Boston Before Baby

So Z has some school event in boston and it's probably the last time I can tag along freely without the bean in tow.

Chomped on lobsters, gobbled clam chowders and lobster bisque... So awesome!!! 

And at 34w 3days, I just look really fat in a puffy coat

Presents from the Bean's Aunty Sharon

Received our first mail order present from Aunty Sharon and family!

Thanks! We'll set it up soon and snap a few shots when he's in the rocker and the baby gym!

The Bean's got a Bugaboo!!

We have been blessed by a very generous grandaunt who has said "pick whichever stroller you want and it's my gift for the little bean".

OK... so we did. Since Dubai days... we did a few test with strollers at Dubai Mall, and also talked to veteran mums. We watched many reviews on the strollers (Babygizmo.com does very good youtube reviews on strollers). Amongst our options were:
1. Stokke Xplory
2. Bugaboo Cameleon 3
3. Inglesina Avio
4. 4moms Origami (oh this one is soooo cool - it folds by itself at the touch of a button, but unfortunately a little too heavy for me)

So we finally settled on the Bugaboo... only because I really like the colour!! lol
The colour I wanted was a summer colour and it was sold out everywhere. Suddenly decided to search it out again, and diapers.com had stock (but only 1 left!!). So we settled for the Bugaboo Cameleon 3, Jewel Blue.
Otherwise the bean would have gotten the new Urban Blue Stokke Xplory.

So we ordered our stroller from diapers.com and it finally arrived today via UPS!!!

Very excited, and cannot wait to set the stroller up!!!
We'll have to wait for Z to finish his exams before we set it up... Post will be updated soon.

Sciatica

Probably my first pregnancy niggles...

So far, I've been spared morning sickness, elephant feet, lower backache etc.

But over the last 2 days (since the start of 32 weeks), I've been hit with backside pain which goes down my left leg. This happens only when I've had too much dinner to eat. Tough to get to bed on a full stomach. When the food digest, the pain is gone. Oddly, pain doesn't come during the day even when I overdose on breakfast and lunch. Perhaps it's all the walking around Philly that is helping!! (On the average, I walk about 2-3 miles a day to and from the city!)

The doctor said it's Sciatica and it's common amongst pregnant women.

First Visit to Penn Obgyn

It's been 5 weeks since I last saw Dr Jozsa.... So technically, i missed one appointment in between.

So... seeing a doctor in the USA is so different from Dubai. With Dr Jozsa, I get to see the little bean every time I see the Doc. And I get to bring back souvenir images!! In the US, I would say it's pretty backward (considering that the cost of each obgyn visit is higher than Dubai).

For starters - blood pressure is taken using one of those old school hand pump with a dial. Not the electronic ones where you just push one button... and it's done. Blood pressure today was 116/72. A little higher than my usual, but still normal i guess???

Then... there's no scan. Doc just listened to the heart beat using a handheld doppler... And she used a measuring tape to measure the belly... Hmmm... that's really new to me. She said I was average, and the bean's heartbeat is about 138 (which is also about average).

Conclusion - I'm not considered high risk - which is great. But it was all over in like a minute.
I really would have liked to see the bean... This is one of the few times I wish I was back in Dubai. The grass is always greener on the other side.

Weight check: 147lb (66.6kg). That's another 2kg in the last 4.5 weeks!

Belly @ 32w 2d

And I am starting to get bigger Than Z now

Exercise

Before moving to the US, I used to swim about 2-3 times a week, and maybe do the dubai mall walk from the car park to the office (which is about 12 minutes each way)...

Couldn't exactly find a pool around the area to continue my swimming routine, and a tread to the UPenn pool is like a million miles away. But my daily walk to the city (just so I could get out of the house to escape the construction noise, dust and smell) made it all up!

Distance per day: 2-3 miles a day
Walking Time: 30 minutes each way (or there abouts)
Shopping / Standing around time: Hours and hours

Air Conditioning please

Ya it's true when they say you feel hot when you're or preggy. It didn't hit me till just this week at the end of week 31!

Night temperature was 18 and I was dripping in disgusting sweat...

Belly @ Week 29

First belly photo from the US of A!!

Bean vs the Pot Belly

Guess where the bean is hiding?

First Post from the USA

Who would have thought that the process of getting an appointment for the little bean (actually more for me and the bean) would be so difficult?!

Medical Records - they will need this before allowing you to make an appointment. The only way to send them the records are:

1. In Person

2. By Fax

No emails! So unless you're like in the country and can physically walk in with your file, or have sufficient $$ in the bank balance to internationally fax your entire medical records, forget about trying to be organized

So I took the files in, and was told "we will review your files, but there is no guarantee that the doctor will accept you as her patient". How warped is that???

I tell myself... "Welcome to America".

Awesome service.

I was also told off for giving my date of birth as Xth April 19XX. She said "lady, it's April X, not Xth April".

Again, I tell myself... "Welcome to America".

So it's been 4 days since I walked in. I said this was urgent as I'm almost close to 30 weeks and have no appointment! It's been 3+ weeks since I last saw Dr Jozsa.

Lets see how long this waiting game is... 

Baby shower for the little bean

Thanks Jo for organizing this baby shower... My first one! We had tea at The Farm at Al Barari. It's by far the place that looks least like Dubai... Couldn't resist not taking some photos around the place...

 

 

Love those balloons? Thanks Apolline, Nona & Helen! I love it!

 

 

We did some baby shower games including "guess that baby food" and make a baby using play doh. The winner was baby Greenie!

 



 

Then the exciting bit came... Presents! Who doesn't love presents. They're not really for me, but I'm very sure the little bean will be pleased...

 

Here's some overalls from Jo...

 

and some baby gift set from Disa

and more gifts from Disa....

 

A powfer puff from Enda & Joanna... oh this is so awesome because we used to use this at home last time!!

and from Sarah - the experienced Mom - she knows what toys and essentials i'll need...

Last but not least.... Swaddle Blankets!! I was just looking at this on Amazon.com... Now I can take this off my Amazon shopping cart!

It was a great day... =) Don't think i'll have more baby shower... but this was definitely one great one that I'll remember...

Visit #6 - The Final Dubai visit

Kinda sad knowing that it's the last time I'm gonna be at Healthbay. Everyone, including the nurses, midwives and doctor are so friendly. My first experience with even attempting to phone a doctor's office for an appointment in the USA was an impatient and annoying sounding American lady. They're just so grumpy... and snappy.

So... since the last visit to see Dr Jozsa, I put on another 2kg! So I guess it works out to be about 0.5kgs per week. And the little bean has also been constantly gaining 20% of the weight I put on. So this week, little bean measured in at 1.2kg. Getting bigger now!

 

 

I think the bean has been looking the same since we first had a picture of him.  The nose and the lips are a lot more well defined now...

 

 

 

And the bean is always covering his face... Can see his 5 fingers!!

 

In summary, Bean is doing great. He's in the right position (ie. not breached), doing great on size, and always kicking.

 

Another 7 days before I fly to the USA... I was prescribed a jab... and needed to jab myself before the flight. apparently it's for preventing clotting??

 

 

Passport - Check!

Visa Cancellation - Check!

Letter for flying - Check!

Jab - Check!

Compression Socks - Check!

Medical Records - Check!

 

All set to go... Hello USA... I'm coming!





Baby Shopping

Did quite a bit of baby shopping this weekend... Sales everywhere.

Somehow tried to look for neutral colours... but Dubai kids clothes (at least the ones on sale) are either blue, pink or purple, or very cheap looking.

Well... manage to buy... 17 pieces of clothing... which should last us at least 6 months!

Belly @ 27w 2d

27 weeks is when suddenly baby expanded! I feel a lot heavier... really like a truck. Cannot accelerate... only can trot along slowly...

Visit #5 to see Dr Jozsa

24 Weeks 3 Days today!! It's the monthly visit to Dr Jozsa again. Another 1 more month before the US.  Since the last visit 2 weeks back (because of my fall), I'm another 0.9kg heavier. This makes me 1.8kgs heavier in the last 4 weeks. I did think I'd put on a lot more weight though with all the heavy meals that I've been eating over the long Eid / Hari Raya weekend.

Of course, in Dubai, we get to see baby each time we see the doctor.

Hello World, Nap Time... Yawn...

What a sharp chin!! Apparently fats will fill it up in the next few weeks

And he's still a boy....

Today, Baby weighs about 813g... That's an additional 470g from the last visit - which is 26% of the weight i put on!

Belly @ 24w 2d

I don't think it's (the belly) changed much in the last 1.5 weeks.... 

Belly @ 22w 4d

Expanding again!!!

Little Bean Sleeps

Because of my fall last week, I had to go back to see Dr Jozsa again today. This means, i get to see the little bean! Weighed in another 1kg heavier at 61.6kg. That's 1 kg in less than 2 weeks, and was told to go easy on the carbs. 

Little bean was sleeping while I was at Dr Jozsa. All curled up and suddenly... He did a big yawn! Cute!

Belly @ 21 weeks

Getting bigger now....

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall...

21 weeks today... Fell whilst walking along the road (twice!), hit the head and face on a lamp post, landed on the belly and rubbed my knee on the protruding rock... 

Looks like I had just been beaten up :)

Visit #4 to see Dr Jozsa

Weight Check: 60.7kg
That's 1.4kg in 4 weeks!
Though the little bean is 343grams...

And we have a dancing baby ready to PARTY!
Stick your fingers in the air and rock your bum bum

The scan is all good...

The brain is all in place, and so is the diaphram, kidneys, heart, gall bladder, liver, fingers and toe.

And he's definitely a boy.

A Bean's Punch

Rather... many punches... Been feeling the bean punching the whole day... First time it's been so active.
Unfortunately, the papa still can't feel the punch yet.
I'm sure it'll come soon.

Today is Week 19 Day 6.

Baby Moon

That's what some people call it - the holiday before the bean arrives.

We went to Centara Ras Fushi resort in the Maldives. A short weekend getaway, but it was a well worth trip! What a nice (and expensive) holiday before our big USA move.

Wake Up - Eat - Snorkel - Eat - Swim - Snorkel - Laze by the pool - Watch sunset - Eat - See stars - Sleep

Awesome!

Belly Pic @ 19 weeks

19 weeks... and growing

Belly @ 17 weeks