Archive List for August 2012

2 weeks ago (11 August 2012), Yappi and I attended a maternity class for parents which was compulsory for those who the father wishes to accompany the wife during labor.

Yappi wishes to stay together and witness little-big-boss coming out to meet the world 

And so, we signed up for this 

The application form for the class.

In the form, this is the reason we wrote, why we applied for the husband accompany during labor 
 Wife: Because I feel relieved with him at my side.
 Husband: Because we are husband and wife.

This class literally telling us what are we going to experience towards labor, during labor and after labor. 

I quite enjoyed this class coz we had Yappi experiencing how a woman feels during pregnancy in the class~

First, trying on a suit with a big tummy..

with breast..

Here, he got to experience the weight of a pregnant woman have to carry and the inconveniences to pick up things from the floor with this tummy~

And then,

we moved to the labor room, listening to some of the explanation, and Yappi tried getting on to the labor chair..

Only he volunteered to try among all the other couples there when asked.. 
He said, “This is the only chance, that’s why!” ..

So now Yappi is all ready to witness little-big-boss coming out at anytime~ 

Gets bigger and comes out to meet the world 大きくなれ～ 
(35 weeks 1 day tummy)

We love you   
(35 weeks 1 day tummy)

And,
We are ready 

Time seems to be faster since I’ve entered my last trimester of pregnancy 

 
My prenatal checkup visit is now on once a week, which means there’s only about 4 weeks left to go

11th prenatal checkup on 10 August 2012
36 weeks 0 day
Estimate weight: 2498g

 Doc said all good~ 

The ever cutest moment I saw on the screen was little-big-boss moving his lips, like as if he is munching something  Though my hospital does not provide a 3D or 4D scan, I still feel the satisfaction!  

11th prenatal checkup on 10 August 2012
36 weeks 0 day

 The femur bone~ Doc always uses this (femur length) to measure the baby weight 

Glad to know he is growing gradually and well 

1 week later~

12th prenatal checkup on 17 August 2012
37 weeks 0 day
Estimate weight: 2580g

 This scan is to check the amount of the amniotic fluid (see the 2 cross mark above). Mine was all good  protecting little-big-boss all the way 

I can’t really figure out which part of which of little-big-boss on this scan..

4 more weeks till my due date, and the doc told me my cervix is 1cm opened!  
I was a lil’ bit shocked, but then 1cm opened is normally still far from labor..(still it depends). Anyhow, got to be prepared..

37 weeks 1 day tummy 

Slightly bigger and belly button starting to pop up.. 

The very first experience through my pregnancy was the excitement of knowing that, 

“I AM PREGNANT”

I couldn’t believe it when I was proved positive, a life was inside my tummy!
..though back then, little-big-boss was still like-a-bean 

It was like, “Wow..me becoming a mom!” 

Secondly, came the morning sickness experience..  This started before I know I was pregnant.

Luckily it lasted only for 2 weeks after I was proved little-big-boss is inside 

I thought morning sickness makes you feel like puking..  that’s what usually dramas or movies made a newly pregnant lady do..

For my case, no puking at all 

During these 2 weeks, I just felt totally dizzy and hated the smell of some raw fish and maybe radish. 
Didn’t feel like eating also.
And, dizzy to the max (just exaggerated) to even spend only 5 mins on the computer..

I usually rest on my fluffy rug with my new beans bag cushion reading these 

Yes, I just finished reading my last 3 series of  Harry Potter during my morning sickness period  I am always not up-to-date but was quite satisfied that I finally completed this Harry Potter story

Besides that, Yappi introduced me this  to read..

百鬼夜行抄 (Hyakkiyakoushou), a comic-series of ghost story.

Though my mom warned me not to read this kind of stories during pregnancy.. 
This series are actually nice and not those grostesque scary type of ghost stories at all. It tells more of the mysterious part of Japanese culture and their superstition beliefs  I like 

2 weeks past and I thought I need to learn how to be a “mom” while the baby is still inside my tummy..  

 I didn’t know that I needed to consume foods fortified with Folic Acid (green leafy veges and liver usually contains high folic acid) at least 400μg/day. (In fact, a woman who is planning to have a baby should have start consuming more of foods containing acid folic before they conceived..)

 I didn’t know how much is an ideal weight to gain during the whole pregnancy..

 I didn’t know it is better to sleep on side ways rather than straight facing the ceiling when tummy is bigger, preferably facing left (heart downwards) for better blood circulation..

 I didn’t know all the exercises that are advisable to workout for a smoother delivery later..

 I didn’t know pregnant woman has higher chance of getting high-blood pressure..*must eat less salt*

 I didn’t know pregnant woman has higher chance of getting diabetes, gestational diabetes..*must eat less sugar*

 I didn’t know you’d get constipation very easily during pregnancy..*I was okay though 

 I didn’t know etc, etc and etc~

Besides that I have some experienced friends and a sister-in-law who gave me all sorts of advice, I’ve got myself some books in order to gain more knowledge when little-big-boss is growing inside my tummy~

Some textbooks from the hospital..

And some more info stuffs, one nappy sample from the government..

In Japan, we have to register to the government once proved pregnant in order to get a record book, “Mother and Child Health Handbook” (母子健康手帳)..

This handbook has all the necessary information on pregnancy, procedures that have to be done, and all the regular health check up schedule for a child up to 6 years old. This handbook is compulsory and has to be presented in every checkup.

The government usually pays most (but not all) of the fees of every prenatal checkups. Different city has different rules and amount.

For my place, this handbook came with money coupons and we usually pay on these coupons.

 Other than this, the government also provides an almost full amount for labor and 1 week admission to a hospital. If you choose a cheaper hospital, you’d get the extra income. If you choose an expensive hospital, you’d have to add more  to cover up. 

With all these books, I guess I’m pretty knowledgeable on pregnancy now  haha

During this whole maternity period, I have this hanging on my bag~ 

Created by Tamahiyo (magazines and books publisher about pregnancy and babies).

This strap was created for other people to take notice and to care when a pregnant lady is outside alone.
Not everyone noticed especially during the first few months where the tummy is still not obvious.

This strap then got recognized by the government, campaign was launched, idea spread, and everybody knows 

And then, I have this supplement to balance up my diet..

Acid folic, iron, 7 types of vitamin B and calcium  

Next, OIL BALM for bloating tummy!

L’Occitane MOM & BABY BALM

I’ve been using this since the very beginning to prevent pregnancy stretch marks  Though it is not medically proven that stretch mark can be prevented in any method, but still 

Most of all, it’s Yappi’s job to put on the balm + massaging after bath and I enjoyed this moment sooooo much  So gonna miss it.. 

This balm has only one size, small and quite pricey (3,150 yen). Yappi used so much, more than enough at once! He says, “Use more, more moisture, no regrets later on”. And for that, we are now on the 8th one..

Lastly, I have this for my legs!!

Scholl Medi Qtto sleeping stockings  Summer limited version 

I have an uncomfortable legs lately especially since towards my last trimester of pregnancy..

So, Yappi bought me this medical stockings to see if it helps.
We know that during last trimester, it is not a rare thing at all to have a cramp leg or an uncomfortable leg. Blood clots are easier to develop during pregnancy as well.
My hospital recommended this kind of stockings might help and this Medi Qtto sleeping stockings is created for a better blood circulation. Hope it helps 

By the way, Yappi loves this stockings a lot when I wear it  
The color and the design makes him feel like I’m a magical girl character in an anime 

The end. 

And I’m a mom soon~ 

Checkup scans nowadays are getting hard to figure out which part is which of little-big-boss..

8th prenatal checkup on 29 June 2012
30 weeks 0 day
Estimate weight: 1400g

 Did a full screening session for this checkup (2nd time) – just scanning as usual but took a longer time for the doctor to look carefully in every details. All good  

And I couldn’t figure out what is the scan shown anymore.. 

I think the doctor told me when we are looking at the screen, but I can’t remember which she was referring to for this scan above.. 

And 2 weeks later~

9th prenatal checkup on 13 July 2012
32 weeks 0 day
Estimate weight: 1828g

 Little-big-boss weight gained fast in 2 weeks~ +400g! And me overall gained 7 kg.. 

If I was not wrong, I think this scan was showing the left side of  little-big-boss facing up..

2 weeks time is fast..

10th prenatal checkup on 27 July 2012
34 weeks 0 day
Estimate weight: 2326g 

 Little-big-boss is in a good condition, good position, and good weight  

This time, I KNOW what and which and how is shown on the scan!

This is it

He was moving his lips like a goldfish here when the doc showed us his face  First time seeing little-big-boss so clearly on the face. Very adorable~  haha

Had the 3rd and last blood test on this session..

Blood still oozing out after hours.. sigh

Showing off my tummy~ 
I kinda like and think that it is fun to experience this different shape of my own body different visual looking at the mirror~

33 weeks 4 days tummy  full body

33 weeks 4 days tummy  side

34 weeks 0 day tummy  front

These photos were 1 and a half month to my due date, this tummy considered big or small?