3rd Trimester

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At 29 weeks, my 3rd trimester is at full swing and I CAN FEEL IT!

I have almost hit my 10 kg weight gain mark. Aches and pains is becoming bothersome as my uterus grows and the joints of the pelvis begin to loosen in preparation for deliver. I don’t sleep as well as I need to frequent the restroom more often during the night. Getting into the most comfy sleeping position is no longer a given as it all depends on the baby’s mood. During times when he decides to wreck havoc, practice his Kungfu kicks, make waves and ripples across my burgeoning bulge or just get into the weirdest position, NOTHING helps, not even when I set up a fort in bed, prop myself up with 3 pillows or hog all the pillows to myself. A gentle back massage is good but still, I am very much at the mercy of the little fellow that wriggles inside me.

I failed the glucose tolerance test like for my first pregnancy and was asked to monitor my blood sugar 2 days a week, 7 times a day. After a 5 years break,  I had forgotten how needle pricks feel like and it took me a long while to muster enough courage to carry out the first test myself again. Now, I have grown fearless of the pen-like needle and pricking myself is a piece of cake.

Because of gestational diabetes, I have to be mindful of what goes into my mouth, which I guess isn’t a bad thing afterall considering how I can glut like a pig. According to studies, contrary to common belief that a pregnant woman needs to eat for 2, ONLY 300 calories is required to be added to her daily food intake in order to support the growth of the baby, the increased blood volume, the placenta and amniotic fluid.

Examples of a nutrient-rich food choices that add up to 300 calories is
1 cup cold cereal with 1 cup of skim milk and a banana OR
2 ounces of turkey on 2 slices of whole grain bread topped with lettuce and tomato.

Your premium sweet bread from Breadtalk, the yellow noodle in your Bak Cho Mee and your Indian Roti Prata are NOs NOs for a pregnant lady with gestational diabetes. It will send sugar level off the roof. In short, the diet plan should replace simple sugars with complex carbohydrates.

Apart from a healthier diet, I am doing my daily walk, to and fro Malcolm’s school. I swim regularly, usually after sending Malcolm to school. I am glad that I can still squeeze into a size M swimming costume and I now wear a gleaming tan. I love the colour.

Despite being more fatigue, exercising actually helps to make me feel more energetic. From my first child, I have learned that STAMINA is an underrated requirement for being a SAHM. You NEED stamina to wash, clean and run after the kids!

I feel like I am growing at an enomous rate and it kind of scares me to think that I have 11 MORE weeks to go before I hit week 40. I have forgotten how big I can grow and how far my tummy can stretch.

At times, I can’t wait for the baby to be born but I know that the road ahead will get more challenging and busier once the baby arrives. With that in mind, I am treasuring my ME time, my TWOSOME time with Malcolm and my COUPLETIME with my husband even more.