, the baby’s severe kicking in the early hours in the morning, fainting spells at work despite having iron supplements, agh, it just never ends!

32 weeks

2006-01-10T09:43:00.000Z

We attended our first ante-natal class last night. Topics covered focused on what to expect during labour (like a baby, perhaps?), the role of the husband/birth partner, positioning, relaxing, how the baby comes out, etc. It was very informative, more in-depth than what we usually get in simply reading a pregnancy book.

Somewhere during the discussion, it was mentioned that 25 years ago,episiotomy was done in the UK as a matter of course, but not anymore now as it can actually be prevented. In Surigao, I suspect it's still the norm, no matter what, unless the birth is assisted my a rural midwife who just lets the tearing happen.

Next week, we're going to practice some breathing exercises and relaxation techniques. Karl said he'll make sure that he'll bring a mat and wear socks with holes in them!

31 weeks

2006-01-01T12:25:00.000Z

31 weeks and counting...9 weeks or less to go and we'll see the new baby. My mother-in-law has felt him for the first time on christmas day. She was so excited and as usual with K's family, excitement is infectious. Everybody talks about "the birth" and sometimes I feel like I can't cope because everybody is looking forward to the day when I feel the horrible pain!

30 weeks

2005-12-24T08:54:00.000Z

I told K I want to try making macaroni salad, although I know nobody in the family would eat it. I haven't tried my hands on this type of 'pinoy pudding' so I thought why not? While discussing my shopping itinerary, he asked if I could drop by a calendar shop.

"What sort of calendar?"
"Girls Aloud Calendar. For my office."
"Ah, is it because you find one of them sexy?"
"Yeah, better than Claude Monet all the time on the wall. What about you? Would you like Ricky Martin?"
"No. Too greasy."
"George Clooney?"
"Too old."
"Westlife? Gavin Henson?"
"Shut up."
"A calendar of you then?" (The weekly photo of my bump)
"F* off!"

29 weeks

2005-12-20T12:04:00.000Z

♪ Had my antenatal check again.
♪ Everything's ok.
♪ Started to have iron supplements.
♪ Hourly trips to the toilet in the night are becoming less.
♪ Have thought of a hundredth name, this time, it's 'Lewis' but still not sure again after only a couple of hours of thinking about it.
♪ K is now (as in this very minute) planning how the baby's room would look like.
♪ I have washed all the cot's paraphernalia.
♪ I shopped with K and his mum for my stuff to bring to the hospital. I could give birth any minute and I wouldn't worry as I have everything ready, from the dress to robe to slippers to just bits and bobs.
♪ The mistake was we bought them at the same time as the meat for christmas dinner so you can just imagine my exasperation when mum and K's discussion on the merits of the underwear that I should use after the delivery is interspersed with the treatise on how the meat should be cooked, etc. Sounds like I was a butcher about to deliver meat for a victorian party!

28 weeks

2005-12-11T18:43:00.000Z

Our excitement has been intensified week by week. K can't wait to see how the baby looks like. Last night, Baby G was so active. K kept his hand on my belly for ages, laughing, so fascinated with the baby moving and kicking. It's so amazing!

27 weeks

2005-12-02T10:52:00.000Z

Baby moves like a pingpong ball.
Lying down in bed has been very uncomfortable.
Nighttime trips to the toilet have been very stressful. Agghh!!
K managed to buy a red 'maternity potty' so I don't have to stumble into the toilet amongst Zak's trains and railtracks. It's stationed at the foot of the bed so I just have to swing my legs and hop in like Fireman Sam to the rescue. But the size of the potty is unimaginable. It's like I'm a bloody elephant that squirts gallons of urine! I'm sure Zak could swim in it! It has a secure and hygienic cover as well, just in case my awkward movements would alarm the flood rescue team and worse, the carpet cleaners.

26 weeks

2005-11-26T18:27:00.000Z

I gained a few more kilos this month. I'm very satisfied. At least I wasn't like the way I was with the first pregnancy when I was horribly fat and heavy, no thanks to Jo-li-beee!

Yesterday, it just occured to me that I haven't prepared anything yet, except for the usual cot and blankets that we already have. I was tearful about it last night with K, haha. So we will start shopping soon, when everything else in our busy lives start to slow down. Aside from our normal jobs, we are also preparing for an exhibition so it's always hectic. And I've still got pages of Sudoku to finish!!!

25 weeks

2005-11-20T21:25:00.000Z

I'm excited of my bump. It's getting bigger everyday and Baby G is moving all the time, especially when Postman Pat theme song is on or when K laughs out loud like some lunatic zombie.

The other day, we went out for a walk on a very cold frosty morning. I drank loads of coffee after that and before I knew it, Baby G was bouncing like a ball in my belly. Yesterday, I stopped the coffee and purged myself with milk and water and he became quiet. Hmmm, is Baby G in a caffeine withdrawal mood?

24 weeks

2005-11-12T18:30:00.000Z

I was worried about the bruise in the side of my knee that it prompted me to call the midwife so she could check my blood clotting. I was sure I didn't hit myself and I couldn't remember ever cursing myself in the past two weeks for being careless. I thought of pre-eclampsia, thrombosis, etc and I went through all NHS and e-medicine sites to justify my worries. I am aware that bruising is normal in pregnancies but that bruise was a really dark frightening patch. Time to check with somebody who knows better than me.

She visited me at home and that's how the bruise, or partly the cause of most of my bruising was verified.

She was just going to insert a needle in my arm to get blood sample when Zak jumped on my back. I screamed. I could feel the needle pricking my skin like it was as thick as my mother-in-law's knitting needle. It went in for the second time; Zak jumped at me again. And then again. Before I knew it, and before I could push Zak off me and disentangle him from my neck, the vampire managed to suck my blood, I mean the midwife managed to extract some blood, but the oozing never stopped. The MF laughed. She didn't need to assure me that pregnant women really do experience bruising for some bloody reasons or another.

I hoped to find a medical explanation for the purple patches I have in my legs and now I've got more explaining to do to K for more bruising in my arms.

23 weeks in 2 days

2005-11-04T04:45:00.000Z

At 22 weeks, Baby G established a waking-up pattern. Just yesterday, it seemed like he changed. He didn't wake up at 2am as he normally does but did this morning, at around 8am. I get anxious sometimes because I now expect his movements at certain times of the day.

I had u-scan twice last month because my consultant wasn't sure of my EDD. Now I'm told it's going to be on the 3rd of March 06, which means that my previous records of my dates and observations were erroneous.

Anyway, everything is well. Baby G is growing and Ue still wants to play trains with him, as soon as he's born!

21 weeks

2005-10-23T01:23:00.000+01:00

FIRST PREGNANCY

Weight pre-pregnancy: 42 kg
Weight at 18 weeks gestation:51 kg
Weight prior to delivery 70 kg
Weight of baby at birth 4 kg

THIS PREGNANCY (almost 3 years after the first)

Weight pre-pregnancy: 52 kg
Weight at 21 weeks gestation 56 kg

I was horribly fat during my first pregnancy. I used to eat 6 times a day, with reckless abandon, like I deserved to gobble anything that smelt and tasted good. Eighteen months of breastfeeding helped me trim down, but not anymore up to my 24' waistline. Now, it seemed like I learned my lesson. The stretch marks served as my reminder that if I keep on being careless, the elasticity of my skin would reach its limits, and my kids would rather lock me in the shower room while their 72-year-old grandma would perilously saunter around the pool edges, flawless, in a much better shape than me!

Now bring in the mangoes!

17 weeks

2005-09-25T15:19:00.000+01:00

Yes, 17 and I'm feeling so lazy and low today I couldn't get out of bed except to get something to eat or go to the toilet. I'm outrageously worried that I could be suffering from depression but I'm sure these all boil down to hormones. But at 17 weeks?

I couldn't bring myself to wash my face, or worse, comb my hair, and I have been wearing this pajama bottoms for over a week that my mother-in-law who lives a few miles from us could almost smell me. But it doesn't mean I haven't showered for over a week! I had, for I think 3 or 4 times this week, before going to work/shopping.

The previous three months was different. I showered twice a day, morning and before going to bed, changed knickers twice a day, and there was even one whole week when I only wore sexy knickers and kept on seducing my husband!

Now, I couldn't bear to be touched. I know I smell of garlic and vinegar as well, that's why, but that's beside the point because I know my husband wouldn't mind...sometimes.

Anyway, I'm irritated at the moment, and I don't know why, and before I start screaming again at whoever barges my way, I better turn this computer off or I'll be f*.

16th week

2005-09-18T04:52:00.000+01:00

16th week last thursday and baby george kicks like ue already! last night, we watched a video of peter kay and as soon as the opening credits started, the jumpy music made baby george kick me soooo hard it felt like a stick was shoved in my belly!

15th week

2005-09-10T19:56:00.000+01:00

I am now on my 15th week of pregnancy. I feel good, no nausea, nothing. I'm so lucky. I'm a bit clumsy sometimes though. Last night, we had dinner in the lounge. After, I stood up and gathered the dishes only to be outbalanced and I threw all the rice, coffee and water onto the carpet. Great. I then cleaned up the mess, went to the kitchen to wash up, put all the mess in the rubbish bag, and there, everything went everywhere again. Great, great.

Other than that, I feel great and more in love with my husband. (Ahhh...)

September check

2005-09-02T11:36:00.000+01:00

The vampire didn't suck my blood, not yet, but next Thursday for more tests: spina bifida and downs.

We heared the baby's heartbeat, I had my BP again, and weight checked as well. I gained 2 kilos since last month's check.

Everything else--normal.

12-week scan

2005-08-19T08:28:00.000+01:00

It was amazing when I saw the monitor. The baby jumped and moved his/her arms and legs! Now it sinks in. I'm certainly pregnant and I can't wait to give birth and play with Baby George*.

* Baby George being our "working title", whether the baby is a boy or a girl. Zak named him/her himself. I don't know where 'George' comes from but one thing is certain. My mum-in-law doesn't like the name as it happens to be the name of her brother. Well, there's nothing new there. Ue (zak's nickname) is also the name of her uncle!

First ante-natal

2005-07-26T00:38:00.000+01:00

I saw the midwife today for my first ante-natal.

She had to fill-up pages and pages of papers for me.

Checked my BP. 100/60.

She drained my blood! 5 vials to test for anaemia, blood group and antibodies, rubella, hepa b, syphilis, HIV, and sickle cell and thalassaemia.

Aside from these, I will have more blood tests for infections, chicken pox, cytomegalovirus (CMV), parvovirus (slapped cheek syndrome), and toxoplasmosis.

Whatever all these mean, I have absolutely no idea.

Then she checked my weight: 47 kilos. I was 52 last month!

9th week

2005-07-23T15:51:00.000+01:00

I am not feeling sick at all but for 3 afternoons now, i am experiencing exhaustion. I also get hungry every hour. I try not to eat much but hourly hunger makes me (or anyone i suppose) uneasy.

I'll try not to complain too much...

First appointment

2005-06-30T06:50:00.000+01:00

Seen the GP and scheduled an appointment with a midwife.

I still can't believe we're really having another baby!

I haven't done much thinking about it.

I really should.

Positive Again

2005-06-28T06:48:00.000+01:00

Tested again this morning.

Clearly Positive.

We're having another baby!

Positive

2005-06-23T06:46:00.000+01:00

I wasn't really sure about it but I somehow dragged Mr H to have a look at some tests kit. Eventually, we bought one and did a test after lunch.

It looked positive but the horizontal line wasn't that clear.

Anyway, there still another kit to try next week.

Horror

2005-06-12T05:26:00.000+01:00

I am trembling. It's unexplainable terror i am feeling at the moment. I've spoken to Mr Husband who's in Middlesbrough now, who is also terribly worried that I feel like this. You see, i'm alone with Little Boy at home. We're at the computer room and while I was on messenger with Maria while Shubert is playing loudly (Little boy's relaxing music) I heard a thud downstairs. I don't know what it was and I can't remember checking the kitchen door so I picked up the phone thinking of calling mum (my mother-in-law). But then, there was a beeping sound indicating a voice message. I don't know what I dialled but the connection went off. I checked and unplugged the internet connection and again there was no dial tone! Thoughts raged in my head: Is there someone downstairs?Is that someone trying to disconnect my only contact in the outside world? So I grabbed Little Boy and ran straight into our bedroom and opened the curtains wide. I propped LB up in the window hoping to catch attention from passersby. Our next door neighbour's car is not yet in, meaning nobody can hear us if we shout or tap our wall! I thought if someone comes up in our bedroom, I would tap the window and scream for help. Our phone is disconnected!

Suddenly, it rang. It made me jump. I wanted to answer it but I was so paralyzed with terror i couldn't move. After a few seconds, i grabbed LB again and ran to answer it. It was an automated voice saying something like testing the connection. So I put it down and checked again. Dial tone is back. I called Mr H and told him about it. Oh! I feel like my muscles and everything that holds me together is going liquid.

After a few minutes of being assured by Mr H that it could just be something that fell from the kitchen top (what could it be? i just cleaned the whole kitchen up!) I checked the voice message again.

What happens when you dial 1751 instead of 1571? Could it be that I dialled the voice messaging service by mistake that's why it disconnected? Am i just a paranoid wimp who jumps when something falls and when a strange noise is heared? One thing is for certain: I would never be able to sleep tonight.

Oh God. I think it's the folic acid that's doing this.

Why boiled?

2005-06-11T23:56:00.000+01:00

Because that's how rice is normally cooked!