BABYCENTRE UPDATES...21 WEEKS

You are now 21 weeks pregnant (or in your 22nd week if that's how you prefer to count it).

How your baby's growing

Your baby could measure about 27cm/10-and-a-half inches from crown to heel. Her eyebrows and eyelids are fully developed and her fingernails now cover her fingertips. Watch what you say from now on because she will probably hear you. You can communicate by talking, singing (use our lullaby lyrics, if you're a bit rusty) or why not try reading aloud? Some studies suggest a newborn will suck more vigorously when you feed if you read from a book frequently heard in utero. Choose a children's classic, take a look at some of our parent's favourites or use one of your own books - whatever you prefer.

How your life's changing

It's hard to be graceful when you're pregnant so don't be surprised if you find yourself getting more clumsy these days. You're carrying more weight, your centre of gravity has changed with your growing uterus, and your fingers, toes, and other joints are all loosening, thanks to the effect of pregnancy hormones. Try to watch where you're going, and if you haven't already done so, say goodbye to high heels. They make keeping your balance more difficult, and can cause backaches.

Just how much weight you will gain by the end of pregnancy may be preying on your mind. Doctors are much more relaxed about weight gain in pregnancy now. Take the same approach and give yourself a break. It's also best not to worry immediately about losing weight after you've had your baby as your body can take anything from a few months to a year to recover nutrients used up during pregnancy.

Do see your doctor, however, if your weight is soaring or plummeting. Your doctor will usually check to see if your bump is measuring about right for your dates. If you are large-for-dates further investigations can be arranged to find out why.

ANAEMIA??? IRON DEFICIENCY...

Seperti biasa, ari ni p buat check up lagi kat KKIA..semua nya ok..cuma kiraan hemoglobin kali ni rendah dari biasa plak..selalunya sebelum ni between 12-14 mg.. tapi kali ni hb 10.3 mg je..less than 11 mg..so dah kene bebel ngan nurse tu..dia kater dah kira anaemia la plak..ari tu ada nurse tu suh mkn pil vitamin tu lepas mkn..i pn mkn la direct lepas mkn..tapi nurse yg ni plak kater..kene mkn 1 ke 1 jam setengah selepas mkn..mcm2 la plak..dah kene tambah dose..dari kene mkn 1 biji je ferromed to dah kene mkn 2 biji..ari tu sekali sehari..skang dah kene 2 kali sehari..tapi i amik sekali sehari je 2 biji tu..sbb mlm nak mkn kalsium plak..iron ni tak boleh plak campur ngan kalsium..nnti darah tak serap plak..ish susah betul..pastu dia suh bykkan mkn hati, limpa, kerang which i tak mkn benda2 tu..selain tu yg i mkn, ikan bilis, sardin, bayam and sayur2 hijau..nnti 3/6 ada check up kat Annexe..tgk result kat stuh mcm mana plak..kalau kat stu still rendah gak..mmg kene mkn 2 kali sehari la nampaknya..dan seperti biasa..bila ada masalah..i rujuk la jugak artikel kat babycentre..utk memberi sedikit panduan..

How much iron do I need during pregnancy?

Before you conceived, you needed about 15 milligrams (mg) of iron a day (FSA n.d. a). That's quite a lot. Many of us probably don't actually get the recommended daily amount.

During pregnancy, you need extra iron to help keep you and your baby healthy. If you don't have enough iron to fuel haemoglobin production for both of you, you may develop iron-deficiency anaemia. This is the most common type of anaemia in pregnancy (Reveiz et al 2007) and about one in five women develop this type when they are pregnant (WHO et al 2001 cited in CKS 2005).


What can I do to make sure I have enough iron?

A pregnant woman requires 30mg of iron daily. As with most vitamins and minerals, food is the best source of iron. You shouldn't need iron supplements if you take care to have a diet rich in iron. This means eating lots of dark green leafy vegetables, wholemeal bread, iron-fortified cereals, potatoes, lean red meat, shellfish, raisins, prunes and pulses.

Vitamin C helps your body absorb the iron in your diet. Try drinking plenty of orange juice or eating fruit or vegetables which are rich in vitamin C, when you have an iron-rich meal, to help prevent you from becoming anaemic (FSA n.d. b).

Tea and coffee, even soy protein, egg yolks and milk will make it difficult for your body to absorb iron, so it's best not to drink them at mealtimes (Morck et al 1983; Zijp et al 2000).


How will I know if I'm anaemic?

Anemia is confirmed if your haemoglobin level is less than 11.0 gm/dl. The routine blood tests you have at the antenatal clinic will check whether your haemoglobin levels are satisfactory. It's normal for the levels to drop a little during pregnancy because there's far more fluid in your blood to dilute the red blood cells (NCCWCH 2003: CKS 2005).

Only if your levels drop very low indeed will your doctor prescribe iron tablets.


Are some women more likely to become anaemic during pregnancy?

Women who have a diet that is low in iron are likely to become anaemic. You're also more likely to have iron deficiency anaemia in pregnancy if your body's iron supplies have already been depleted, perhaps because you've had two or more pregnancies close together (Bewley 2004), or you had heavy periods before you became pregnant (CKS 2005).

If you're carrying more than one baby then the demands of each baby can also increase your risk of anaemia (Denton and Davies 2004).

Thalassaemia is a common cause of anemia in pregnancy. It is an inherited blood disorder where the ability to produce the haemoglobin chain, either the alpha or beta, is affected. Alpha thalassaemia is more common in Malaysia than beta thalassaemia (MyTalasemia).


What are the symptoms?

You may not be aware that you have become anaemic, although fatigue is a common sign and so is breathlessness (CKS 2005). However, these are symptoms also experienced by many pregnant women who are not anaemic.

Headaches, tinnitus and palpitations are other symptoms of anaemia, along with unusual food cravings (CKS 2005). Your eyelids, nail beds and tongue may also look pale (CKS 2005).


How is anaemia treated?

Your doctor will discuss your diet with you to make sure that you are eating enough of the right kinds of food, and she may prescribe iron supplements.

The drawback with iron supplements is that while they can improve your iron levels they also have some unpleasant side effects (Reveiz et al 2007). They can cause constipation and other tummy upsets, such as nausea, diarrhoea and tummy ache (CKS 2005). Increasing the fibre in your diet while you're taking them can help prevent constipation and taking the tablets with a meal can help reduce the other side effects (CKS 2005).

If you find the side effects become a serious problem for you, ask your doctor to prescribe you another brand - or to reduce the dose, as taking less is probably better than not taking any at all (CKS 2005).


Could my being anaemic affect my baby's health?

Unless you are severely anaemic, you don't need to worry about your baby. Your body will make sure that your baby gets his quota of iron before you get yours. So you'll be short of iron long before he is. Your baby makes the heaviest demands on your iron supplies in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy (CKS 2005), so this is the time to take extra care of yourself.

BABYCENTRE UPDATES...19 WEEKS

Hello deqno!
19 weeks pregnant

Congratulations! You've hit the halfway mark in your pregnancy. You'll start growing even more rapidly in the weeks to come, so don't be surprised if you find yourself slowing down. If you feel the urge to indulge in an afternoon nap, go for it, if you can - you and your baby deserve it. Her hearing is developing, and she'll be getting used to the sound of your voice. Tiny teeth are also forming in her gums.

How your baby's growing

This is a crucial time for your baby's sensory development which takes place in specialised areas of the brain. The fetus measures around 6 inches / 15 centimetres long from crown to rump and weighs about 9 ounces / 240 grams. She has started to swallow amniotic fluid and her kidneys continue to make urine. Hair on the scalp is sprouting. If your baby is a girl, she has six million eggs in her ovaries... they'll dwindle to one million by the time she's born.

How your life's changing

Your uterus has grown well into your abdomen - the top of it probably reaches your belly button. From now on it will grow at about a centimetre per week. You may also notice some aching in your lower abdomen. It's nothing to be alarmed about - it's just the stretching of your muscles and ligaments supporting your bump. You may have felt the kicking and somersaulting of your growing baby. At times, you might find that she is so mobile that you can't sleep. The next 10 weeks or so will be your baby's busiest and most active time, until the womb gets too crowded.

Many pregnant women worry that they won't be able to cope with the pain of labour and childbirth. Some women consider an elective caesarean to avoid the problem completely, but this isn't necessarily a good idea as the risks with a caesarean delivery are much higher than with a normal delivery and there will still be pain involved, albeit after the birth. There are many effective forms of pain relief available. You could try some natural methods of pain relief first, which can help women cope with the pain of labour without any drugs at all. The more you find out about what is available or what you can try, the more in control you will feel and the less worried you will be.

Getting a good night's sleep when you're pregnant can be difficult, particularly if you have heartburn or indigestion. If that's the case then food will be the last thing on your mind, but some pregnant women wake up in the night with hunger pangs and have to have a midnight feast before they can get back to sleep. Another cause of disrupted nights may be your husband's elbow in your side because pregnancy can cause nasal congestion resulting in - yes, you guessed it - snoring.

EPPI BDAY TO ME...

Tanggal 9 May ari tu bersamaan ngan ari Senin sehari selepas sambutan Hari Ibu pada 8 May adalah my bday..bertambah lagi satu angka dalam perkiraan umo i..huhu..tahun ni i berada di Shah Alam..my hubby and i dua2 cuti sbb my hubby suh amik cuti..tu yg ada kat shah alam tu..

Apa yg special tahun ni???tahun lepas my hubby bawak p mandi2 n berkelah kat sungai..tahun ni sbb asik ujan je start dari minggu lepas..so takut la nak p mandi sungai..so, tahun ni my hubby bg adiah..i dapat enpon baru..huhu..memula dia nak beli 1 je tuk i..tapi i suh dia beli 2..sama jenis tapi color lain2..maklumla enpon dia pon asik hang2 je..dah tiba masanya kitorang tuko enpon..i nyer tepon plak..ok je lagi sebenonya..tapi tu la ada masalah ngan bateri n bateri tu pun dah tak di keluarkan lagi dah skang..maklumla enpon zaman 6 tahun dulu..so alang2 dapat bonus ni..tuko la apa keperluan yg patut..TQ dear..luv u..

ha..baby i pun wish epi bday kat i dgn caranya tersendiri..punya la dia aktif mlm tu..berguling2 kat dalam perut i ni..hubby i pun leh rasa dia gerak2..

dan waktu lunch tadi..farah banjer i mkn kat san francisco yg kat bwh menara tu..haha..dah tegang dah perut i ni..terlebih kenyang agaknya..kitorang mkn bertiga sekali ngan leli..huhu..bes bes..bkn senang nak berkumpul balik..tah bila la plak kitorang nak gather2 lagi se kronikiter..

Baru jugak sebentar tadi..satu2nya adik perempuan yg i ada telah menghadiahkan i sebuah Diari Hamil..hehe..terus tergendala nak buat keje..ni tgh membaca diari ni la ni..huhu..tq tq..luv u too..

So skang ni dah kene bawak sampai 2 tepon nak gi mana2..tu la pulak masalahnya kan..satu tuk keje..satu tuk personal..

BABYCENTRE UPDATES...18 WEEKS

Hello deqno!
18 weeks pregnant

Your baby is twice as big as he was last month but he still weighs only about 190g (6.7oz). Meanwhile, most of the weight you've gained is from amniotic fluid, placenta and water retention. Although things may seem calm on the surface, your little one is kicking, flexing, reaching, rolling, and even sucking his thumb now. If you haven't felt him move yet, you will in the next few weeks. His hearing is now functioning and he will be listening to your heartbeat.

How your baby's growing

This week, you officially begin your fifth month of pregnancy. Your baby may have reached 15 cm from crown to rump by now, and he can both feel and hear. Admittedly at the moment, all he can hear is your heartbeat and the flow of your digestive system but soon he'll be able to detect noise outside the womb and identify your voice.

How your life's changing

You're just a week away from the half-way mark. Pregnancy care is much more relaxed than it used to be, but don't chew over things alone if you're feeling anxious. Our Most Frequently Asked Questions on antenatal health, pregnancy complications, and labour and birth may reassure you but don't hesitate to ring your doctor if you're still worried.

However, in the next few weeks you'll probably be having second trimester scans to check your baby's organs. Seeing your baby curled up inside you - or kicking or rolling - is immensely moving so take your husband with you if you can.

Bigger, more comfortable clothes are a must now. Treat yourself to a new pair of shoes also in a bigger size, as your feet will swell along with your body. And pick a low heel for extra stability as your bump grows.

DIABETES???

Ari ni sebenarnya ada appointment kat KKIA..diorang suh dtg buat check up utk diabetes..so kene berpuasa start dari 10 mlm tadi..

Sampai je mcm biasa amik nombor..then, suh my hubby p opis dulu..dah settle baru call dia balik..dalam kol 8am nombor pun di panggil utk diambil darah..pastu kene p kat satu bilik tu and minum air gula (glukos)..mak ai..manis gila air tu..dah la i tak suka mkn manis2 sgt..kene habiskan air tu dlm masa 5 minit..tak boleh muntah..kalo tak kene buat lagi sekali hari yg lain..

Then, kene tunggu 2 jam sebelum darah diambil sekali lagi..sementara menunggu 2 jam tu..ada la misi tu bagi ceramah cara penyusuan bayi..so belajar la benda baru hari ni..dia siap ajar jugak mcm mana nak meyusukan bayi bagi ibu yg bekerjaya..then, dia tunjuk plak proses bersalin..hish..seram plak rasanya..bila dah abis tu ada dlm lagi setengah jam..sembang2 la dgn ibu2 dan bakal2 ibu yg attend ceramah tadi..mcm-mcm pengalaman ada..makin takut plak jadinya..harap2 nya tader la masalah masa nak melahirkan nanti..and baby pun sihat wal afiat..

Pastu dlm kol 10..dah start dah dia panggil nombor..mcm tau2 je..i p masuk toilet then i pun muntah la..cuma kali ni muntah sedap..manis je rasa dia..haha..nasib baik sempat 2 jam..then bila nombor dipanggil p la amik darah lagi sekali..nasib baik ari ni takder masalah nak amik darah..then, call my hubby..kitorang p mkn dulu..then baru la balik opis..tunggula resultnyer nanti 24/5/2011..

Research has shown that the OGTT (oral glucose tolerance test) is more sensitive than the FPG test for diagnosing pre-diabetes, but it is less convenient to administer. The OGTT requires fasting for at least 8 hours before the test. The plasma glucose level is measured immediately before and 2 hours after a person drinks a liquid containing 75 grams of glucose dissolved in water. If the blood glucose level is between 140 and 199 mg/dL 2 hours after drinking the liquid, the person has a form of pre-diabetes called impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Having IGT, like having IFG, means a person has an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes but does not have it yet. A 2-hour glucose level of 200 mg/dL or above, confirmed by repeating the test on another day, means a person has diabetes.