Do you waddle?

No offence to anyone, but I’m curious, seriously. Why do pregnant women waddle (walking abit like a duck)when they walk?

Not all do that. It happens when most are already very late into their pregnancy (this one I understand) but there are some cases when it’s barely even-there and they waddle or hold on to their tummy as though it was about to drop!

After 2 pregnancies, I still can’t figure out why those not-yet-due ones do that. During my 1st, I never understood it at all, because I was relatively small, even up till I delivered. This time, I’m slightly larger and my tummy seems to be lower and hence I find sometimes my strides can be different and it can be obstructing. But then, I’m still not waddling about nor am I clutching or holding on to my tummy as though it’s going to fall.

But seriously, I’m curious. Why do people do that? Is it because it’s easier to walk? Or do they have some history of the tummy causing backache, hence ‘holding’ it would help slightly (like the function of a maternity support belt)?

* erm, I'm not very sure but I think the pic I've used courtesy of google seems rather familiar....apologies if its similar to one that one of you mommy-bloggers may have used ;p *

Portraiture

I'm kinda excited. Like a lil' kid. Well, nothing much...it's just that I've been thinking of a family photo done by some pro/photog. And well, I have friends who are doing it and well, these aren't cheap.

And after a lot of contemplation, funny thing, hubby was quite supportive. So one huge bump, the man of the house and the lil' man of the house and off we'll go soon to snap some shots. Maternity protraiture it shall be.

Excited. Now so many things are running through my mind. What to wear? What colour shall we coordinate ourselves? Shall I bring extra change for AIR (he's bound to mess up if its outdoor) and myself? What other things to do? I'm not going to put make up....will it be ok? hahaha looks like some of these are sorted out with the photog but the rest, will have to discuss further....

mmmmm can't wait for the day it's gonna happen. Iwonder how AIR will take to this....by that time, I'll be around 33-34 weeks. Oh boy! hope I'm not clumsy...

Anyone done this before?

Labor Story

Thanks to Isabelle's tag, now its my turn :)
Quite timely looking at I've got another erm 21 weeks to go...reminisence of fifteen months ago....

3 sakit yg anda takut bila mengandung / nak bersalin

• Sakit contraction – worse than the delivery pain itself. Before labor tuh ingat delivery je yang sakit…but rupe-rupernya it’s the contraction…
• Sakit hati when people are not considerate – taula I am very active and hard-core, but now am pregnant la woi!
• Erm…only 2 je kot…

3 proses yg anda harap boleh skip time mengandung/ bersalin

• Achy legs towards the end of the pregnancy (2nd time ni baru experience this and its really horrible.
• Itch during the 1st trimester (which extended to almost throughout the 2nd for my 2nd time)
• The strict no-shower-rule during confinement which my mum made me go through (arrrgh this is horrible , not looking forward to it this time either)
  

3. 3 beza labor story (normal/ induce/ caesar)

• Normal – the most ideal with fastest recovery. I didn’t even use the painkillers given to me the very next day.
• Induced - Oh yes, I had to be induced cos my waterbag leaked but I wasn’t even dilated yet. And even after being induced, my labor onset was really slow in the beginning.
• Caesar – oh no…I don’t want to ever experience this and I think that women who go through this (by choice and not because of a life threatening situation to either mother or child or the gynea suggested cos he/she came up with a very convincing reason to just make more $$ from you) are faint-hearted and will never know the ‘beauty’ and ‘pain’ behind childbirth… (wah, macam I terror sangat pulak ;p sorry if anyone felt the pinch)

I forgot....these are the next Labor Stories we could hear from....

• Yatie Chomeyl
• Fazahra
• Sawsawlady

Pregnant and fashionable?

What would you wear when you’re pregnant?

Would you show off your tummy, i.e. wear fitting (clothes with stretchable material) clothes to emphasize it (last pic) or would you wear the usual maternity baggy-hide-your-tummy kind of outfit?

Some people (men and women inclusive) finds emphasizing the tummy offensive and not fashionable. Some find it sexy. I'm of the second opinion, until of course when my belly-button decides to pop! Then I'm more cautious bout showing it off :)

What's your pregnancy-fashion-statement?

Amniocentesis

So what’s this AMNIOCENTESIS? It’s actually a procedure conducted on pregnant women who are identified in the high risk group, i.e. high risk of delivering a baby with Down’s Syndrome (DS) at full term. This is a recommended test after a first trimester blood test confirms/indicates that the mother is of a higher risk at delivering a DS baby. It’s optional but if the mother chooses this, then amniotic fluid would be drawn out from the womb for a series for tests.

Never expected that I’ll actually go through this. I’ve read about it, during my first pregnancy. However I’ve not heard any of my friends or close friends go through it either.
OK, I’ve read that they will insert a large needle into your tummy and extract the amniotic fluid from it. How large? Different people whom have not gone through it have different perceptions.

First the obgyn scans to ensure the right position to ‘poke’ you, somewhere below the navel. She marks the spot…and then the procedure starts. Then the local anesthetic injected. It was just injected on the surface and I was having my doubts if it was actually going to work. First time ma…and next she tells me that she’s gonna put in the larger needle into me. I decided to just look at the scan (besides, I couldn’t even really see, cos my bunched up tee slightly blocked my clear view of it. So I see baby on one side and then the needle goes in on the other. I couldn’t feel the pain, but there was a strange sensation I felt when the whole 4 inches went in. It wasn’t thick needle but it was indeed long. Yes, 10cm long. But to me, I think it was bearable. It was the sight of the syringe that looked rather huge ;p

Then I see her slowly trying to extract the fluid out the moment she did that, I saw baby move. Baby lifted its arms. So cute. Like in the position I was. And 15ml was extracted.

All it left was a needle scar, sealed by plaster.

When I pressed the ‘spot’ the next day, there was a slight pain. Very mild I suppose. I mean just like u injuring yourself that kind of thing la.

So it’s three weeks later before I will know the results. 3 agonizing weeks but I’m trying not to think so much about it. Let’s have a good CNY first and pray for the best.

Listeria and Pregnancy

What's listeria? How does it affect pregnant moms?

Listeria is a bacteria that is found in nature and lives in some foods. Listeria can be found in most animals, soil, vegetation and sewerage. Because of this, Listeria can easily enter our food chain. An infection with Listeria can cause mild ‘flu-like’ symptoms, urinary tract infections or even quite serious illness. In adults who have an impaired immune system, Listeria can cause illnesses such as meningitis, pneumonia and encephalitis. The bacteria that causes Listeria is called Listeria monocytogenes.

In pregnancy this bacteria can pass across the placenta and reach the baby. Listeria during pregnancy can cause abortion, premature rupture of membranes, premature birth and very sick babies. Listeria infections are not new, however it has only been known since 1980’s that it can be passed onto humans through food.

An infection with Listeria can be easily missed as it often presents with vague symptoms. A blood test or a test on the amniotic fluid can identify a Listeria infection. Listeria can be treated with certain antibiotics. If a baby contracts a Listeria infection it can become extremely sick with respiratory problems or meningitis. The baby can even die. Listeria infection is quite rare in Australia, but when it occurs in pregnancy it can have serious complications. It is for this reason that information is now being made available to pregnant women, so that they can make safe choices on the foods to eat during pregnancy.

The bacteria that causes Listeria is sensitive to heat. So by cooking food well, you are able to destroy it. When cooking meats ensure that the meat is cooked right through. Rare meat is not recommended. If you use the microwave to reheat, ensure that the food is steaming hot right through to the centre. While heat destroys Listeria, refrigeration does not. Listeria is one of the few bacteria that are able to grow on food in the refrigerator. So if food has been stored for longer than twelve hours after cooking - it is recommended that you do not eat it. Also avoid chilled ready to eat foods.

The best way to avoid Listeria is to have good food hygiene. Wash your hands before preparing any food. Raw fruit and vegetables should be thoroughly washed before eating. Food should be well cooked; no raw or partially cooked meats and seafood should be eaten in pregnancy. Food should be served piping hot. Do not eat lukewarm food. If using the microwave ensure that the food is well heated through to the centre. Hot soapy water should used to wash all food utensils. It is particularly important to wash chopping boards and knives after preparing raw food. Proper storage of food is essential. Store all your cooked food separately from uncooked products. Make sure that the raw food cannot drip onto cooked food. If you have cooked leftovers, place them straight into the fridge once they have stopped steaming (do not let food cool on the bench). Use all left overs within 12 hours of cooking or alternatively freeze for later use. Ensure that cooled food is kept below 5 degrees Celsius. Also do not eat food that has passed its used by date.

There are certain foods that are considered to be of high risk of Listeria contamination. The foods to avoid during pregnancy include:
Soft white cheeses eg. Ricotta, brie, camembert, blue vein and fetta
Pate
Unpasturised dairy products
Cold meats
Dried/fermented sausages
Raw seafoods eg. Oysters, sashimi
Smoked seafood (canned is okay)
Pre packed and prepared salads
Soft serve ice-cream

Freshly prepared and freshly cooked foods are the safest for consumption during pregnancy. It is important to eat a well balanced diet that contains plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, breads, cereals, meat, fish, eggs, lentils and nuts. Ensure meat is well cooked. All hot food should be piping hot. The following foods are safe to eat in pregnancy:
Washed fruit and vegetables
Home made salads
Hard Cheese
Processed cheese
Canned foods
All meats - thoroughly cooked, hot and fresh
Pasteurised diary products

Information extracted from here.