I'm finally in the last trimester of my pregnancy!! How exciting, yet daunting as so many things are yet to be finalised and ready.
The main thing that still worries me is that Eric has yet to finish with the bathroom renovation so that we can start moving in to the house. And yes, there's only about 8+ weeks to go before my due date, and baby could come out any moment now.
We finished our Calm Birth class the 2 Sunday before. I felt at little more confident in my body now that I know what to expect and how I should react to different scenarios. It's really amazing how God made our body so intelligent and carefully so that we can form a life and bring it out to the world. One thing I get a lot out from the class is to believe and trust in our body, and learn the techniques that allows a smoother birth. Why wasn't this something that passes down from our parents/ teachers?! And why are the typical hospital scenario for births are always lying down when pushing? Generations of women has proved that being in an upright position (squatting, kneeling or even standing) helps to 'drop' the baby out with less energy and pain. So why is it that most doctors wanted women to lie down and give birth? One answer: for the doctor's benefit.
The main thing that still worries me is that Eric has yet to finish with the bathroom renovation so that we can start moving in to the house. And yes, there's only about 8+ weeks to go before my due date, and baby could come out any moment now.
We finished our Calm Birth class the 2 Sunday before. I felt at little more confident in my body now that I know what to expect and how I should react to different scenarios. It's really amazing how God made our body so intelligent and carefully so that we can form a life and bring it out to the world. One thing I get a lot out from the class is to believe and trust in our body, and learn the techniques that allows a smoother birth. Why wasn't this something that passes down from our parents/ teachers?! And why are the typical hospital scenario for births are always lying down when pushing? Generations of women has proved that being in an upright position (squatting, kneeling or even standing) helps to 'drop' the baby out with less energy and pain. So why is it that most doctors wanted women to lie down and give birth? One answer: for the doctor's benefit.
34 weeks and 3 days
Oh how I feel quite big and clumsy at this point. I knock myself onto things easily because I'm much bigger. The other week, I swipe my thermos flask off the kitchen bench, causing a dent on the kitchen cork floor. And that's because my sleeve manage to catch onto the flask. My fingers are getting more stiff and it gets locked up even in the day. So my grip is not as good and I drop things easily. And that will be very annoying as I will then had to bend down with my big belly and it's so not comfy.
My feet are swollen most days now, but it's not as bad as previously. Daily foot massage are part of my bedtime routine at the moment. Part of the routine also involves applying coconut oil onto my big belly to help to moisturise it, and maybe also help prevent stretch marks. I had been using the sample coco butter creams which had been given as part of the gift bags from the Calm birth class. There were discounts coupon in the gift bags which we were going to buy from the Chemist Warehouse. However, I found out that there's so many chemicals in the cream! As someone who don't even use moisturiser, sun block or any makeup, this is like at the other extreme of chemical usage. So I decided to look up Mr Google, and realise that the big jar of coconut oil that is just sitting in the kitchen pantry is the perfect solution! Before anyone start to copy and go get coconut oil for preventing stretch marks, STOP!!
Stretch marks are due to the skin elasticity being over stretch by the baby's growth. Which means that the skin is not growing as fast as the baby. There are not enough collagen fibres to make new skin to accommodate baby's size. So the best way to help prevent stretch marks, is to have enough collagen building substances to help your body build the skin's elasticity. And we can get that from our daily diet! Eating collagen rich food such as bone broth, chicken feet, pork skin, pork legs, beef tendons, gelatine powder are all essential during pregnancy. Basically anything that will gel up into a jelly when you put it in the fridge to cool down. Add on top of it, skin collagen also needs vitamin c to help make new skin. So lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. (Or in my case, vit C tablets) Many of my patients who followed my advice to have at least a serve of collagen a week since pregnancy, didn't get any stretch marks at all. I'm going to do that too!
Baby wise, at last week's midwife appointment, he's head down but posterior facing. I know he's not in that position most time as I can feel him swimming and turning left and right. So please dear baby, do turn back to the front and stay there when the space in the tummy gets tight.
He's not too much of an active baby, but at times, he'll makes his presence known by doing big stretches and doing his favourite kicks on the belly. He still hates it when I lie a little to much on my tummy, and will do a wriggle to get me to back off. Haha. When I think I've not felt him much, I'll lift and shake my tummy left and right, and that will certainly wakes him up. Haha. I sound like an evil mum eh?
I hope he enjoys the music routine I've put him through since second trimester. Research said it'll help calm the babies when they are born as they've listen to and be familiar with the music since in the womb. Let's see if it's really true. = D
Kcan
