Welcome to the third trimester

I am 28 weeks pregnant today, or so the sms from Dumex told me this morning. This means I am officially in my third trimester now. Ok, this means I should "celebrate" by getting my act together to complete all I need and have been meaning to do in preparation for the arrival of Amanda. That is: check on the breast pump that Maria passed to me, learn to use it properly, buy the necessary spare parts, and if the breast pump is not not working, I still have some time to go buy a new one. Also, I better sign up for the pre-natal yoga and swimming classes. Oh and when is Madam Ida going to do my pre-natal massage? I better check with her again.

Think it's also better to go through my checklist once more to catch up on what's missing. I'm such a procrastinator it scares me sometimes. I hope Amanda will not inherit this terrible trait from me.

Third trimester. That's a scary word. Looking at the calendar, I have 85 days to my EDD! Wow!

The Baroque Effect: Vitamins for Brain

Some time ago during the Great Singapore Sale, Hubby and I went shopping at Jurong Point when we passed by Gramaphone. We decided to go in to have a look and see if there are any interesting movies or music CDs to get.

Hubby first spotted The Baroque Effect: Vitamins for Brain music CDs at the Instrumental Music section. I guess in his mind, he was already preparing to buy one of those classical music CDs meant for improving pre-natal developments. The Baroque Effect looks promising. It's a two-CDs pack and claim to:

- Improve Memory and Concentration
- Enhance Creative Thinking
- Assist Children in Intellectual Development
- Aid Babies in Brain Development
- Stimulate Infants in Creative thinking processes & Improve their Body Movement
- Induce Relaxation
- Reduce Anxiety

Basically, it's a collection of specially recorded Classical music to stimulate and inspire one's academic excellence. Ok, we shall see if the effect really takes place!

I've listened to the CDs a couple of times and they are not too bad. Relaxing and catchy melodies. I even make sure Chow Chow listens to it too!

Enfamama Vanila

I am drinking Enfamama milk now and I must admit the vanila flavour is not too bad. I've requested for samples and they sent me two sachets. The first time I tried it, I was pleasantly surprised to see that I didn't react too adversely to the milk. I'm not exactly a milk lover, no thanks to the fact that I am lactose-intolerant.

Now that I'm fast approaching my third trimester, I better buck up and start drinking the nourishing milks for mothers-to-be. For my own and Amanda's sake!

Strangely, today's milk has a layer of curd on it. This didn't happen the first time I made the milk. Hmmm....did I stirred the milk too much (I counted 50 times before I stopped stirring) or was the water too hot? I've checked the expiry date too, the milk is still safe to drink. So what happened?

Anyway, I'm almost done with the milk now...just a couple more sips and I'm done...for today. Will drink a glass of mummy milk religiously every night now. Pray hard that I won't throw up eventually.

The Name Game continues

Someone posted a URL on the November MTB thread on how to pick a suitable Chinese name for babies born in the year of the Ox.

http://www.chinaname.cn/article/2008-10/38309.htm
http://www.chinaname.cn/article/2008-10/38407.htm
http://www.chinaname.cn/article/2008-11/38657.htm

Seems like the Chinese name that my in-laws picked for Amanda wasn't that ideal for her after all. Now back to the drawing board!

The nice thing about being pregnant...

Is that I can demand for a nightly leg massage from the hubby! LOL!


I've been using my Anna Sui Secret Wish body lotion, my Christmas gift from Carolyn. Just finished it recently.


Now, I'm on to Molton Brown Celestial Maracuja Body Souffle. I just love the smooth texture even though the scent is not as nice as Secret Wish.

The Name Game

Even before I was pregnant, I was already thinking of a few names for my children. From my last scan, Dr Chan said it is very likely that I am having a girl! Yay! These are the names that I have shortlisted from a long time ago:
Amanda
Chloe
Lauren
Sarah

And if I'm having a boy, it would either be:
Howard
Ethan or
Andrew

As you can tell, I much prefer traditional names to the new age funky ones.

And since Dr Chan is so sure I'm having a girl, the baby shall be named Amanda! Which means loved. Oh yes, she will be loved by so many people - her mummy, daddy, Chow Chow, grandpas, grandmas, uncles, aunties, cousins, friends, neighbours.....everyone!

And how apt it would be to have another "A" in the family. Mummy is Ashley, Daddy is Anthony and baby is Amanda! Hmmm...maybe I should have named our dog to Antonio or something instead of Chow Chow! LOL!

As for the Chinese name, we will leave it to my father-in-law. I like "Ling" but father-in-law said "Ling" is not so good. My mother-in-law did her research on names and strokes from three books and my in-laws came up with "Wan(3) Lin(2)". I'm not too sure about the "Wan" though. Maybe I'll ask them if "Jia(1) Lin(2)" is just as good.

In the meantime, we have been calling our baby Amanda already!

What's up doc?

I prefer a female gynae, someone who is well-recommended by others and an experienced professional that I can trust. The natural choice is of course Dr Yvonne Chan, my very first gynae whom I have seen a couple of times in the past two years. I haven't done my research and doesn't really care if she is one of the more expensive gynaes around. And nevermind that her clinic is all the way at Thomson Medical Centre and that she only delivers there. I have heard many good reviews about Dr Chan and Thomson Medical, so I am happy to entrust my baby and my health and well-being to them.

Coincidentally, without checking beforehand, many of my friends' gynae happened to be Dr Chan too - Shirlaine, Lindy, Jaffry's wife, Agnes and Davis. So once again, I am assured again, though Agnes doesn't seem too pleased with her experience with Dr Chan. I'll ask her for more details. The rest are all very happy with her.

We have signed up for TMC's First Born Incentive programme where we are entitled to discounts and other privileges. We also received a generous goodie bag that consists of lots of useful baby items from the sponsors, including a brown and blue diaper bag which I intend to let hubby carry...hehehe...cos I'm gonna carry a cuter bag! More details on the goodie bag in a later post.

Details on the FBI rewards:
TMC's First Born Incentive (FBI) and Subsequent Born
Incentive (SBI) programmes, are fully integrated obstetrics programmes to provide you one-stop convenience and exciting member privileges.

You can obtain preferred rates for TMC services such as professional fees, hospital bills, outpatient visits and ultrasound services. You will also enjoy member privileges from our partners, carefully handpicked to complement your medical benefits.

Furthermore, after your baby is born, you and your baby will continue to enjoy the privileges of quality healthcare at TMC at preferred rates.

Save with FBI and SBI
15% Savings on Health Screening Packages for parents and grandparents*

* Terms and conditions apply

Save on Total Hospital Bill Upon Delivery

Save on Hospital Services
• Fetal Assessment
• 24-Hr Clinic
• ParentCraft Services
• Retail Pharmacy etc

Preferred Rates on Specialist Services(Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Paediatrics)

20% Savings on Post-Natal Home Visits

Free 6 months insurance coverage* by AXA Life Singapore for your newborn

* Terms and conditions apply

Oh, and I have also signed up for the antenatal classes at TMC. My class will only start in Septemeber as I have requested to attend Mrs Wong Boh Boi's class, and her next available class is in September. Everyone raved that Mrs Wong's class is worth going to cos she is experienced and very entertaining as well.

Lesson 1
Physical & Mental Preparation
• Antenatal Exercise
• Nutrition Before & After Delivery
• Myths & Traditions
• Coping with Pregnancy Discomfort
• Back Care & Postures
• Instructional Video
• Q & A

Lesson 2
Pain Relief
• Antenatal Exercise
• Physiological Approach to Breathing Relaxation
• Changes in Pregnancy Leading to Signs & Symptoms of Labour
• Other Alternative Types of Pain Relief in Labour
• Instructional Video
• Q & A

Lesson 3
Labour
• Antenatal Exercise
• Physiological Approach to Breathing Relaxation
• Learning to Cope in Labour
• Mechanisms of Normal Childbirth
• Husband’s Role
• Hospital Tour
• Instructional Video
• Q & A

Lesson 4
Practical Hands-on Baby Care
• Hands-on Child Care
• General Care
• Skin Care
• Diaper Care
• Bathing
• Coping with a Fretting, Crying Baby
• Coping with a Sleepy or Wakeful Baby
• Coping with Colic
• Instructional Video
• Q & A

Lesson 5
Feeding
• Breastfeeding
• Bottle Feeding
• Sterilization of Feeding Equipment
• Weaning (introducing solid food)
• Learning to Enhance your Child’s Physical & Mental Development
• Q & A

Lesson 6
(Doctor’s Talk)*
• Husband’s Role during Childbirth
• Problems Associated with a Newborn
• The Process of Labour
• Living with the In-laws
• How to Raise a Brighter Child
• Post-natal Depression
• Back Care & Postures
• Instructional Video

Next, I'm going for the hospital tour to check out the rooms. I've already decided to go for the four-bedded ward since the cost is going to be lower and there's a high chance that I will get a free upgrade to the two-bedded rooms since I heard that TMC has only one four-bedded room. Since there are many people delivery in November at TMC, I may have a high chance of getting that upgrade :). I'll still go for the hospital tour anyway, in case I change my mind.















Some friends advised me to take up the single room instead as by the time I gave birth, I would be feeling so vulnearable that I would need my hubby by my side 24/7. These are friends who stayed in single rooms when they delivered. Of course, there are others who reckoned a two or more bedded ward is good enough as I will be too tired and need my sleep and would not need my hubby around all the time. There is also the cost factor - I'll only be there for a couple of days so there is really no need to spend too much on the hospital stay. The debate goes on. Will have a think about that again.