Getting back into shape

It's easier to update my blog while baby is sleeping, and baby monitor is the greatest invention ever, I can hear her & know her movement while in another room. The midwife said it'll take up to 3 months to get back into shape, and she recommended 2 exercises, the pelvic floor muscle (kegel exercise) and the abdominal exercise. There's a secret from Michelle Moss, the author of Pregnancy without pounds & Mommy without pounds to tummy exercise:

When it comes to flat abs, though, you really need to know the secret. For example, if you're thinking that you can just do situps every night - uh-uh!

The key to a flat tummy is training (and connecting to) your core. In fact, it's your deep abdominal muscle (transverse abdominus), and not your rectus abdominal (the 6 pack!), that will help you regain (or get) a flat stomach.
So forget the situps and rather start with this great exercise...

Heel Drag...
- Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
- Set your core by pulling your belly button in towards your spine (with a neutral spine, no pelvic tilt, and relaxed buttocks).
- Slowly slide one heel along the floor keeping your heel in contact with the floor at all times and then slowly return the leg back to starting position.
- Repeat 4 times each leg.

There's a video & audio program Fit Yummy Mummy , bascially a system on getting back a flat tummy, on nutrition and time management skills.

Still hunting for good breastfeeding bra, here's some tips.

My baby has arrived!

Finally we met our baby, it was such a delight. Almost 13 hours of contraction and 2 hours of labour, now that she's almost 1 week old, I seem to forget all those hard work and felt so blessed that she's here. I had an episomy as baby was not in the correct position (maybe I prefered to sleep on my right or other reasons) and had to use the vaccum. The head shape came out a bit funny but now it's getting better.

For the first week, it was hectic. Trying to heal from the wound and handle all these new things to me, luckily I had many help from the midwife & mostly my family. The hospital encourages breastfeeding, and for the first 5 days, I haven't got much, and the baby was sucking hard and I felt so painful. Cracked and sore nipples was a must.

I haven't got enough milk so have to top up with formula, my baby is drinking soy-based formula, but just found out an article from the Ministry of Health, maybe need to change to a cow's milk-based.

Some recommend me to feed baby with water if feeding on formula, but the midwife recommends not to, and also found an article: Drinking water may harm babies.

A friend's advise of using disposable nappies for the first month is really useful, as I'm so tired, really haven't got enough time to add extra stress of washing & drying to the schedule.

Week 39

Going to the midwife today, the beginning of the 39th week, it's pretty much just waiting now, and people from the antenatal group started to send baby arrival announcements, it's getting exciting to see all the cute babies coming. And friends also called to see if the baby is here yet. Everyone seems to be happy and very caring and friendly when they see your big tummy. I'm glad the baby can bring them joy.

Was reading some articles on child's mind development, and 2 names come up: Daniel J. Siegel & Rudolf Steiner, both do extensive research on infant's whole body (mind, body & spirit) development. I'm quite surprised to find out that at the early stage for infants (0-3 months or up to 1 year), relationship development is a lot more important than physical development. I've been thinking of what toys to buy to get my baby started to learn about the world, like the playgym, different colours/ textures, different kinds of music...etc. On Daniel Coleman's website, he mentions the importance of having a care-giver in a child care centre that have an emotional connection with our child, in order to have a healthy development.

Siegel's article mentioned that from birth, the infant is learning about their 'self', oh, gonna be late for my midwife appointment, will write more later....

Some good news: Dark Chocolate is good for the third trimester

Got this from babycenter:

Dark Chocolate could help ward off a serious complication known as preeclampsia, a condition that will affect our health and the baby, usually detected by high blood pressure and excess protein in the urine, the following is a quote from the article.

Chocolate, especially dark chocolate, is rich in a chemical called theobromine, which stimulates the heart, relaxes smooth muscle and dilates blood vessels, and has been used to treat chest pain, high blood pressure, and hardening of the arteries, Dr. Elizabeth W. Triche of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut and colleagues write.

Only 2 more weeks to go, getting excited and nervous, glad that the pregnancy is finally over, but not sure what would happen during labour. The back pain, gronin pain, leg cramps and other pain that comes with it will finish soon! Also the extra time I guess, will be so busy with the baby, getting What to expect in the First year , they're selling cheaper than anywhere else, had a look at the book in the bookstore, it goes through everything month to month, I guess it'll be really helpful especially for me, with no experience with children nor baby, I don't even know what age go to kindergarten, that's how bad I am. :-)

baby story video, quite interesting to watch
http://tlc.discovery.com/beyond/index.html?playerId=203711705&categoryId=566566872&lineupId=151749457

Week 37 of pregnancy

Time seem to fly, can't believe it's already 37 weeks, my baby is 'officially' full term, only 3 more weeks (more or less) to go. Emotionally, I want to meet my baby sooner, and get rid of the back pain, carpal tunnel, leg cramps....anything that comes in the third trimester out the way, but on the other hand, I don't feel I'm ready yet. My hospital bag is not packed, and although have briefly read the stages of labour, still feel a bit not sure what will happen. I guess it's just the uncertainty that cause the worries.

Have jotted down some notes from Pregnancy without pounds to remind me of an easy labour:

- Let go of the idea that labour is painful
- Deep Breath, this will give oxygen to the baby
- Breath out to RELAX during pain
- Connect to your body, listen to your body
- Each contraction is one step closer to meeting my baby
- Don't strain your face when pushing
- Don't have any expectation (eg. natural birth), nothing but delivering a healthy baby matters
- Leave your dignity on the way into the labour room and pick it up when you're out, midwives/ doctors have seen it all



Hypnosis for a Joyful Pregnancy and Pain-Free Labor and Delivery

Also some ideas for the boredom at babycentre

Nappy Expo

A friend just send me a website about a Nappy Expo: http://www.thenappynetwork.org.nz as I still haven't decided whether to use cloth or disposable nappies. Have asked for some advices, cloth nappies seem to be a more environmental & economical option, some cloth nappies can last up to 2 years old, it's good value for money. One friend suggested to use disposable for the first 6 months, as newborn normally uses around 6-8 a day, and said I'd rather spent more time resting than washing nappies, especially in the first few months. And having seen that the weather is not very good lately, it'll be hard to dry the cloth nappies too, as we don't have a dryer.

Feeling so itching on the stomach last night, and found out this morning I have stretch marks all over, no....!!! My advice, girls, we can't be lazy once we reach the third trimester, the tummy will grow so big so fast, have to apply oil every single day! I'm putting Bio oil every day now, hopefully can make the mark less obvious later. All the best for your pregnancy & take care.

Epiderm Professional Strength Microdermabrasion Treatment Kit 60gm NZ$89.95