Pain here + pain there = pain everywhere!

I have always had backaches. Mainly on the shoulder blades, around the spine, between the shoulders, below the neck.... ok, the whole upper back. With the pregnancy, comes the pelvic girdle pain, especially when I have walked too much (like in the mall the other day), or swim the breaststroke. Then this old pain at the right waist reappears out of the blue. Especially since I am encouraged to sleep on my sides instead of my back now. Initially, it started some time back when I was working on the computer a lot placed on the left arm rest of the sofa. Today, there is just this arthritic kind of pain on my wrists. Makes me wonder if it was from playing too much ring-a-ring o' roses with your che-che earlier on.

What makes the pain more bearable:
Upper backaches
Move head back, kinda like trying to form double chin, release and repeat.

Rotate arms around, first in one direction then the other way round and repeat with the other arm.

Tilt head to the right and stretch left arm on the opposite direction and hold a few counts. There should be a stretching sensation around the neck area. Repeat a few times before switching sides. 

Waist
Stuff pillows/ blankets around waist and between my legs during sleep so that when sleeping on my side, I am aligned.

Prevent facing the left from the waist for too long.

Wrists
Haven't really thought much as tonight is the first night of the attack. Maybe no more ring-a-ring o' roses for the time being? :( I am sure some pregnancy approved painkillers like paracetamol will help but I try to stay away medication as much as possible unless it is that unbearable.

Pelvic Girdle Pain
Sit on the balance ball with an upright posture and do breathing exercises - in through the nostril and out through the mouth.

Sleep with pillows/ blankets/ towels/ bolsters stuffed in the right places (see 'Waist' picture above).
Don't walk too fast or too much too suddenly or swim the breaststroke.
Swim or rather dip (actually just float) in the pool to get some pressure off. Incorporate some arm punches along as a form of exercise...

Hopefully no more pain anywhere else!

Week 17

Ok.. I must admit that I'm a little confuse to how far I'm in the pregnancy now as the gynae kept changing the due dates each time he measures you. You should be 17 weeks old now and kicking away! I have been feeling flutters when I place my hands around my belly but wonder if you are the one causing the movements or something else (eg. gas!).

Other than that, I am feeling tonnes better. Gaining back the majority of my energy and have been skipping some afternoon naps going about doing some housework and all. I even managed to bake a banana cake with your che-che yesterday after so many months of absence from the kitchen scene!

I am still nauseous but only when I don't get food into my stomach in time and during night time teeth-brushing. A vast difference compared to earlier!!

Taken from: www.babycentre.com

This week, in addition to your usual growth and development, we pray that your eyes will start to look forward instead of to the sides, your ears will move to their final place, your soft cartilage skeleton will harden, the myelin will grow and cover your spinal cord, and you will continue your aerobics in there!

Week 10 Scan

This is how you looked like at week 10. Just managed to dig it out and post it....

Looks like there's a lot more space around you compared to the recent 16 week scan!

Check-up and blood test

At the Dr's clinic now. Weighing 62.5kg after 5 weeks. Not much but as long as you're growing well. Let's see later. I'm also due for a blood test today. Not looking forward. Very keen to have a look at the scan today as I didn't seem to feel any activities from you today.

Update: You.. Were so active that the Dr had difficulty measuring you! You... are now expected to arrive on 24 November instead of 29 so you are now actually 16 weeks old. You... Are a boy!!! ;-)

Japan Earthquake

On Friday March 11, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake hit the East of Japan. It is deemed one of the most powerful earthquake to have hit Japan and one of the most powerful in the world! The earthquake triggered a massive tsunami which destroyed parts of Japan and caused serious damage to the nuclear power plant.

Epicentre of the eartquake

More than 15,000 lost their lives, more than 5,000 are injured and more than 8,000 are reported missing. This is probably one of the worst disasters that happened in my lifetime that I can remember right now. As of 3 June, there are still aftershocks all over with some hitting Japan in April killing more people.

People are evacuated, there's no electricity in the bitter cold, still many are missing... the extend of the earthquake and tsunami is just unimaginable! It will take a very long time before Japan rises from this crisis again.

You are in our prayers, Japan.

Most Wanted Terrorist Dead

Osama bin Laden, founder of the al-Qaeda jihad group and mastermind behind the September 11 attacks in the USA was shot dead on May 2 by the US under orders of President Barrack Obama.

9/11 happened exactly ten years ago in 2001. It was a series of co-ordinated suicide attacks by the al-Qaeda terrorists. They hijacked four airplanes and crashed two into the World Trade Centre and caused it to collapse. The third airline crashed at the Pentagon while the fourth which originally targeted Washington crashed into a field. There were no survivors on all the planes. Total lives lost was close to 3,000 that day including workers in the buildings, firefighters, on those on board the airplanes.

I remember watching the twin towers of the World Trade Centre collapsing on the news as though I was watching a Steven Spielberg movie! It was a very gloomy day especially in America.

I wonder what will happen next now that Osama is dead. Will there really be peace? Or will it instigate a retaliation by the al-Qaeda? There are as it is enough natural disasters taking many innocent lives happening now and then. Why is there a need for more unnecessary lost lives?

American Idol 2011

I haven't really been watching AI nowadays. It is already in its 10th season. There was a major change this season which saw the exit of one of the judges whom you either hate or love - Simon Cowell. He is well known for his sarcasm and blunt remarks.

Two new judges came on board - Steve Tyler and Jennifer Lopez whom your poh-poh idolizes!

Anyway, the winner of the 10th season of American Idol is a young 17-year old chap with a deep husky voice named Scotty McCreery. The country singer grabbed the title on May 25.

Scotty with runner-up Lauren Alaina

Thought I would mention this as he is only young and you may be listening to his songs in the future when you are a teen! ;-)


Scotty's Audition:


Live performance:

It's next week...

Just went for another puke trip. Probably from the dou miu vegetable we had from dinner that was difficult to digest.

Was actually looking forward to see the doc coming Monday for a few reasons:
- To see how you're doing in there
- To see if we can identify you are going to be a little didi or meimei
- To get some meds for a break from all the vomiting
Not really looking forward will be the blood test but that is essential so I won't take that into account.

Was housekeeping my calendar and just realised that the appointment is actually next Monday the 13th! Aww... Kinda disappointed a little...

Anyway, gotta go lie in bed to rest my sore feet, back and a headache... Gotta long day tomorrow! Night bubs!

Still not there yet...

I'm much better.. that's for sure.. but I am still not only nauseating, I am vomiting! Daily, any time of the day. Today is also the second time I developed an itch on my palms and it is after having some seafood again. Today is worse as my soles are itching too. The first time was last week when we had prawns in our dishes.

I still don't fancy cooking as the smell of the kitchen is just repelling! I am feeling more energetic and needing less sleep than before

We will be having our next appointment coming Monday. Will have to speak to the doc about these. Just praying that you are all well inside there!

Meanwhile, your big che-che already knows that you are growing in my belly and had been trying to listen to you making any sounds! She sometimes sings to you too! Can you hear her sweet little voice?