Category Archive

Last night at our second prenatal class, we covered the first stage of labour.  The instructor taught us a few positions we could assume and some breathing patterns we could use to help us make it through the contractions.  I can’t say I look forward to the pain.

Something that struck me though was her explanation of how birth pain is purposeful pain.  In the process of pain, endorphin is released that actually helps the woman feel less pain.  And did you know that during the contractions, a woman’s body releases a chemical that calms the baby?  This allows baby to be born wide-eyed, calm and open to taking in the world in his/her first hours.  So although what I will be feeling is pain, lots of other stuff will be happening in my body for both mine and the baby’s good.

I find it interesting that somehow, knowing that pain serves a greater purpose gives me courage to enter into that unpleasant experience.  That somehow, it makes it more worth it.

On a side note, baby is amazingly squirmy these days.  Or maybe I just feel the squirming more.  =)  This morning, it felt like baby was practicing tai bo against my internal organs.  I found myself praying that God would help baby turn around.  T encouraged me with this beatitude:  Blessed are they who feel pummeled from the inside, for theirs will be a beautiful child.  It helped to remember that I am blessed.

Oh, and I passed the glucose screening test.  Yay for no gestational diabetes.  =)

Last Monday, we attended our first prenatal class.  Most of it was introduction, meeting the instructor and the other eleven couples in the class, and going over what to expect in the next five classes.  During one part of the class, we watched a DVD about the third trimester and in it, they mentioned the tendency for pregnant women to “nest” – that is, to sort through and rearrange the house incessantly in preparation for the baby.

T and I chuckled when we watched that segment because that’s what I’ve started to do the last couple weeks or so.  For one, I swapped out our beloved set of beautiful black and blue stoneware dishes (that were originally gifts from our wedding registry – *sniff*) for light, practical and durable plain white Corelle dinnerware.  I figured once the baby arrives, I’m going to have to learn to do things with one hand and heavy, breakable stoneware just isn’t conducive to that.

I’ve also harvested all the basil, oregano and rosemary that I’d been growing and replaced them with lower-maintenance plants.

And the other night, we went through our bookshelves and weeded out the books and other papers that we don’t want to keep.

At this point, making room for the baby (and all the baby’s stuff) seems of utmost importance to us.  As I reflect on this time of “making space,” I am reminded of the line in the Christmas carol Joy to the World that says, “Let every heart prepare Him room.”  And I realize that this time of preparation, of clearing the clutter and creating a hospitable place for our baby is akin to the Christian season of Advent, where for four weeks before Christmas, people set aside time to anticipate and welcome the coming of Jesus.  So I guess while the traditional Advent is four weeks long, our little “Advent” of sorts is 12 weeks (or maybe it’s more like 40 weeks?).

I’m learning to incorporate this phrase into my vocabulary:  “[fill in the blank] can wait.”  Today, it’s the laundry. You see, usually, Monday’s are my grocery and laundry days.  But after getting groceries this morning and spot cleaning our irritatingly dirty floor this afternoon, I’m wiped.  And since sleep at night has been hit and miss, naptime calls.  So the laundry can wait.

Tonight, we are heading to our very first prenatal class (session one of six).  We don’t really know what to expect.  The only instructions we got were to dress comfortably and bring a pillow…  Although I must say, I am looking forward to meeting some other people who live in our area and are due around the same time as us.  I’ll keep you posted on how it goes!

But if I am to be remotely attentive tonight, I must get some sleep.  So I shall bid you adieu for now and say hello to my pillow.  =)

At lunch today, as T and I were eating at home, I suddenly felt on onset of dizziness.  I thought to myself, This is strange, I was feeling fine just a second ago, how is it that I feel so unstable all of a sudden?  And then I realized it was an earthquake!  I was relieved that it was the earth and not my body that was out of balance.

This past week, my parents came to visit us.  It was the first time they got to see me pregnant.  My mom had fun talking to baby in my belly.  She also spoiled me with new shoes and a couple of beautiful cardigans that will be perfect for the autumn/winter.  Oh, and a super-cute maternity/nursing pajama set.  And my dad and I had fun comparing belly sizes.  We even took a couple pictures.

My mom also helped me sort through 4 boxes of baby clothes that one of T’s cousins generously lent us.  The newborn pieces really are so small and cute!  Can’t wait to use them.  =)

On Wednesday evening, we went with my parents to tour the hospital where I will be delivering baby.   There were maybe another 7 couples there as well.  I think my belly was the smallest by far.  Either we’re eager beavers and took the tour really early in our pregnancy, or I’m just carrying small.  I couldn’t tell.  Anyway, it was quite informative and I’m glad we went.  I got pretty thirsty and tired by the end of the tour though.  And that night, I dreamt that I gave birth and had to wander the halls holding my newborn in search of something to drink.  Ha.

In other news, my nausea and food aversions seem to have abated.  So the chicken ban has not been reinstated.  That’s good news.

Fatigue and weepiness are still hanging around.  I spent most of today sleeping and only changed out of my pjs at 4pm.  I’ve been finding it super hot this week and that’s added to the inability to get good sleep.  Thankfully, I’ve been managing to get solid deep sleep in 1-hour increments.  Training for when baby arrives?  I think so.

Anyway, saw this cartoon that depicts my situation pretty accurately.  Enjoy.  =)

And without fanfare or warning, four first-trimester chums are back in town.

Hello again fatigue, nausea, food aversions and weepiness. I have to say, I have not missed you.  From what others tell me, you’ve come to re-visit us because baby’s growing and taking up more room, my stomach’s getting squished and my hormones are running amok.  And I shouldn’t expect you four to leave until the baby is born.  That’s just excellent.

I find it amazing that for about a minute when I first wake up, I feel refreshed.  And then whomp, fatigue, you find me and I want to curl up and sleep the day away.  Except I can’t seem to sleep very long before my bladder sounds the alarm and I’m forced to get up.

I’ve been told that eating smaller meals should help me cope with you, nausea.  Well, that’s what I did for lunch today and nope, still feel gross.  Something tells me vitamins are going to be a chore again and the chicken ban is going to come back into full effect.

The worst part is that I’m hungry all the time.  Sigh.

As for you, weepiness, you’re just there ready to dole out the tears whenever you fancy.  Even cartoons make me cry these days.

Anyway, I guess I have no choice but to try to be hospitable to you four for now.  Fighting you would simply be a waste of energy.  Just remember, your stay will end in due time and you will have to move on.

Dear Baby Chan (aka, CHANnel 3),

If you are among the 5% of babies who arrive on their due dates, you will be making your grand entrance into this world in a mere ninety-nine days.  As I ponder this reality, my heart is filled with curiosity.  Who will you look like?  Who will you take after?  Will you be musical like your parents?  Will you love words like your mommy, or will you like numbers like your daddy?  What aspects of your grandparents will you inherit?  Will you be a social butterfly?  The life of the party?  A contemplative?  What passions will drive you?  What kind of friends will we be?

You are growing bigger by the day and I can feel your movements getting stronger too.  Are you feeling cramped in there?   These last two days, I’ve felt you move on both sides of my belly simultaneously.  What are you even doing???

There are many people who are looking forward to meeting you.  There is a lot of love awaiting to embrace you.  Do you sense that?  Every night, your daddy and I pray for you.  We pray for many things, but above all, we pray that you would know without a shadow of a doubt that you are deeply and thoroughly loved.  We pray that somehow God would communicate this love to you because our love is limited but His is unwavering and limitless.

In these next 99 days, we will be busy with getting ready for your arrival.  You just hang in there, enjoy being carried around and keep on practicing your happy dance.

With deep affection,
Mommy

I went for a check-up this morning.  Everything seems to be going well.  The baby-doctor (OB) said my weight is good, my belly size is right on target and the baby’s heartbeat is strong and happy.  I’m thankful.  I have to go in for a glucose tolerance test sometime before my next appointment.  I’ve heard some pretty discouraging things about that test so we’ll see how it goes for me.

I have one more monthly check-up before I switch to appointments every two weeks. When the doctor told me that, I thought, “Just like that?!  This pregnancy is whipping by!”  T, on the other hand, thinks that waiting 9 months is going way too slowly.

Baby has gotten two gifts so far:  a Vancouver Canucks bib, from friends of ours who are also expecting; and a pair of cute blue shoes, from one very excited grandma-to-be.  This weekend, we’ll be starting to collect other baby goods of a more essential nature.  It’s times like these that we are especially grateful for the network of friends and family we have around us who are so generous and helpful.

In other news, I think my second-trimester burst of energy is slowly coming to an end.  I’m finding myself more tired in the last couple days.  And my calf muscles are periodically threatening to cramp up on me (apparently this was something my mom had to deal with too).  Although, I’ve taken my nutritionist mother’s advice and upped my calcium intake and that has helped alleviate some of the cramping.

Anyway, just thought I’d do a little update while I had some time.  Thanks for reading!