Gentle Birth.. enough of drugs!

My first birth wasn’t something I would like to repeat. Being the first experience I followed everything from whatever sources I've read. LZ was 4-days overdue and I was admitted during that 4 days of waiting. Why? Because I voluntarily surrendered myself to the O&G on the due date and refused to go back although I was only 1cm dilated hehehehe.

Padahnya, every morning and afternoon kena 'seluk' and further dilation only occurs on the 3rd day, induced. Maasya Allah sakitnya memang tak boleh describe.. When LZ is safely delivered, approx 3-4 hours after that a gush of blood pool came out and I practically wet the bed.. with blood. I had a retained placenta.. again kena seluk hidup2 (imagine, diseluk just hours after being sewn) and I was rushed to the OT. Doc put me on GA and they clean up my womb.. was given another stitches.. again.. :-((

2nd Birth (my very own Gentle Birth) - I was smarter, I only went to the hospital when the contractions are 10-5 mins apart.. Contractions started the night before after a bloody shows in that afternoon. I distracted myself by preparing the baby stuffs, some house chores and I even made breakfast hehehe. Reached the hospital at 8.40am, already 7cm dilated and baby Umar Zharif arrived just 10mins after that.. It was beautifully painful but yet a really quick process! 

3rd Birth - Full of drugs.. you name it! Induced twice for a selected birth date (stupid huh?), pain killers, Epidural and assisted by vacuum as I was too 'high' to push baby AJ tho I was 10cm dilated! Mengada kan?

Lessons learned! Therefore, for this 4th pregnancy, I'll definitely gonna repeat my 2nd Birth method.. we're going back to Gentle Birth, people!

Reading, reading and reading... preparing myself for a calm and hoping for another quick labour! Insyaa Allah...

Our very own local Muslim Hypnobirthing instructor, Nadine Ghows has really inspired me to do this again and I'll definitely gonna sign into her classes and support group. Pretty interested into the Amani classes.

You can read more about Nadine here: http://www.mygentlebeginnings.com/about-me.html

Tried to talk hubs into a home birth, he's a bit sceptical and scared.. but being a finance guy, I think he's having a second thought went I describe how much we can save on the hospital charges $$$ ... ngehngehngeh...

Myth on Carrying a Girl

1) You will not get (or will get lesser) Morning Sickness = Na ah! I practically lived only in my bedroom for almost 3 months!

(Photo by Mr.Google d generous)

2) You will not have 'allergies' to certain smells = I hate my living room smell, the air freshener, perfumes, shower  cream..

(Photo: Google, who else?)

3) The baby girl in your womb will suck your beauty, wajah takkan berseri gitu! = Nope.. I think I'm Okayy..I still look good, felt even sexier! (hahaha..sila muntah!)

(Googled!)

4) You tend to be lazy to do anything = Agree! 

5) You will lose your libido = Not at all! so far so good.. ooopss!

by Google

Can't remember other myths that I've been told to about carrying a girl or boy during this pregnancy..

Well pregnancy experiences and complaints are different from woman to woman. Anyhow, I appreciate your concerns :-))

My Pregnancy Complaint: DARK Armpits. How to overcome?

In every pregnancy or after giving birth, the skin in my armpits and other body parts such as the neck, abdomen, and nipples will be darker (as in really really dark!) than the usual. According to study, this is normal because the activity of hormones in our body while pregnant enables the release of too much melanin (brown pigment that determines skin color) so the skin in several parts of the body is experiencing hyperpigmentation or darkening. Hyperpigmentation can not be avoided, but generally will disappear within a few months after giving birth.
Based on research, another factor that cause dark underarm are shaving and plucking. Underarm skin is very thin and sensitive. Every time we shave or pluck the armpit, we cause micro abrasions. It will make the skin darker after recovery.

how to get rid off these... (ths lady is not me..she's  Ms.Google)

... and get this clear under arms? (another photo of Ms.Google)

Some deodorants can also cause allergies and irritation of the skin, leaving dark underarms. There are also other causes, such as mold and asthma skin. Obesity also can worsen the pigmentation and darkens some areas of the body, including neck, armpits, and behind the knees.

** even PH party with dark armpits kikiki.. ** (photo: Googled..i'm not Perez H.)

Ok. How do I get rid off those dark colours earlier? I don't wanna wait until months after giving birth. What if it's not happening after this 3rd pregnancy? (hahaha! p.a.r.a.n.o.i.d). I heard that bleaching will also work in the short term, but is not a good solution overall because in the long term it will make darkening worse by irritating the skin in that area. 

So, i made some research and try out a few tips/ petua.. haven't seen the results so far as i just started yesterday hehehe... 

** These are the traditional petua/tips that i'm currently using in my mission of lightening them armpits! 

Ingredients: 1) Lemons, 2) Honey, 3) Baking Soda ~ I'm using Baking Soda as a substitute to Powdered Alum (You can buy powdered Alum from groceries sections or Sin Seh -Chinese Medical Store) Note: Don't confuse with Baking Powder, it has a  stickier texture).

there are many brands avail for cooking Alum: McCormick, Forbes

or boleh beli timbang kati:-))

Lemon & Honey

1) Lemon and Baking Soda 

• Cut a Lemon in half and Rub the halves over the armpits. 
• Take about half a teaspoon of Baking Soda and rub it on in a circular motion.
• Leave it on for 10 minutes and then wash off. Or leave it on for as long as you can if the texture doesn't bother you.

2) Lemon, honey and Baking Soda

• Mix some Lemon Juice and Honey equally in a little dish. 
• Apply it on the armpits and leave it on for 15-20 minutes. Wash it off with warm water. 
• Apply baking soda as before and leave it on for 10 minutes before washing.

Owh one more.. if you have plan to make your own effective natural deodorant, try this!

• Take about 1/8 of a teaspoon of baking soda in the palm of your hand, 
• Add enough water to make a smooth paste and apply it directly on to your armpits. Make sure you add enough water to dissolve the powder or it may irritate and inflame the region. 
• The final product feels a little slimy to touch and will more or less last all day. 
• It may leave white patches on your clothes or on the counter top, but that should get washed off easily enough.

Happy Trying, Peeps! Sudi2lah share your results wit me here..

3rd Trimester already? Yaiksss...

Huhuhu.. really need to start & complete these stuffs. Since the last time we received a newborn baby girl was 5 years ago, there are not many (or none?) of the baby clothes still exist in our storage now. 

So, here goes the list of things to buy! Is it too much? Did I missed anything? Appreciate your opinions..

** hugzz**

A) CLOTHES

• Long sleeve rompers x 2
• Short sleeve rompers x 3
• Tops, long/short  x 4
• Pants, long/short x 3
• Sweater x 1
• Hats/Bonnets x 2
• Socks/booties n mitten set x 4
• Shawl/swaddle blanket x 2

B) SLEEPING

• Baby cot = Checked!
• Cot mattress x 1
• Waterproof mattress cover x 1
• Cot bumper x 1
• Fitted sheet x 2
• Light blanket = Checked

C) FEEDING (Breast Feed - Confirmed BPA FREE!)

• Breast Pump & Milk Storage
• Avent Newborn Set = Checked!
• Sterilizing tablets, bottle brushes = Checked
• Burp cloths = Checked!
• Bibs x 5 = 3 x Checked!

D) TRAVELLING

• Stroller = Checked!
• Car seat  = Checked!
• Baby carrier/Baby sling  = Checked!
• Baby diaper bag/travel bag x 1

E) BATH/CHANGING

• Hooded towels x 1
• Baby washcloth/small face towels x 3
• Bathtub  = Checked!
• Non-slip mat for tub = Checked!
• Waterproof changing mat  = Checked!
• Toiletries: baby wash,lotion,diaper cream,cotton buds,cotton pad,powder,baby wipes
• Medical kit: thermometer,nail clipper,nasal aspirator,medicine spoon/syringe
• Baby comb n brush set
• Disposable Diapers x 1 month supply only! (will opt for Cloth Diapers after confinement, wish me luck!!)
• Baby Wet Wipes x 1 month supply
• Barut  = Checked!
• Kain Bedung  = Checked!

F) ETC

• Baby books and toys (rattles,mobiles)  = Checked!
• Baby detergent  x 1
• Minyak Yue Yee Cap Limau & Vicks

G) MUMMY’S

• Nursing bras x 3
• Nipple cream
• Breast pads
• Bengkung  = Checked!
• Batu Tungku = Checked!
• Confinement Set
• Confinement Lady (14 days) = have shortlisted a few but will make another post on this..need lotsa info!
• Hospital Booking  = Checked!

of Cloud-9 Wafer and Corn-in-Cup..Owh Hormone!

I always buy Ms.LZ a corn-in-cup after her swimming class. It's her favorite, coz she would normally famished after 2 hours of water play, so this snack will at least fill a part of her lil tummy before we reach home.

But not today. I've packed some spaghetti from lunch, cooked too much i think it will last till breakfast tomorrow. (Mind you, according to my menu plan, it should be Chicken Pie.. well, i've changed today's menu since Ms.LZ felt like eating pasta (or me?) hahaha!)

Ok, serious.

So, Ms.LZ had agreed to have spaghetti and some Fruity Mentos, after her swimming class.
When her class ended, I let her play at the pool slides with some other kids while I chit-chatted with their moms. The moms were briefing me about their kids' school Sri Pintar, USJ - Smart Islamic School until around 7pm when all of us realized that it was late. After a quick shower, the two girls who played with Ms.LZ came to say goodbye while eating a pack of Cloud 9 wafer each.

Here goes the best part..

I saw Ms.LZ talking to them while looking at their Cloud 9 wafers and said, "Bye, see u soon! I'm gonna eat my spaghetti&mentos afterwards, right mommy?", but her eyes did not stop staring at the wafers, drooling!
I felt pity to my daughter and automatically i felt bad.. i didn't feel bad for packing her a home-cooked food or not buying her a corn-in-cup but, i suddenly felt a gush of sadness when i saw her gestures that translated: "i really want them chocolate. i'm famished. i feel like i've never tasted any chocolate wafers before".

and you know what? i cried.. right there, right in front of the kids! hahaha...

I suddenly hugged Ms.LZ and said, "it's ok, baby. u have your Mentos in the car, right? You can have as many as you want".

But, rezeki kanak-kanak.. Allah always granted a kid's wish.

And then came the moms of the girls. "Ms.LZ, come here have some chocolates. Would you like to have one? We have plenty.. blablabla"

I quickly turn away and wiped my tears.

Then i saw Ms.LZ looked at me as if saying,"Can i take it?".. and of course I said to her, " Take it baby.. and say thanks to aunty blablabla"..
On our way out of the complex, I heard the girls told their mom, "..blablabla Ms.LZ's mom cried blablabla"

hahahaha..

Ms.LZ still asked for a corn-in-cup when we passed by the stall. Of course i said no. A deal is a deal!

.

.

.

.

.

In the car, i watched her ate the spaghetti, as if it was her best & the last spaghetti she could ever have. She ate 3/4 of the lunch box, then finished two packs of Cloud-9 wafers.

I don't know why, but I felt sad again.

And then... she said,"mummy, just now when we were walking to our car, i still can smell the corn-in-cup.. yummy! can u buy for me next week?"

Again.... I cried.

This girl really know how to drain all my tears of! I swore myself to buy that bloody frozen sweet corns and serve her everyday! well not in a white polystyrene cup but in any cups of her choice!

.

.

.

After dinner, I rewind the incident to Daddy J. I saw him wiping (sort of) the edge of his eyes, I swear I did! But then, he said "Hahaha takde apa2lahh..hormon je tu"

cehhh potong stim!

*** Lana Zahra, if you read this one day, this proves how much i love you and how much i always want the best for you.. hugzz***

Uh oh! I feel like crying... again

Healthy Me, Healthy Baby!

To stay Healthy, 5 rules that I follow:

1. Pay attention to my Weight Gain : Excess weight = may lead to Pre-Eclampsia(hi-blood) & Diabetes, in turn boosting the odds that both me and baby may develop diabetes years later. Under weight = lower birth weight or increased risk of prematurity. So, I'll always make sure I take that extra 300 calories per day required in the 2nd&3rd Tri.
2. Quit My Bad Habits: Sex & Rock&Roll=GOOD! don't leave this unless you're advised to. Luckily I don't do drugs & smoke..so the only thing to shed off is, Caffeine! A study found that consuming 200mg of caffeine per day, roughly the amount in a 16ounce brewed coffee at Atarbucks or 2-cups of instant coffee, increased miscarriage risk.
3. Limit my exposure to Toxic chemicals: inhaling certain chemicals-those found in solvents, paints, cleaners & pesticides can cause birth defects or miscarriage. So I avoid painting the kid's room(which is our lil project now), lessen our usage of the synthetic air freshner & any kinds of floor cleaners/chlorine.
4. Keep up my pre-natal appointments: Checking in gives me peace of mind!
5. Nurture myself & my relationships: Nothing rattles a marriage, or a sense of self, like the arrival of a newborn. So, linger in bed whenever I have the time, book a massage/mani pedi, date my husband & appreciate every single time I have with my 5y.o 'big-sister-to-be'.

My 5 easy Prenatal Excercises:

1. Walking: Strengthens my heart and lungs. Increases stamina & help me sleep better. If you prefer walking in a cooler place, do it in shopping malls! End-to-end of Midvalley Megamall, KL is about 5km already! My favourite 'walking' venue= Tesco-the Curve-Cineleisure-Ikano-Ikea-Tesco.. I'm making a fairly big 'curve' at least once or twice a week since it's just a stone away from home, taking grocery shopping as an excuse :-))
2. Water excercise: Swimming, shallow-water aerobics, deep water running&walking offer excellent Cardio benefits while taking pressure off your joints and muscle. water temperature should always stay below 32degC.
3. Prenatal Pilates: Gently strengthens my entire body and teaches me to be aware of my pelvic floor and deep abdominal muscles,which will benefit during labor. There are some pilates centres offering PreNatal Pilates nowadays in KL, you can google for the list. I go to Fitfor2 in Bangsar, it is children&mommy friendly with lotsa interesting classes & scrumptious meals :-)) You can also opt for PreNatal Yoga if you like! Alternatively, you can purchase the DVD instead and do it at home!
4. Prenatal Fitball: Low intensity safe and effective exercising on the ball improves core stability (improving the control and tone of deep abdominals) without risk to the baby. The fitball has proven to be a form of relief for back pain - a common ailment for pregnant women - providing comfortable and relaxing positions. I'm also taking a class for this at Fitfor2. Alternatively, you can buy the Fitball which includes a DVD showing the instructions for pregnant users. It is sold normally in exercise/gym equipments store.
5. Weight Training: Helps maintain muscle tone, strength and alignment to ease aches and pains. Reduce the weight as your pregnancy progresses.

To Stay in Shape, I keep to this 5 rules:

1. Move as much as I can!
2. Stop exercising ASAP and consult my doctor if you have certain symptoms: Bleeding, leaking of fluid, serious abdominal cramp or backpain, seeing spots, headache, swelling in hands&feet or a hard 'stitch' on your right side-underneath your ribs.
3. Do my Kegels.
4. Stay hydrated.
5. Use common sense: some types of physical activities should be avoided ie: active sports like basketball, hockey,mountain biking &etc.

Enjoy your pregnancy fellow preggers!

Mini Ms.LZ!

Alhamdulillah.. dengan izin Allah & berkat doa semua, 'Detailed Scan' results are +ve. All internal & external development are normal & in good shape. 
We have a sweet 5yo Girl & we've had a lovely Boy in 2007/08. Now, it's time to prepare for the arrival of Mini Ms.LZ!

** I've been scheduled for a detailed scan due to my long history in OB: 1 x ectopic, 1 x miscarriege & a Biliary Atresia(BA) baby (Although BA is not an inherited disease).
Some readings on Biliary Atresia from a Biliary Atresia article:

Causes

The cause of biliary atresia is not known. The two types of biliary atresia appear to be a “fetal” form, which arises during fetal life and is present at the time of birth, and a “perinatal” form, which is more typical and does not become evident until the second to fourth week of life. Some children, particularly those with the fetal form of biliary atresia, often have other birth defects in the heart, spleen, or intestines.

An important fact is that biliary atresia is not an inherited disease. Cases of biliary atresia do not run in families; identical twins have been born with only one child having the disease. Biliary atresia is most likely caused by an event occurring during fetal life or around the time of birth. Possibilities for the “triggering” event may include one or a combination of the following factors:

• infection with a virus or bacterium
• a problem with the immune system
• an abnormal bile component
• an error in development of the liver and bile ducts

Research on the cause of biliary atresia is of great importance. Progress in the management and prevention of biliary atresia can only come from a better understanding of its cause or causes.

*** More articles/facts on BA canalso be found in www.liverfoundation.org