The fabbret number trimester.

I can't believe this is the last lap of my pregnancy already. I know I absolutely hate it when people say this but I am going to say it anyway, "It feels so fast." I remember thinking that this is taking forever and I don't know how women do it more than once. But another part of me feels like it is fast, especially when I had those horrible pregnancy symptoms go away by the mid of second trimester.

So third trimester eh?

Haha, Kakak who helped me take these photos was like "You brought your milestone card out?!" Uhh yeah, 28 weeks is a big deal leh. And yes, third trimester starts at 28 weeks. And this was taken two weeks ago.

So how is this different from the second trimester you say?

Well, for starters I can still eat like a normal human being although for me mornings had and have always been the hardest battles. Most days RKM wants proper food like meat in the morning, while some days I don't feel like eating anything but I know I have to or else it is going to be hell for me. I still puke sometimes when I brush my teeth which TBH, I have never hated brushing teeth in my life but I dread it during pregnancy. The acid reflux gets bad but Gaviscon is a life saver I tell you!

I still have energy but not as much as compared to second trimester. Some days I surrender by 9 or 10pm. Some days RKM doesn't let me sleep or fall back to sleep after I pee in the middle of the night. Just last Sunday I was awake from 5 am and couldn't fall back asleep after peeing. It was a freaking Sunday and I was supposed to sleep in with Baobei. Haha. So yes, I have started sleepless nights.

My feet are not aching per se but my heels hurt like mad. They have not started swelling yet (and I hope they don't). Maybe because I am still early in my third trimester. But Baobei has been helping me massage every night when he is home without me asking. Usually when we are watching tv in bed, he will randomly pick my foot up and start massaging. Heh.

My back is constantly aching. I can't sit down for more than half an hour with no back support. So yes, RKM is definitely growing bigger.

Speaking of which,

Raja K. M.

Since she has grown taller, she can no longer be captured in one picture. Currently her head is still up and her feet are down, which of course she is having fun kicking my bladder. Initially we wanted to tryout for a 3D scan but KKH doesn't do that anymore. Private hospitals do them but they are super expensive! The cheapest was Parkway East and even they charge $375 for them! Well 3D scan shows the features of the baby so you can more or less see how she looks like even before she is born. But it is okay lah. We shall just let that be special on the day I deliver her.

So our last check-up with Associate Prof Han, I was 28 weeks + 5 days. My check-ups with him has always been every 4 weeks. But this round when he saw me, the first thing he said, "YOU PUT ON 4KG? WHAT DID YOU DO? 4KG!" Hahaha, so throughout the whole check-up, he was surprised that I actually put 4 kg over a span of 4 weeks. Apparently, ideally 0.5kg a week but I double that. Hahaha! Must be the desserts that I have been feeding myself. The weight is going to my tummy and RKM who is, Alhamdulilah, normal sized. Unless baby is exceptionally large then I may have Gestational Diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy but goes away after you give birth for most women). So Alhamdulilah for that. I am so afraid of getting that but that doesn't mean I am safe because I still have quite a fair bit to go. So now I am more cautious about sweet things although I crave for waffles, ice cream and chocolate all the time!

Unfortunately, my placenta is still low which is a bigger concern since I have crossed over to my third trimester. The passage way where RKM is supposed to come out from is blocked. However Associate Prof Han says this will be up for discussion when I reach 36 weeks to plan for an elective c-section. I have asked for both Mak and Mama's advice and agreed to not go for any kind of urut because RKM is inside of me! After all, this is His plans for me so if it meant to go up, it will. But low placenta only means bed rest for me. I can't even go for swimming! And if there's any spotting/bleeding even at 2 am, I have to go straight to the delivery ward because I am at risk of preterm labour (anything before 37 weeks). So I am being extra careful not to overexert myself physically. And no, unfortunately there's nothing I can do or eat to help it go up. In Shaa Allah, both RKM and I will be well protected by Him.

So here's what is scary now that I have reached my third trimester and I know that labour is just around the corner for me. My appointment frequency is now 3 weeks! Which means, the next check-up, I will be 31 weeks already. So anxious!!!

WE HAVE REACHED 30 WEEKS!

Which means we have 7-10 weeks more to go. At 37 weeks, the baby is safe to be delivered already as the last organ which is the lungs has already developed. So sweetpea, anything after 37 weeks you can pop okay? Mama commented that I am carrying her a little low than what it should be so she suspects this baby is going to come out before my EDD. As long as she is healthy to be out, I am cool with that.

"Dear RKM, your Abi has been saying that he can't wait for his playmate to come out. I think we are both nervous at the life changing moment we are about to face in our life together but we are certain that you will be worth that moment. Sometimes I am worried if you're going to be okay once you're outside of me because it means I can't keep you safe inside of me but everyone is so excited to meet you. Ehyang, Yayi, Bonda and Masbro especially. Abi and I may not have our parental instincts kicked in yet but we will have them once we have you, that I know for sure. Your Abi? He is going to love you so much. Even when you're inside, he tells you every night after he baca doa for you that he loves you. Remember his voice? He doesn't always carry newborns because they are tiny but you're going to be an exception. You're his exception because you're his princess. We love you. Continue to grow healthily okay? Til we meet, face to face our Raja K. M."

Loving my borrowed pregnancy glow.

And of course, as RKM gets bigger and my womb is getting smaller for her, I can feel her every movement. This also means she keeps me awake with her little yoga sessions like this morning at 2,

Not sure if you're doing the cobra pose or warrior pose, but seriously baby not in the middle of the night okay? Your Abi gets amused and sometimes scold you because I am insanely tired and you still want to play around. But he didn't mean it okay.

I am excited to go for my early maternity leave which I am left with TWENTY working days (thank you one week school holidays). Then I can fully concentrate on preparing for RKM's arrival which includes packing hospital bag, getting her cot and wardrobe ready, applying for her CDA and baby bonus, getting our ustaz to write her name in jawi and I am pretty sure the list gets longer.

Please keep us in your prayers. Til the next update which will be soon...

And Baby RKM, Moma and Abi will see you next week where you will 31 weeks + 1 day already! Big girl ah you! We shall ask Associate Prof Han how heavy you are! Hahaha. I am pretty lucky because all the weight I am gaining is going to my tummy and some to the face but everywhere is still good, which only means losing them will be easier.

Can't wait for next week too. Getting my hair and nails fixed in JB while Baobei gets his 2 hours thai massage. Something we both are in need of and the dates we have before she comes along.

XO.