Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Bye Bye Melancholic Me...

Am ok now. Life is beginning to return back to normality (laundry, chaos, shouts, mess, the usual stuff). I am also starting my fasting today. Yurp... while everyone else has done half of the ramadhan month. Thinking about the replacement fasting days that I have to do later makes me cringe. 

I gained 7kg the last 3 months and only managed to lose a miserable 2kg. Patience and time is not something that I am familiar with. I have been given the all clear by the good doctor and I take that as a sign to move on from this episode of my life. My PMS-sy moods has also returned to normal (a slow return but still a return, thank god for that!).

Tomorrow I'll be forty. Life begins at 40 they say. Starting life they say. Start anew they say. Whoever that may be remains a mystery.

But I am starting again, Slow pace, bit by bit, a journey that I need to take alone. I will be wherever I need to be eventually. For now, 

Life has been kind. For that I am forever grateful.

But I will never forget you baby. Don't you worry.


Wednesday, June 15, 2016

if only..

If only I'm an artist,
I could draw her face.
Perfectly.
Beautifully.

If only I'm an artist,
I could draw her face.
And remember her eternally.

If only I'm an artist,
I could draw her face.
And take her memory with me
wherever I might be.

Because memory fades.
and disappear like a freckle of dust.
And I know i will lose her eventually.
I'm just not ready.
Not now.
Not ever.

Hopefully.

.
.
.
.
.


If only I'm an artist...


Tuesday, June 14, 2016

I miss Her

Dream about her last night. With her cute little feet and hands and cherubic face, sleeping peacefully. Perfect in every way.

I was in the toilet when she came out, she was tiny and shredding to pieces. She was in the sink and I have no idea how she got there. I was horrified. Then as sudden, she grew to be a full grown baby, sleeping in a fetal position, Told mr hubbs "takutnya nak pegang dia" and I did anyway. I cradled her and that's when I saw that she is a she. Remembered thinking to myself, "berat jugak budak ni".

And then I woke up... Didn't even remember her until now. And suddenly my dream feels so vivid. 

So real. 

I miss her already... *cry*

Thursday, June 9, 2016

The day I had D&C

This year has a lot of first for me. First miscarriage. First D&C. First time in OT. First time being administered general anesthetic. First time being out cold and having no idea what were done to me (esp down yonder). First time being inserted with a contraceptive device.

Life is full of first times no matter how old you are.

Decided to go to Annur Hospital Bangi for a follow up check and scan coz its nearer to home. Went for a check up on Monday and was referred to Dr Fatimah. I like her. She is thorough with her explanation. Did not rush me while I related the history from my clear discharge to the blood clot despite it being the first day of Ramadhan and it was nearly 4pm.

During scanning she noticed a lot more tissues were still inside my womb. "Dang", i thought I could go back to normality. She gave me 2 options: (1) to let it come out naturally which may take weeks or months; or (2) do a D&C to clean the womb. Both comes with risks. Option (1) may lead to infection and option (2) I have to go under general anesthetic which has its own set of risks. After a brief contemplation, I decided to just go for it. Get it over and done with. At least I have a definite time to heal rather than the waiting for everything to come out with a risk that it may not come out completely and I would still need to go for D&C. Cut short process senang. Settle. She also asked if I want to get pregnant again, the question to which had me shaking my head as fast as the japanese bullet train. No no no no no no. This is it. We stop here. According to her I still can, I just need to give my womb a breather for 3 months before trying again. No no no no no no was my answer and I asked about contraception. She said it can be done. I can insert it during the minor op. Yes, problem settled. 

So the minor op was scheduled the next day (tuesday 7/6/2016) which is the 2nd day of Ramadhan. I was to go and register myself at 5.30am and the op will be done at 7.30am. Wahh pepagi sebelum subuh tu. So we rushed through our sahur, Dropped Ariz off with the babysitter and reached the hospital at 5.30am. Tapi GL pulak buat hal and due the hiccups, we had to wait for the GL to be cleared first. I was registered into a four bedded ward. Tak nak demand lelebih since GL tak lepas lagi despite my entitlement of a single bedded room. Tak pe lah, Day procedure je pun. Since the GL fiasco was settled quite late at around 7.30am, my op had to be postponed to 4pm. Fuhh jenuh jugak nak menunggu. Dah la puasa since 12am last nite. Now I had to start puasa from 10am. Dapat la makan biskut sikit, minum air sikit utk energy. Requested to balik rumah dulu. Dr said OK. I had to sign a discharge against advice form, tak kisah lah tu sbb tak buat apa2 pun lagi and had to come back at 2pm.

note: if you ever have to go through a D&C, do shave your pubic hair beforehand. I was not told of this the day before and the nurse said she will have to do it for me. Ish, kesian lah pulak kat nurse so I said tak pe, let me do it, you just check if satisfactory or not.  

Went back again at 2pm and settled down. At around 3pm I was asked to go down to the OT. My last meal was at 9.30am (nasi hujan panas semalam kot. Tapi semangkuk kecik toet je la nak perabis sisa2 sahur). I was supposed to be on a 6 hour fast. Dah depa kata op at 4pm last makan at 10am, Tup2 nak buat op at 3pm, mana aku tauuuu. The reason for the 6 hour fasting rule according to dr bius is to minimise incidents where patient vomit during op while under general anesthetic. But we went ahead with the op.

note: before going into OT all jewelries must be taken off ( cincin, rantai, subang, jam, etc). No eating 6 hours before and bra and panties off.

My first time in OT, there was a lone bed in the middle of a big cold room full of medical gadgets and apparatus. I laid down on the bed. The clock showed 3.20pm. 1 nurse held my right hand to take my blood pressure while simultaneously dr bius was poking my hand to insert the IV drip needle (or whatever you call it). Banyak betul benda going on at the same time. The the dr said that she was going to administer ubat bius. A nurse was putting oxygen mask on me and asked me to breath normally (how else to breath i wonder?). When the bius was inserted, it was quite painful. I remember telling the nurse "sakit jugak cucuk ubat bius ye", and she replied "memang sakit sikit". Fine. It was quite painful but I remember thinking to myself, let see how long before I am out. The next I know I hear nurses were talking to the dr at the far end of the room. Wanted to open my eyes but I felt groggy. Was wondering bila nak start procedure ni. Then I heard the nurses preparing me to go back to my ward. Aik.. dah selesai rupanya. I asked the nurse what was the time. It was 4pm apparently. I was out cold in a sec. Fuh. 

I was still feeling groggy when they rolled me to my bed but the grogginess was nearly gone about half hour later. By 6pm I could be discharged. Felt some blood coming out but when I check there was not so many. The nurse did gave a bottle of what was taken out from me for me to see (it was just a half of bottle of reddish liquid, nothing solid). I was wondering if the IUCD was inserted as well since I felt nothing. No numbness, no soreness, no pain, nothing. Apparently it was fitted but gonna ask the dr still during my next check up just to confirm.

Now, 2 days after the op, physically I am ok, no pain, just some very very minor discomfort around the tummy area, nothing that I can't manage. Some lethargic feeling that comes on and off. Mabuk sikit at times. But that's it. But emotionally, I am on a roller coaster. I cried everyday since. No reason. I don't feel sad, I don't feel frustrated, I don't feel angry. I just feel like crying. I get angry real quick. I get tired real quick. And as sudden I feel calm and normal. Last nite I was crying out of frustration and stress. Coz I had to cook for sahur, Ariz was wailing like a crazy banshee who's foot got caught between the door, the kids were taking food while I was cooking. Ikan bilis je pun. And I was having a thumping headache, and feeling frustrated coz I had to drive to get Ariz from the daycare that evening coz hubs was stuck in a very bad jam. I felt so frustrated and stressed out that I join Ariz wailed in the room while trying to get him to sleep. Dia tengok mak dia melalak, dia pun melalak. 

Today I am ok. Slept the whole day. The headache still persist but manageable. Feels tired mostly. I'm gonna allow myself to feel lemau for this week, but next week, we will move it move it. Letih betul badan lemau2 ni. Nak start exercise, takut tak boleh lagi tapi ada la sikit2 buat squat, pelvic exercises and some upper core exercises. Sikit tak banyak tapi jadi la dari tak ada ye dak?

Oh well, Right after this I'm gonna dive into work pulak. We are now in the middle of a very critical phase before the launch of a very critical product and I am at home. Gotta buck up and settle some work pronto. Dah janji nak bagi draft agreement by this week and today is already Thursday...

Oh well...

This is my story. A first for me. The first and the last I hope. 


Saturday, June 4, 2016

The one that didn't make it

1 more day to turn to week 12 and here i am at 5am in a hotel room out of klang valley wondering what to do next while i bleed and having mild to moderate (period-ish) stomach cramps.

The real stain started about 5 days ago. Before that there was sticky stringy discharge that gradually turned from clear to white-ish to greyish to greenish to yellowish to brownish tint. Then i started to stain dark brown stain. First it was a little and then it became a lot more resembling period stains at the end of a period cycle. By then panty liner is a must. 

On 2nd June went to our normal family clinic for a check. The good dr did a vaginal check and confirmed the brown stain and suggested a scan. During scanning sac was detected but it was empty. Mind you when i did the scan at 7 weeks embryo was present and hearbeat was seen. Now at 11 weeks it was an empty sac. The dr mentioned about the possibility of a delayed miscarriage and set an appointment for a repeat scan another 2 weeks just to be sure. If its confirmed an empty sac then a referral to the hospita would be needed for womb cleaning i suppose.

Thereafter the brownish stain became heavier and redder and a more frequent change of panty liner was required. I don't have the normal pads you see, only tampons and i was unsure if it was safe to insert anything down yonder at this point of time, hence the help of panty lines Yesterday 3rd June it was no longer a stain but it was more to bleeding. Brown blood. According to dr google brown blood is old blood and can sometimes mean nothing but just a way for the body to discharge old blood in the womb. However, despite what dr google had said, by the time i was queuing to check into a hotel (it has been paid for last week when things were still relatively normal) i was bleeding so heavily that even my panties were soaked wet. Last nite while walking around the local nite market after dinner i feel pressure inside down underneath. That feeling is normally felt when i am at my heaviest peak of my period cycle. Went back to hotel and another change of panties were necessary. By this time i am having panties crisis.

At 4.30 this morning i woke up when i felt some stomach discomfort and something came out. Since i was only wearing panty liner and the bedsheet is white, an emergency trip to the toilet a few steps away from the bed was required. While sitting on the toilet bowl i felt a few more something came out of me. Couldn't really see what it was coz the water in the bowl was quite red. While washing away, a few more dark red blot clots came out. Blood was still coming out and i decided to squat on the floor. And a mother of clot came out but this time (terkejut mak kejap) there was white-ish substance. I think it was the sac and unofficially i have miscarried. More blood clots came out while i was wondering what to do next. The stomach cramps are now becoming more uncomfortable. Just like when i am at the peak of my period.

What's a girl gotta do when there are more blood than panty liners? Diapers came to the rescue of course. Thank god for diapers. A life saver. Meanwhile i have kept the sac. When cleaned of blood it does look like a collapsed sac. White-ish in colour. Just like what the dr described.

And now while having mild to moderate stomach pains and feeling blood clots still coming out of me, i am wondering what to do next. Go to the hospital for a check up? Or just let nature takes it course since the sac is already out. And furhermore, we are on a holiday even if only for a short while but still a holiday. Hospital is just across the road from the hotel where we are staying. Should i go or should i wait until next Monday and let the kids enjoy the weekend first?

What to do? How long to wait? How long is a normal bleed from miscarrige? Is this considered as nifas blood? Can i fast? Do i need to pantang? If yes when should i start? And for how long?

Questions, questions and more questions.

Still don't know what to do next...


Monday, May 23, 2016

Week 10

10 weeks already!

Although to be honest I don't feel pregnant. Its as if life is like normal except for my rounder stomach. Thank god my weight is stagnant after the dramatic increase of 5kg in the earlier weeks. But that too thanks to me trying to control my food intake. It also helps that all healthy food looks yummy to me now. Fruits, oats, milk, nuts are my get going fuel now. And I try to avoid sugary, sweetened drinks, oily food, fast food, coz they just taste weird in my mouth. Good la kan...

I still try to exercise whenever I can. My walking pace has yet to drop down, which is good because brisk walking is a habit and the only cardio i get when my malas mode is on.  Even when I feel lethargic, I force myself to brisk walk. Its like my pick-me-up cure.

My mood to clean up has also increased. Last weekend was clean-the-store day sampai sakit2 pinggang mak but I'm satisfied. Next is to throw away all old broken furnitures and clothings to make way for new ones (yeay!). Then wallpapers, painting the stairs and doors and the porch (yippe!). So much to doooo.... 

Oh, and my new fav is browsing online for pretty clothes for myself (first purchase(s) today). Yup, this new mood of liking all things pretty and dainty is here to stay it seems.

And thinking seriously hard about when and where to do my ante natal check up. That will be in the next post #remindingself

Friday, May 20, 2016

Exercising While Pregnant

WHY?


  • to feel better and gives energy boost
yeah, with all those morning afternoon mid day, evening, nite, midnite sickness, who has the energy to exercise and sweat? But actually it does helps with the lethagicness and we don't feel so exhausted. And it does helps you to sleep more easily.

  • to control weight gain
at least your weigth won't shoot up tremendously because when you exercise, all those extra calories you take can be compensated, (means you can eat more!)

  • to be healthy and fit
what else is there to explain aye?

  • to prepare the body for labour and birth
the fitter we are, the easier the labour and birthing process, at least during the final push.

  • to ease the weight loss process post pregnancy
less weight gain, less effort put in to lose that little weight, aight?



WHAT TYPE OF EXERCISE?

  • brisk walking
  • running (if you are used to running, otherwise, stick to brisk walking)
  • swimming (wonderful as you will feel weightless under water)
  • yoga / pilates
  • weight training (if you are used to, otherwise, get a trainer)
  • aerobic / dance (ante natal aerobic/dance classes could be an option)
  • pelvic floor exercises (a must to control incontinence ante and post natal)
EXERCISES TO AVOID

Climbing, horse riding roller blading, skating, football, basketball, netball, hockey, any racket sports, or any exercises that involves balancing.

HOW TO START

Beginner - start with 15 minutes 4 times a week of mild low impact exercises and gradually increase to at least 30 minutes 4 times a week.

Others - continue with routine but start with low impact exercises and gradually build up from there.

Concentrate more on toning, never forget to warm up and stretch. 

Careful not to overheat especially during 1st trimester.

No lying flat on your back from 2nd trimester onwards.

Drink lots of fluid, have sips of water during exercises

always do a cooling down stretches.

Slow down when you can no longer carry a normal conversation.

next post: suggested exercises to do

HAVE FUN EXERCISING AND SWEATING. YOU WON'T REGRET IT!

#messageuntukdirisendiri #selfreminder #selfmotivation #youcandoit #icandoit #wecandoit

Thursday, May 19, 2016

love comes unexpectedly

Yesterday I said I was still in denial.

Yesterday I said I was going to do a 2nd UPT just to be sure that I am pregnant.

Yesterday I only cared a little.

Yesterday I didn't bother or worried when i feel some minor stomach cramps.

But yesterday was also the day I was hit. 

Took the UPT test again. The two lines were even more visible than the 1st test. And I pushed myself out of denial. No more denying that I am carrying another life inside of me. And I started browsing for baby stuff (gave em all away already, so we really have to buy new things), mom's stuff (coz I gave all away and I am expanding like nobody's business).

And suddenly it hit me. It hit me hard. 

I do care that I am pregnant.

I do care that I am carrying a child inside me.

I do care about this child no matter how small adik is at the moment. 

I worry hoping that adik will survive life in my womb.

And I have been telling adik to hang on, be strong since because mommy is expecting to see you happy, healthy and alive in 7 months time.

And I have been taking it easy with my exercising routine, checking my temperature so that I don't overheat, remembering to take folic asid from now on, seriously counting calories to control my weight gain so that it won't affect adik now or later in life. 

And I am mighty proud of my round baby bump, and I couldn't care less if people know.

And I feel this overwhelming love growing inside of me. 

.
.
.
.
.

When love hits, it hits like a thunder...

Weight Gain During Pregnancy

How much should one gain and how much is the calorie intake if one is pregnant?

The amount of weight gained depends on what category the pre-pregnancy BMI lands in:
  • Underweight: BMI below 18.5
  • Normal weight: 18.5 to 24.9
  • Overweight: 25.0 to 29.9
  • Obese: 30.0 and above
The weight ranges below are for a full-term pregnancy: 
  • Underweight: 28 to 40 pounds (12.7kg - 18.1kg)
  • Normal: 25 to 35 pounds (11.3kg - 15.8kg)
  • Overweight: 15 to 25 pounds (6.8kg - 11.3kg)
  • Obese: 11 to 20 pounds (5kg - 9kg)
For twins, the recommendations naturally go up: 
  • Normal: 37 to 54 pounds (16.8kg - 24.5kg)
  • Overweight: 31 to 50 pounds (14kg - 22.7kg)
  • Obese: 25 to 42 pounds (11.3kg - 19kg)

Calorie Intake

In general, pregnant women need between 2,200 calories and 2,900 calories a day (My view: I think a safer range for asian would be between 1400 - 2000 calories). A gradual increase of calories as the baby grows is the best bet. Here is an overview of how calorie needs change during each trimester:

  • First trimester does not require any extra calories.
  • Second trimester an additional 340 calories a day are recommended.
  • Third trimester, the recommendation is 450 calories more a day than when not pregnant.

Physical Activity

Physical activity can help manage weight gain. The activity guidelines for pregnant women are 30 minutes of moderate exercise on most, if not all, days of the week. Make sure to talk with a doctor before starting or continuing any exercise routine.

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Week 9

What's happening eyh?

Well, As of today:

I am 9 weeks pregnant.

Have yet to experience morning sickness (i hope I'm not jinxing this by writing this down!).

I have gained 5kg since I was pregnant.

Some rare occassion of lethargic-ness that comes as quicly as it goes.

Some aversion to some smelly smell.

Some dislikes towards certain food (anything chocolaty or cheesy are on the list... boo hoo hoo!).

My figure has slowly becomes distorted. Sporting a rounder tummy and fuller thighs. Hubbs just commented that my flabby underarms are back... boo hoo hoo!!!

Love to see and watch pretty dainty girly things.

Still went for my normal exercise class. A bit slow and tires easily. I try to avoid excessive vigorous moves and stayed within the beginner's moves only. Unsatisfying but got to remind myself that I can't exert myself too much. Not good for the baby...


ohh...

And I am still in denial. In fact I just bought another UPT just to check.

Just in case. 

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

adding another number... again?

Ariz turned 2 last month. We have been calling him adik all these while. I have even gave away all baby clothing and items. ALL.

Ariz is meant to be the last. Anak bongsu. The end of the line. Penutup. Kilang is shutting down.

However, this month my period is already 11 days late according the period tracker apps. My nipples are sore but I attributed those pain to Ariz sucking too eagerly. My moods have been going ups and downs. Kejap macam naga, kejap merajuk, kejap nak sedih, kejap ok. But I attributed these yo-yo moods to PMS. Then yesterday night after work I started feeling lethargic. Penat yang tak terucap. Lemah longlai rasa badan. I attributed this tiredness to the long hours stuck in traffic jam on the way back to KL the previous day. 5 hours of jams to be specific. And some nausea which had me feeling wanting to eat to counter balance that nauseating feeling.

However, atas dasar gatal hati, I took a pregnancy test this morning. The test was bought last period cycle because I was also late then. But the day that I planned to take the test, my period made a show. Hence a spare pregnancy test lying around at home at 6am in the morning today.

Was praying for a 1 liner. Was really hoping for a 1 liner. And then 1 line showed. OK. Patiently waiting for the test to complete and... a vague line appeared.

Sigh...

Here we go again. Life begins at 40. Yup. A new life it seems. the pregnancy tracker (yup, the period tracker has now been converted) says I am 7 weeks and 2 days pregnant today.

Nak happy ke nak mengeluh ke nak disappointed ke, tak tau la... mixed.

Still hoping its a false positive.

but my lethargic-ness feels sooo real...

I just want to sleep...