Ah! I can't believe that I'm 34 weeks and 4 days today!
We had a preterm labour scare last Wednesday (a day before Christmas eve) when I awoke from my afternoon nap to painful period-like pains and a lower backache that shot down my right leg. My thighs also started to shiver and my teeth was chattering...I thought I could wait it out to see if it would go away but the pain started intensifying!
I immediately opened my room door to see if anyone was at home with me and luckily...my father-in-law was. He had heard my door opening and thought I wanted something from downstairs (I've been upstairs-bound since 2 weeks ago, just to minimise the walking) so he walked upstairs...and at the sight of him..I started crying! It was a mixture of discomfort and fear as I worried about the babies coming too soon...
Somehow the pain went away and I was able to tell him that I needed to go to the hospital...he helped me to the room and I made a call to my hubs...who immediately said that he would rush back. I also called my sister to see if this was what they called contractions. At first, she sounded worried but later she asked if the shivering was because I was scared! No way Jose!
I rested in bed while I waited for my hubs and the pain came back in about 15 mins! I was rolling around on bed when my husband rushed in and he was all frantic and tried calling the clinic we went to, to ask if we were to head to the hospital right away. Things were a little complicated because just a day before, we had switched to a new doctor who is attached to another hospital -- we had never been to the hospital to register before.
After getting the greenlight from the nurse (we were contemplating on going to a hospital that was nearer), my hubs whisked my hospital documents, our cord blood banking sets and me and we were off.
We ended up staying at the hospital for 2 nights...and it was indeed preterm contractions I had! The doc put me on Ventolin, a medicine commonly used for asthma, which is known to stop contractions. I guess I was feeling all better once I had the medical team around me...the contractions didn't come back after I was admitted for about an hour...
All in all it was a reassuring stay at the hospital as the nurses would come every 3 hours to check on the babies' heartbeats. The twin on my left, Twin 2 as they call him, seems to be the naughtier one as the nurses could never track his heartbeat for longer than a few seconds on the non-stress test machine. He was probably squirming about and doing little somersaults in there!
I'm really glad we checked into the hospital and that it was to be a two-day holiday after that...my hubs stayed with my all through out and slept on the pull-out seat next to my bed.
And I'm so glad we switched to this new doc! He came to see us all three days eventhough it was Christmas...with our previous doctor...I never really felt like I was treated as a high-risk pregnancy case. But this doctor, he was all nice and understanding and hinted that we'd try to stretch the pregnancy out for as long as possible but that he suspects that I may not last that long....
Ok my hubs just walked in and he said the main message is: it's never too late to change your gynae! :)
Oh just to backtrack a little, we did our IVF with a different doctor who no longer accepted deliveries, so we had to find a gynae on our own. We arrived at the second gynae through a friend's recommendation, because she did her IVF and had twins with him. We were fine with him for the first few visits...and it did help that the hospital was quite near to where we stayed and there was zero-waiting time with him.
My distrust with him began when I asked if he could write me an MC for when I was about 30 weeks pregnant so that I could bedrest at home. He wasn't keen on that at all and seemed to dismiss my need for resting. He said, perhaps he could let me rest from 32 weeks onwards..which was fair enough. But he said so very reluctantly...and kept saying that he didn't see the need for me to rest at home at all that early...which made me think he didn't really treat me as high risk at all.
Well we stuck with him for a bit more. Later we asked about having skin-to-skin contact to encourage breastfeeding and again he didn't seem keen on the idea and somehow his replies always made us feel like we had asked a stupid question!
Luckily I had a chat with my hubs a couple of weeks back and told him that I actually didn't cared much for this gynae and would not go back to him after our delivery...little did I know that my hubs didn't say anything only because he thought I was fine with the gynae!
So we asked around on forums for recommendations for new gynaes and if it was ok to change one so late...we ended up going for a gynae whom our IVF doctor had recommended in the first place :)
Oh and we had one last appointment with our second gynae since it was already scheduled..and that sealed the deal that he wasn't the one for us...we again reminded him to write me the MC since I was already 33 weeks (I mentioned that we'll be picking up the MC in our next appointment when we saw him at 30 weeks)...and he just gave us a horrified look...and he said that he can't ever BACKDATE an MC.....
So I reminded him gently and said at the last appointment you said we could pick it up today...and he said yeah I could write you an MC from today onwards but not from last week...So I started turning a little red and angry and said: then you should've given us the MC at our last appointment...and you know what he said? "Oh, but how can I give you an MC that is in the future?"
I mean...he really does not understand what giving out MCs for third trimester pregnancies are for. He seems to think that I'd have to be hospitalised and in pain before he can issue an MC!
So I turned a little redder and he reluctantly gave in and said ok fine...I will write the date as when you started your 32nd week..no one will have to know about it...(see how easily it can be done?)
Then after that he had to add: "But if your boss tears the MC up..I can't help you with it..."
I mean...who was he to decide for me? He was supposed to be on my side anyway!
This episode really showed what kind of person/gynae/doctor he was -- it really wasn't about getting the MC that I was pissed about...but it really speaks of how he treated women and pregnancy and safety! Oh and after reluctantly issuing us the MC, he went on to warn us about going into preterm labour...he said: Anytime you have any pain just come right into emergency...
By saying that...doesn't he mean that I'm at risk of going into preterm labour anytime soon and he still does not want to let me rest and prevent all that? Geeze.
He also prescribed us with two Dexa jabs to mature the babies lungs, and told us to get it that weekend. From what I know....a lot of twin mummies get that jab at 28 weeks....and here I was at 33 weeks and no jabs yet...
Luckily, we saw our new gynae about 3 days later and asked him about it...he immediately told us to take the jab, which we did! Imagined if we hadn't and had gone into preterm labour the next day and delivered!
Hmph.
I'm so glad that we no longer have to see our second gynae...I didn't know I was dreading his visits so much. We have our appointment coming up tomorrow with our new gynae and I'm actually excited! Which should be the way when it comes to pregnancy check-ups!
I originally wanted to write this post to list down what I've been eating daily but I guess I'll do that in the next post!
Adios!
Mei
Monday, 28 December 2015
Thursday, 13 August 2015
Out of batteries
I'm almost 15 weeks!
I must admit that I forgot to update this blog a little...and now I have some time because my car just wouldn't start (my guess would be a faulty battery) and I'm stuck in the office till the hubs come and pick me up. Which may take another hour or more, looking at the jam outside.
The good thing is that my super hunger pangs have since slowed down a little...so I think I can last a bit longer without food.
By the way, my taste for tomatoes and red chillies have returned! So I can finally go back to cooking my own dinner/supper and not feel like I don't want to eat it afterwards. Was craving for lupcheong chicken rice last night, and wanted to head home to cook it with some french beans. All I had though was rice and lupcheong, so that was what I had :) Yummy nevertheless!
In about 2 weeks, we'll get to take a first peek to see the babies' genders! That's something that me and the hubs is really looking forward to. We're still arguing over names, so having the genders confirmed will definitely help!
Anyways, I hope to write more soon!
XOXO
I must admit that I forgot to update this blog a little...and now I have some time because my car just wouldn't start (my guess would be a faulty battery) and I'm stuck in the office till the hubs come and pick me up. Which may take another hour or more, looking at the jam outside.
The good thing is that my super hunger pangs have since slowed down a little...so I think I can last a bit longer without food.
By the way, my taste for tomatoes and red chillies have returned! So I can finally go back to cooking my own dinner/supper and not feel like I don't want to eat it afterwards. Was craving for lupcheong chicken rice last night, and wanted to head home to cook it with some french beans. All I had though was rice and lupcheong, so that was what I had :) Yummy nevertheless!
In about 2 weeks, we'll get to take a first peek to see the babies' genders! That's something that me and the hubs is really looking forward to. We're still arguing over names, so having the genders confirmed will definitely help!
Anyways, I hope to write more soon!
XOXO
Monday, 6 July 2015
Getting toasty
So I've been thinking about insurance today and chanced upon this one for pregnant ladies.
It says coverage for your infant from as early as 18 weeks into the pregnancy. Sounds good! Not too late and not too early. Just hope it fits into my budget (since there'll probably be a surcharge for twins).
Contacted an agent and will probably meet up with her next week.
On the other front, I'm thinking of cooking mapo tofu again tonight. Dinner is the hardest time of the day for me -- I have to plan for two meals, and most of the time, I don't feel like eating much but hunger gets the better of me.
I'm really thankful that my MIL has been cooking dinner these days. Healthy meals with healthy nourishing soup. But my tastebuds tend to go a bit awry at night so they end up tasting bland and I almost always have to force my dinners down.
I've decided that for my 11pm meals, I'll try toast with a little cheese. Let's see if that will work for now.
It says coverage for your infant from as early as 18 weeks into the pregnancy. Sounds good! Not too late and not too early. Just hope it fits into my budget (since there'll probably be a surcharge for twins).
Contacted an agent and will probably meet up with her next week.
On the other front, I'm thinking of cooking mapo tofu again tonight. Dinner is the hardest time of the day for me -- I have to plan for two meals, and most of the time, I don't feel like eating much but hunger gets the better of me.
I'm really thankful that my MIL has been cooking dinner these days. Healthy meals with healthy nourishing soup. But my tastebuds tend to go a bit awry at night so they end up tasting bland and I almost always have to force my dinners down.
I've decided that for my 11pm meals, I'll try toast with a little cheese. Let's see if that will work for now.
Sunday, 5 July 2015
Veggie no more
Nine weeks today!
The hunger and indigestion/nausea feeling is definitely still here.
Woke up thinking that I could try and be healthy and cook my own vegetable soup - with a carrot, celery, tomato and onion - but boy, was I wrong. I cracked an egg into my bowl of soup (didnt think that that would be considered undercooked eggs), took a spoonful and yelch! It was the most disgusting thing I've ever tasted.
During the 2ww, vegetable soup was all I felt good eating but now I can't stand the thought of it! Somehow the chicken stock powder I added had a bitter twang to it...or maybe it's just my upgraded (downgraded?) tastebuds.
I'm not liking any greens and tomatoes are an absolute no no. I used to eat tomatoes like all day! Anything savoury but sweet seems to irk me too, like today's chicken teriyaki lunch. God knows I go wayyyyy back with teriyaki chicken.
Lucky for me, these Japanese salt lemon candy have been oh-so soothing whenever I felt the bile well up in my throat. My sis got em online and they are lifesavers!
The hunger and indigestion/nausea feeling is definitely still here.
Woke up thinking that I could try and be healthy and cook my own vegetable soup - with a carrot, celery, tomato and onion - but boy, was I wrong. I cracked an egg into my bowl of soup (didnt think that that would be considered undercooked eggs), took a spoonful and yelch! It was the most disgusting thing I've ever tasted.
During the 2ww, vegetable soup was all I felt good eating but now I can't stand the thought of it! Somehow the chicken stock powder I added had a bitter twang to it...or maybe it's just my upgraded (downgraded?) tastebuds.
I'm not liking any greens and tomatoes are an absolute no no. I used to eat tomatoes like all day! Anything savoury but sweet seems to irk me too, like today's chicken teriyaki lunch. God knows I go wayyyyy back with teriyaki chicken.
Lucky for me, these Japanese salt lemon candy have been oh-so soothing whenever I felt the bile well up in my throat. My sis got em online and they are lifesavers!
Sunday, 28 June 2015
Pregnancy must-haves
If you google "pregnancy must-haves", you'll find lots of suggestions from pregnant ladies everywhere.
So here's my list of pregnancy must-haves for the first trimester.
1. Big U pregnancy pillow - just ordered this from Lazada. I hope it's as comfy as they say! I've been having this backache whenever I go shopping or walk for too long. The miracle pillow is supposed to help.
2. Extra virgin coconut oil - my friend who had her daughter over a year ago swears by this. Finally found a bottle in Jaya Grocer. Lathered it all over and yes, the hubs says it smells like rendang.
3. Larger tights - I've been loving the versatile black tights from Uniqlo but had to go from M to L since last week. Was going to invest in more when I chanced upon this neat rubberband maternity trick. Tried it out today on my jeans and it worked beautifully :)
4. Comfortable wireless bra - for when the nights are squishy times for your bosom. I've been wearing one that actually has wires, but is a sort of T-shirt bra that is super comfy.
5. Gas/gastric medicine - we don't have Tums here but anything else will just do. I tend to get this heartburny feeling whenever I eat red chillies. But I can't do without them or I won't feel like eating my meal.
6. Soft gel ice pack - for when the headaches strike! I bought this nice gel-like one that never freezes from Guardian a while back and it works like a dream. Bought another one so I can sleep on one and have another on my forehead.
7. Various snacks - salty chips, gerkins, salsa, kimchi, candy, lollipops -- just throw 'em in the trolley. Half of those things I've stopped eating but hey, I may like em later. This is for when the nausea
8. Soda crackers + air tight box - I've been eating a sugary soda cracker the first thing I wake up. I don't know if it helps with the nausea as I still do get a bit queasy later on but it sure is easy to munch on. I put them in a snap tight box beside my bed.
9. Babycentre app - like this one. It alerts me week by week. Just told me yesterday that I'm 8 weeks! And tells me what's happening to my babies. Loads of tips included too. Sure beats reading the What to Expect book.
10. Canned soup - the powdered packet ones just aren't the same. Sure soothes the salty cravings at night. The hubs is preparing a cream of chicken soup for me as we speak. Ugh. I'm feeling a little sick now.
Will update the list if I can think of anything else! Oh and this is another must-have:
11. Flat shoes - I've been wearing my Tiamo brogues for the longest time and they are perfect for pregnant ladies. Super comfy and doesn't trip me over and matches well with absolutely everything.
New update at 15 weeks: More must-haves!
12. Bra extender - I got these fabulous bra extender hooks from here for just RM1.50! I am not a fan of shopping for bras, so having these are great! I reckon I can still wear my current bra perhaps till delivery time...(or is that wishful thinking?)
13. Salt lemon candy - Super life savers! I popped one into my mouth each time I felt like puking and it works like a charm. You can get them here.
So here's my list of pregnancy must-haves for the first trimester.
1. Big U pregnancy pillow - just ordered this from Lazada. I hope it's as comfy as they say! I've been having this backache whenever I go shopping or walk for too long. The miracle pillow is supposed to help.
2. Extra virgin coconut oil - my friend who had her daughter over a year ago swears by this. Finally found a bottle in Jaya Grocer. Lathered it all over and yes, the hubs says it smells like rendang.
3. Larger tights - I've been loving the versatile black tights from Uniqlo but had to go from M to L since last week. Was going to invest in more when I chanced upon this neat rubberband maternity trick. Tried it out today on my jeans and it worked beautifully :)
4. Comfortable wireless bra - for when the nights are squishy times for your bosom. I've been wearing one that actually has wires, but is a sort of T-shirt bra that is super comfy.
5. Gas/gastric medicine - we don't have Tums here but anything else will just do. I tend to get this heartburny feeling whenever I eat red chillies. But I can't do without them or I won't feel like eating my meal.
6. Soft gel ice pack - for when the headaches strike! I bought this nice gel-like one that never freezes from Guardian a while back and it works like a dream. Bought another one so I can sleep on one and have another on my forehead.
7. Various snacks - salty chips, gerkins, salsa, kimchi, candy, lollipops -- just throw 'em in the trolley. Half of those things I've stopped eating but hey, I may like em later. This is for when the nausea
8. Soda crackers + air tight box - I've been eating a sugary soda cracker the first thing I wake up. I don't know if it helps with the nausea as I still do get a bit queasy later on but it sure is easy to munch on. I put them in a snap tight box beside my bed.
9. Babycentre app - like this one. It alerts me week by week. Just told me yesterday that I'm 8 weeks! And tells me what's happening to my babies. Loads of tips included too. Sure beats reading the What to Expect book.
10. Canned soup - the powdered packet ones just aren't the same. Sure soothes the salty cravings at night. The hubs is preparing a cream of chicken soup for me as we speak. Ugh. I'm feeling a little sick now.
Will update the list if I can think of anything else! Oh and this is another must-have:
11. Flat shoes - I've been wearing my Tiamo brogues for the longest time and they are perfect for pregnant ladies. Super comfy and doesn't trip me over and matches well with absolutely everything.
New update at 15 weeks: More must-haves!
12. Bra extender - I got these fabulous bra extender hooks from here for just RM1.50! I am not a fan of shopping for bras, so having these are great! I reckon I can still wear my current bra perhaps till delivery time...(or is that wishful thinking?)
13. Salt lemon candy - Super life savers! I popped one into my mouth each time I felt like puking and it works like a charm. You can get them here.
Tofu, lounge pants and Little Miss Princess
Oh and today we went grocery shopping to buy even more food.
Awhile back I cleverly bought a box of dashi miso paste. After one meal, I decided I couldn't stand the taste of it. I seem to have developed an aversion to cooking my usual foods. So the agenda today was to get ingredients that I could stomach.
So I came home with:
Msg-free chicken stock - to make chicken soup noodles
Crispy spicy prawn sambal - to make aglio olio
Mince pork - for mapo tofu which I had been craving, and also for porridge if that's all I feel like
Campbell's chicken and vegetable soup + chicken soup - for the 11pm hunger pangs (thank God I bought these as the hubs forgot to buy the mashed potato for me again!)
Grapefruit - citrusy fruits suppose to make me feel better
Orange juice - ditto
Tofu - for said mapo tofu, though I wish they had the japanese mapo tofu box spice that I wanted to try
Mango salsa - salsa! Have been craving for something tangy to dip my chips in
Kellogg's cereal bars - for in-between snacks at work
Snickers - as above
Waffles - for breakfast! Have been having trouble finding breakfast food that I feel like eating
I've cut out milk products for now as they give me diarrhea and bloating almost immediately. Even a cup of soup in a packet, creamy mushroom, doubles up my stomach size.
Oh and I'd love to share that I bought myself L sized Moomin lounge pants from Uniqlo! They are super comfy -- have been eyeing them for a while and even told my mom that she could get a few for me for my birthday. There was a sale today so I just got two pairs on my own. Super love how they look and feel! Think they should last till the second trimester at least. Mom said to buy XL, but I'd better not.
Also bought a book: Toxic Chilhood: How the modern world is damaging our children and what we can do about it. Definitely looked more interesting than the What to Expect when you're Expecting books which keep telling me about my pregnancy, when I'd really love to know how to prepare for my babies' first year.
Also bought a Little Miss Princess book. Couldn't resist as it was too cute! Think I'll get a box set when the kids come along :)
Awhile back I cleverly bought a box of dashi miso paste. After one meal, I decided I couldn't stand the taste of it. I seem to have developed an aversion to cooking my usual foods. So the agenda today was to get ingredients that I could stomach.
So I came home with:
Msg-free chicken stock - to make chicken soup noodles
Crispy spicy prawn sambal - to make aglio olio
Mince pork - for mapo tofu which I had been craving, and also for porridge if that's all I feel like
Campbell's chicken and vegetable soup + chicken soup - for the 11pm hunger pangs (thank God I bought these as the hubs forgot to buy the mashed potato for me again!)
Grapefruit - citrusy fruits suppose to make me feel better
Orange juice - ditto
Tofu - for said mapo tofu, though I wish they had the japanese mapo tofu box spice that I wanted to try
Mango salsa - salsa! Have been craving for something tangy to dip my chips in
Kellogg's cereal bars - for in-between snacks at work
Snickers - as above
Waffles - for breakfast! Have been having trouble finding breakfast food that I feel like eating
I've cut out milk products for now as they give me diarrhea and bloating almost immediately. Even a cup of soup in a packet, creamy mushroom, doubles up my stomach size.
Oh and I'd love to share that I bought myself L sized Moomin lounge pants from Uniqlo! They are super comfy -- have been eyeing them for a while and even told my mom that she could get a few for me for my birthday. There was a sale today so I just got two pairs on my own. Super love how they look and feel! Think they should last till the second trimester at least. Mom said to buy XL, but I'd better not.
Also bought a book: Toxic Chilhood: How the modern world is damaging our children and what we can do about it. Definitely looked more interesting than the What to Expect when you're Expecting books which keep telling me about my pregnancy, when I'd really love to know how to prepare for my babies' first year.
Also bought a Little Miss Princess book. Couldn't resist as it was too cute! Think I'll get a box set when the kids come along :)
Let's talk about food
Lately, I've been eating a lot.
And I mean A LOT.
Like yesterday.
For breakfast at eight, a few crackers and milo. Had a nap, woke up and had a slice of bread with honey. Then felt immense hunger around 12 and had Ipoh kuey teow soup at Pappa Rich. Two hours later, it was satay -- five sticks of chicken and five of beef. Had to chew some gum to get the onions out of my breath. It left an ickier taste than usual. We walked for a bit then we stopped at Bing's, this new Korean dessert place, and I ordered a Sakura waffle set. It wasn't too big, but it was fulfilling. The hubs had a tall glass of ginseng honey milk (don't ask) and a mango pineapple bingsu parfait which tasted super yummy (I was only allowed a few spoonfuls).
For dinner, it was spicy basil and chicken spaghetti from Black Canyon. Was craving for KFC's mashed potato but the hubs conveniently forgot to buy any for me -- he said it had a lot of msg. So he cut up some fruits instead. Apples, a donut peach and a persimmon. After a few slices of the apple, I started to feel bloated so I had some nacho chips. I'm such a glutton!
But it was a good day for food.
And I mean A LOT.
Like yesterday.
For breakfast at eight, a few crackers and milo. Had a nap, woke up and had a slice of bread with honey. Then felt immense hunger around 12 and had Ipoh kuey teow soup at Pappa Rich. Two hours later, it was satay -- five sticks of chicken and five of beef. Had to chew some gum to get the onions out of my breath. It left an ickier taste than usual. We walked for a bit then we stopped at Bing's, this new Korean dessert place, and I ordered a Sakura waffle set. It wasn't too big, but it was fulfilling. The hubs had a tall glass of ginseng honey milk (don't ask) and a mango pineapple bingsu parfait which tasted super yummy (I was only allowed a few spoonfuls).
For dinner, it was spicy basil and chicken spaghetti from Black Canyon. Was craving for KFC's mashed potato but the hubs conveniently forgot to buy any for me -- he said it had a lot of msg. So he cut up some fruits instead. Apples, a donut peach and a persimmon. After a few slices of the apple, I started to feel bloated so I had some nacho chips. I'm such a glutton!
But it was a good day for food.
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