Postpartum Beauty Wishlist

Lahiran saja belum, tapi sudah berani bikin wishlist.
Nggak apa-apa, ya. Di luar negeri saja sebelum 7 bulan sudah boleh daftar gift registry di sejumlah retailer besar supaya orang lain bisa tahu mau kasih kado apa pas lahiran, hehehehe...

This list is more beauty-related, terutama berkaitan dengan beauty regime dan skin care. Dunno why, sekarang lebih terobsesi dengan perawatan kulit (tubuh dan wajah) dibandingkan dengan makeup. I think this Lil Bud doesn't share the same obsession with her mother towards makeup products. Kalau baca-baca di femaledaily.com banyak yang sharing mengenai betapa susahnya ngilangin stretch mark pasca melahirkan, Hingga hari ini untungnya belum menjumpai stretch mark akibat kehamilan, but hey, it ain't over til it's over, mungkin si stretch mark masih ngumpet jadi lebih baik siap-siap. Selama kehamilan juga hanya ke salon seperlunya, mostly untuk hair treatment biasa (pakai masker, pijat-pijat) dan gunting kuku (yes, but I'm struggling to even cut my toe nails on my own). Jadi setelah melahirkan, ingin pampering di salon.

So let's go on with the wishlist!

1. Clarins Tonic Body Treatment Oil

The #1 Selling Body Oil from Clarins

Banyak review mengenai produk ini, dari blogger lokal maupun luar negeri, yang kalau dibaca bikin tambah ngidam. Jadi holy grail untuk urusan firming dan memperbaiki elastisitas kulit. Bisa dipakai di beragam area tubuh seperti lengan, perut dan paha, diikuti dengan gerakan memijat. Katanya, wanginya enaaaaaaak...
From the web:
Clarins’ #1 selling body oil - with 100% pure plant extracts including Rosemary, Geranium and Mint - helps firm, tone and improve elasticity, reducing the appearance of stretch marks resulting from pregnancy. Hazelnut Oil softens, smooths and hydrates by locking in moisture. Aromatic natural botanicals promote an overall feeling of well-being. Preservative-free.

2. Clarins Extra-Firming Body Cream

Lift, Tone and Comfort

Setelah pakai Treatment Oil, bisa dilanjutkan dengan produk ini supaya kulit lebih terasa lembab dan satiny smooth. Tekstur krim ini lumayan rich tapi tidak lengket, mudah meresap. Tidak hanya untuk setelah melahirkan, banyak juga wanita mature yang memakai produk ini untuk menjaga kemudaan kulit tubuh.
From the web:
Firming every body will love! Soothing cream - with an anti-wrinkle blend of Lemon Thyme, Centella and Bocoa extracts - helps improve skin’s natural elasticity for a sleeker, chicer silhouette. Firms, tones and promotes youthful-looking contours for younger looking skin.

3. Blow+Bar VaVaVoom Permanent Blowout

That VaVaVoom Hair

Sebenarnya sudah ingin melakukan treatment ini sebelum tahu hamil, tapi entah kenapa masih belum terlaksana karena sebelum hamil kan sibuk TTC pas akhir pekan. Untuk mendapatkan servis permanent blowout ini katanya diperlukan waktu sekitar 4 jam untuk trimming, perming dan deep conditioning treatment sebagai finishing touch-nya. Hasilnya bisa bertahan selama kurang lebih 3-6 bulan.
From the web:
The blowout that lasts and lasts. The Permanent Blowout is designed for women who want effortlessly chic and natural curls and waves that requires minimal styling everyday. You can choose from 10 Signature Permanent Blowout Looks.


4. Martha Tilaar Salon Day Spa Body Contouring Package

Nothing Beats A Good Massage

Sejak perut mulai gendut, otomatis nggak pernah lagi dipijat seluruh badan. Paling hanya pijat kaki atau pijat tangan. Padahal punggung rasanya nggak nyaman setiap bangun pagi atau ketika kelamaan duduk di kantor. Pingiiiiiin berbaring telungkup dan pijat punggung yang lama. Nah, si paket ini memang cocok untuk yang ingin pijat dengan menggunakan firming treatment. Nggak cuma perawatan tubuh, tapi ekstra perawatan rambut juga. Komplit!

5. Any Cardio Activity, Please
Nggak terlalu suka ke gym jadi nggak ingin daftar gym membership. Sebelum hamil juga cuma suka berenang, lari pagi dan 100x jumping jacks di rumah so any cardio will do. I just need these jelly legs to go away, that's it.

A Little Piece of Heaven

To Baby,

Love,

Your mother.

#FlashbackFriday: Childhood Memories

Hello, Baby.

I miss writing to you! It's just that your mother hasn't been feeling too well lately - I think I must get a little exhausted now that you're getting bigger and my body needs a bit of adjustment to keep up with your development. But no worry, I've been eating lots nowadays to ensure you're packing more pounds and getting the nutrition you need. Not to forget my daily dose of milk (and ice cream, you know, this is strictly for calcium intake).

Today I want to share you stories about childhood. It is definitely one of the happiest time of one's life, filled with playfulness, enjoyment, and loving memories. Your father and I were once small and very cute, too. Of course, each of us have our own personal memories to treasure but those memories all come down to one thing; we were happy and loved.

We Were Once Babies, Too

Your father was born in early October, he is the eldest of three children. Just take a look at his chubby cheeks, he gave your grandmother quite a hard time during labor due to his weight. One of his most cherished childhood memories is, well, spending time studying. His parents put a high importance on education and took on this matter seriously. Once they took a family road trip to Semarang and his father would stop along the way whenever he saw a chance for his children to learn something. He took them to see rice fields and observe the working farmers, or dropped by a pottery-making house. His parents' efforts were totally worth it; he was always on top of the class and successfully got into one of the nation's finest university. Since he was a boy, he grew fond of cars and football and video games. He once had an emergency visit to the doctor because he got so stiff, had trouble moving as he spent hours and hours sitting in front of the computer, playing games. I won't let this happen to you, promise.

Four months after your father was born, I came into the world. My parents named me after the word 'lucky' because I was considered as an unexpected blessing. My sister and brother were already in elementary school when I suddenly popped up among them. Lucky, I easily became the apple in the eye in my family. My childhood was superb! I wouldn't say that I was spoiled, but my mom and dad really knew how to make me have a good time. I enjoyed riding bikes (you can tell from the numerous scar marks on my legs), climbing on trees (until one day the tree fell, I landed on a dirty gutter and received stitches on my behind), playing with animals (I had dozen of cats, two bunnies, and 17 hamsters, I loved them all). My mom and dad loved to treat their children with books - my mom used to read me to sleep and my dad bought me new books whenever I got good grades. Despite being occupied with work, my dad always made time to take us for a short holiday. My mom was obsessed on dressing me up; she even made me clothes identical to my Barbie doll (you will inherit a closet full of Barbies, guaranteed).

Our Loving Parents

So, later you will meet our parents - your grandparents. They are the ones responsible for creating those exciting memories and experience that molded us, their immense love enabled us to become the persons we are today. They have raised us to be humble, to be kind, to put family as top priority. I believe they will love you as much as we do, ready to give their all for you to be happy and loved, exactly like what they have been doing for us all these years. Respect them, love them.

I must say that childhood plays a very important role in a person's future life. I wish it will be the happiest for you, for every child, because you deserve it. I want you to grow up and carry around the loving memories of the people who love you. May our abundant love inspire you to be the best version of yourself and able to do good for others.

Love,
Your mother.

What A Big Nose You Have

Hello, Baby.

We just had our 4D screening last Thursday. Your father and I were so excited!
We met with dr. A. Budi Marjono in RSPI Puri Indah. He was very nice and took his time to talk us through the screening process. He was also quite detailed and made sure to complete all steps - he even waited patiently for you to flip around to look at your brain's development. The 4D screening itself is advised to be done during the 26 to 30 weeks of pregnancy. It is not mandatory, but it is more for physiological assessment- to check the baby’s growth, the position of placenta and its appearance, the amount of amniotic fluid, the development of the heart, belly, kidneys and bladder, along with the gender if we wish to know (note to other mommies-to-be: if you want the gender of the baby to be a surprise, do let your doctor know in advance).

We're so glad that we had done the screening. It was so much more than seeing images of your cute face. We got to find out that you're doing all well in the womb; your stubby fingers, your heartbeat, your brain, your lungs, your round tummy. You were kicking, punching, twirling and thumping. You were so lively, the doctor happily told us that. You were also very camera-ready so we got pretty good images of your face. I think you have your father's nose as it looks quite big, mine is quite tiny. Great to know that you're growing healthily - every measurement seemed to be on track with your age.

Working On My Punches Here, Mom!

Now that you're almost hitting the 1 kg mark, I want you to stay happy and healthy there. Hope to meet you in the next 90-ish days!

Love,
Your mother.

Update 23/06/2016
Biaya USG 4D di RSPI Puri Indah Rp 1,000,000 belum termasuk biaya konsultasi dokter spesialis sebesar Rp 325,000. Sepertinya biaya ini lumayan standar untuk tindakan USG 4D, dan sayang sekali nggak diganti asuransi kantor Pak Suami.

TTC: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

This one is not for baby, but for every woman who is going, or has gone through the process of trying to conceive a child. Semoga kalian merasa 'Saya Tidak Sendirian Menghadapi Ini'. Percayalah, you are not alone.

Di negara ini memang susah mendapatkan privasi, jangankan untuk urusan rumah tangga, urusan agama dan kepercayaan saja bisa sedemikian vulgar dan setiap hari kita bisa lihat diumbar dengan mudahnya di social media. Kepo is the name of the game.

Ketika baru bergandengan tangan, langsung ditanya kapan sebar undangan? Ketika baru menikah, langsung ditanyakan mau punya anak berapa? Kalau mau membayari biaya pernikahan dan biaya sekolah anak sih, monggo loh... Tapi kalau nggak, ya nggak perlu kepo karena jodoh dan anak sepenuhnya wewenang Tuhan. Repotnya kalau orang yang ditanya merasa tersinggung, justru si penanya malah bingung mengapa ada orang yang sebegitu sensitif, toh pertanyaan semacam itu biasanya keluar secara spontan atau cenderung basa-basi.

Nah, balik lagi ke poin dimana jodoh dan anak itu takdir Tuhan. Ada yang dimudahkan, ada juga yang diminta bersabar menunggu. Nggak ada yang salah, namanya juga kehidupan - tetap harus dijalani. Untungnya, saya diminta bersabar untuk menunggu keduanya - jodoh dan anak. Jodoh nggak perlu dibahas ya, karena panjang berliku-liku macam Tersanjung 1-7. Saya mau cerita mengenai proses sebelum akhirnya berhasil mendapat calon anak ini.

Proses mempersiapkan diri untuk kehamilan biasa dikenal dengan istilah promil (program kehamilan) atau di luar negeri disebut TTC, singkatan dari Trying-to-Conceive. Di tulisan ini saya pakai istilah TTC ya, bukan karena mau sok kebule-bulean tapi lebih ke maknanya - menurut saya kata 'trying' ini lebih dekat dengan istilah ikhtiar. Ikhtiar ini artinya lebih dari sekedar berusaha, tapi merupakan konsep dan proses menyelesaikan masalah dengan berupaya memilih jalan yang terbaik. Saat kita berikhtiar, maka cara berpikir dan bertindak kita pun diperbaiki supaya bisa menuju ke jalan tersebut.

We realized that something needed to be checked ketika merayakan hari jadi perkawinan yang pertama. Pertanyaan semacam:
"Kok belum isi?"
"Kapan nih nyusul kasih cucu?"
"Gemukan ya, tapi belum hamil?"
"Sudah lama kan nikahnya?"
"Udah umur segitu lho, gak takut telat?"
Sudah pasti sliweran ketika kumpul keluarga, kumpul tetangga, kumpul teman sekolah, kuliah, atau kantor, begitulah. Seolah-olah my uterus had become a problem for the society. Tapi, keinginan untuk punya anak dan umur yang semakin bertambah mendorong kami untuk segera memeriksakan diri ke dokter.

Here's our TTC milestone.
September 2014 - Cek fisik suami istri di RSIA Evasari, karena suami terindikasi teratozoospermia lalu kami memutuskan untuk menemui androlog.
Oktober 2014 - Konsultasi dengan androlog di RSIA YPK Mandiri, diberikan terapi obat untuk suami dan diminta cek fisik setelah 2 minggu. Cek fisik setelah 2 minggu, hasilnya baik. Androlog menyarankan untuk mencoba konsepsi natural selama 1 siklus.
November 2014 - Nothing happened dan memutuskan untuk kembali ke androlog. Cek fisik suami bagus, lalu dirujuk ke obgyn untuk cek fisik istri.
Desember 2014 - Konsultasi dengan obgyn di RS YPK Mandiri, dijelaskan di awal bahwa infertilitas bisa disebabkan oleh 40% faktor suami, 40% istri, 10% karena keduanya, dan 10% tidak bisa dijelaskan karena sepenuhnya kehendak Tuhan. Great, at least the doctor was honest dan meminta kami untuk bersiap menghadapi berbagai macam kemungkinan. Karena faktor suami sudah dicek oleh androlog, maka obgyn menyarankan untuk cek fisik istri dengan cek darah komplit dan HSG. Hasil keduanya baik. Oh ya, 1-2 hari setelah pemeriksaan HSG lumayan sakit. Siap-siap bedrest dan sediakan satu strip Ponstan karena perut terasa melilit dan susah jalan. Well, jangankan jalan, tiduran saja sakit. So, make sure Ponstan and a glass of water are on your bedside table.
Januari 2015 - Jumpa lagi dengan obgyn. Beliau bilang hasil cek fisik suami istri baik, kemungkinan ada problem dengan imunologi reproduksi dimana terdapat reaksi penolakan dari tubuh istri yang menghambat proses konsepsi. Langsung dirujuk ke laboratorium untuk tes ASA (antisperm antibody) dengan metode HSAaT (Husband's Sperm Auto-agglutination Test). Hasilnya? Nilai ASA tinggi, yaitu 1:16384. Padahal nilai ASA normal adalah 1:64, artinya kami harus 'loncat' 8 tingkat untuk menormalkan nilai ASA. Kami diminta androlog untuk menjalani terapi PLI.
Februari 2015 - Memulai terapi PLI untuk menurunkan nilai ASA. Karena RSIA YPK Mandiri tidak melayani terapi PLI, maka kami menjalani terapi di RSIA Sayyidah. Seluk beluk PLI mungkin bisa dibahas di posting lain ya, karena suka dukanya pun banyak.
April 2015 - Sudah menjalani 3x sesi PLI, saatnya tes ASA lagi. Hasilnya, nilai ASA sudah turun 3 tingkat ke 1:2048. Disarankan mengikuti 3x sesi PLI lagi.
Juni 2015 - Memutuskan untuk berhenti kerja supaya bisa istirahat dan fokus TTC. Selesai 3x sesi PLI tahap kedua dan dinyatakan lulus. Nilai ASA sudah normal di level 1:64. Disarankan kembali ke obgyn untuk tahap promil selanjutnya.
Juli 2015 - Kembali duduk manis di RSIA YPK Mandiri. Obgyn berikan opsi untuk coba 2 siklus dengan bantuan terapi obat, jika belum berhasil juga maka bisa dipertimbangkan untuk menjalani IUI atau inseminasi buatan. Langsung dibekali obat ini itu.
Agustus 2015 - Sudah 2 siklus dibantu terapi obat, belum berhasil hamil juga. Mulai bingung dan sering sedih.
September 2015 - Mencoba cari second opinion ke obgyn lain, pergilah kami ke Klinik Daya Medika. Konon di sini berkumpul para obgyn RSCM yang jago di bidang reproduksi dan IVF. Tapi sedihnya, malah 'divonis' hormon kurang bagus dan umur sudah 'lanjut' sehingga kecil kemungkinan untuk bisa konsepsi natural, harus dibantu dengan IVF. Nangis bombay sepulang dari klinik ini yang bikin suami marah berat (pada obgyn di klinik) dan memaksa kembali ke RSIA YPK Mandiri untuk lanjutkan promil. Di RSIA YPK Mandiri, langsung bilang bahwa kami ingin IUI.
Oktober 2015 - Di awal bulan, siap menjalani proses IUI. Bolak-balik ke dokter dalam seminggu untuk suntik pembesar telur dan akhirnya datang juga hari untuk IUI. Tegang dan takut. Trying so hard to stay hopeful. Setelah 2 weeks wait, dinyatakan IUI belum berhasil. Seminggu kemudian, si tubuh ini pun mengonfirmasi. Felt really awful. Memutuskan untuk berhenti TTC completely dan menunggu hingga tahun depan untuk (kemungkinan) menjalani IVF.
Desember 2015 - Found out that I was 5 weeks preggo.

So, let me recap the ups and down of the journey below.

The Good
Menjadi orang yang lebih sabar dan mencoba terus bersyukur, berusaha meningkatkan ibadah. Didoakan dan disemangati oleh keluarga, sanak saudara, dan teman.
Hubungan dengan suami menjadi lebih baik karena banyak menghabiskan waktu berdua - pastinya bisa traveling berdua kemana saja tanpa repot, bisa saling belajar memahami dan memberikan support. Banyak belajar hal-hal baru, terutama tentang kondisi medis yang dihadapi dan berempati dengan pengalaman orang lain.

The Bad
Every day is a rollercoaster ride. Sangat mudah lelah, both emotionally and physically - terutama karena pengaruh obat-obatan yang diberikan saat TTC yang memengaruhi hormon dan kondisi tubuh. Karena kondisi tubuh nggak nyaman, otomatis emosi pun seringkali nggak stabil. Berantem dengan pasangan, malas kerja, uring-uringan, mendadak sedih lalu nangis - terutama kalau lagi antri dokter, di saat orang lain kontrol hamil atau imunisasi anak. Pelampiasannya? Kalau saya sih jadi makan melulu, tiap hari maunya jajan Chatime daripada pusing.

The Ugly
Harus merelakan waktu untuk bolak-balik ke dokter, hampir setiap akhir pekan bangun pagi dan menghabiskan setengah hari di rumah sakit. Pasrah juga membiarkan tubuh diperiksa, disuntik, diambil darah, hingga mengikuti proses inseminasi yang sungguh tidak nyaman. Tidak cuma istri, tapi suami juga harus ikhlas dan bersedia menjalani proses TTC. Berdasarkan cerita beberapa teman, para suami seringkali menolak untuk memeriksakan diri - jadi, komitmen kedua belah pihak itu penting.
TTC is also financially challenging; pengobatan medis maupun alternatif yang dijalani secara rutin tentu butuh biaya yang tidak sedikit. Kami mungkin termasuk beruntung karena masih bisa menyisihkan penghasilan untuk proses TTC ini. For some others, this is a real big deal.

Untuk teman-teman yang masih berjuang, tetap semangat! Yakin bahwa Tuhan sudah merencanakan dan akan memberikan jalan terbaik bagi kita. Saya sangat percaya bahwa jalan terbaik mungkin bukanlah jalan yang paling mudah, mungkin juga bukan jalan yang paling sulit kita lalui. Tetapi di ujung jalan yang terbaik itu pasti kita menemukan apa yang Tuhan sudah persiapkan untuk kita dan membekali kita dengan kemampuan untuk menghadapinya - apapun itu.

Bon courage!

Untuk Anakku (Yang Masih Rencana Tuhan)

nak.. 
maaf, ibu membangunkanmu. 
dari tidur panjang, 
mimpi teduh, 
dan damai milikmu. 

menangislah.. 
karena kecewamu. 
dan biarkan aku menangis, 
karena sanggup melahirkanmu. 

menangislah, nak.. 
dunia memang jahat, 
darah memanas dan bumi meranggas. 
menangislah.. 
karena disisa untukmu setempat, 
untuk memijak tanah keras. 

menangislah.. 
karena takdir manusiamu. 
aku ibumu, 
dan pria yang mengasihiku, 
berdua menjagamu. 
mohonkan restu, 
dari Penguasa Marcapada Yang Satu. 

10 Things I Didn't Know About Pregnancy

Hello, Baby.

Sorry, I missed writing to you for a couple of days. Work has been tough lately.

So... I have carried you for a while now, I can't believe days gone by so quickly - but also so slowly! Oh, the anticipation. And since you are Population Number One in my womb, so that makes me a rookie in being pregnant. Yes, I had spent quite a long time getting my body ready for being pregnant. But when I did find out that I conceive you, I was not prepared at all. I'm sure my mom must have dropped a memo about this, but to feel every single bit of pregnancy ups and downs by myself is truly a surprise for me.

I am no expert, but these are some of the things I learn during my pregnancy up to this day. To share with you and probably other rookie mommies out there about what to expect when you're expecting, here's my list of 10 things I didn't know about pregnancy.

1. Morning sickness is not a myth.
Fire-breathing dragon is a myth. But morning sickness is as real as it gets. Because in you-and-me case, it was an all-day sickness. During your first trimester journey, I named myself The Toilet Face just because I had to 'face' the toilet ever so often. I am still having this symptom nowadays, even though it has lessened a lot - now it's about once every one week. It's basically because you're getting bigger and bigger inside, so your movement seems to affect my gastric acid (that's a clever term for 'sour tummy juice') to go up onto my neck and create a burning sensation.
Tips for rookie mommy-to-be: Always carry with you some plastic bags even until you've graduated from the first trimester, they surely come in handy. Avoid greasy/oily food; gorengan, sambal, sayur tumisan, and even kerupuk - I ate lots of warm, clear vegetable/noodle soup (less oil) during this period. Drink lots of warm water or tea to calm you down after the sickness storm hits you over and over again. Some times fruits help, some times they don't - especially when your tummy is already too acidic. Make sure to choose 'neutral' fruits like apple and banana instead of orange.

2. Nothing cures morning sickness, except...
Sleeping. And more sleeping. Lots of sleeping.
Tips for rookie mommy-to-be: Have a day-off from work whenever possible and try to sleep early at night.

3. Wait until you invest on maternity clothes.
During the early days, I woke up every morning thinking about what clothes to wear to the office. Every piece of clothing in the closet seemed to make me look like a whale, no matter how tight or loose it was. I used to cry a bit and felt like I had to go to the nearest mall to buy every cute maternity clothes available. But honestly, until today I only own two pairs of maternity pants - they cost a heaping lot than regular clothes and I rarely wear them!
Tips for rookie mommy-to-be: Don't rush for online shopping even if they send you voucher codes. Even if you have to, it doesn't have to be maternity clothes. Just buy regular clothes but go one or two sizes bigger gradually. I suggest to prioritize on bras and undies - you need them at the right sizes. Remember, it's important to stay comfortable in whatever clothing you wear.

4. Drink milk.
I saw the Gyno when you were around 12 weeks old and he said that your femur length was a bit behind. It got better during your 15 weeks check, but in another month the problem came back. I realized that even though I have taken calcium supplement, I tend to skip drinking milk. Short femur length may be one of the soft indications of fetal restriction growth or other worse dysfunction. But as long as your mommy stays healthy, I hope we have nothing to worry.
Tips for rookie mommy-to-be: Choose any milk brand of your liking and stick to it. I do mean "any milk". Seriously, you don't need to limit yourself and hop into the pregnancy milk bandwagon just because the advertisements told you so. Milk contains calcium which is really important for the baby and the mother. Pregnancy milk may contain additional vitamins and ingredients which are good for expectant mother, but it is really the calcium that you need. In case you are worried about your baby's short femur length, there are many health journals on this topic - just Google it. Or better yet, consult with your Gyno.

5. I miss coffee, sashimi, and Indomie.
I'm sorry, Baby. I perfectly understand that I need to eat healthy for your sake. But passing Starbucks in the morning, suppressing the urge to buy a tall latte was quite tough at the beginning. Skipping sushi and sashimi are also hard to do, and don't get me started on a bowl of Indomie kuah. But you know I love you more than life and I am willing to do every thing for you, including missing those things. Plus, I save more money now because I no longer buy overpriced coffee.
Tips for rookie mommy-to-be: Try to find another craving. I find martabak manis to be a great (fattening) food that can cure any type of food craving. Be a good friend to food delivery guys or your nearby abang ojek, they can do magic - as in delivering any kind of food you are craving in less than an hour. 

6. I hate my husband's ... smell.
Yes, I hate your father's smell so bad since you were just a tiny dot. Every time he arrives home from work, I immediately ask him to wash up and change into clean clothes. I hate to hug him in the morning (so not me, I was all about hugging before). I even use an odor-neutralizer AND a super-power air freshener in our room to make sure the room doesn't smell like him. He used to frown at me for doing this, but nowadays he understands that I do this keep you comfy (always a good excuse, gets me out of difficult situation every time).
Tips for rookie mommy-to-be: It's okay to let him know. He may be offended but he will accept the fact that you are not feeling that well. Thanks to the fluctuation of estrogen in your body which can make every little scent coming your way feel like a blizzard on the nose.

7. I love your grandma so much more.
She was soooo happy to know that you would soon be here among us. I know she wants a baby in the family as much as I do. She is truly a caring and loving person, she loves to take care of other people. She takes time to arrange your pengajian, it's like a baby shower without the frilly stuffs - reciting prayers for you and me. She had quite a troublesome pregnancy when she carried me and my siblings. Hearing her stories just makes me weep, I often reflect on how much she has done for me and how could I ever repay her. You will love her, no doubt.
Tips for rookie mommy-to-be: Hug her, kiss her, tell her you love her every day.  

8. Pardon my pregnancy brain.
I once left my purse in the office, I was already in the parking lot and had to go back up to get it. I got home later only to find that I also left my laptop bag in the office so I had to beg your daddy to drive me back to the office late at night. I occasionally take the wrong turns when I am driving. I forget my lines during a few important video conferences. I wasn't that good in remembering things (except your father's past mistakes) but this is surely worse.
Tips for rookie mommy-to-be: Keep calm, being pregnant doesn't mean that your brain is shrinking. However, it may affect how sharp are you mentally. Not only because of the changing hormones, but you may also have lots of things in mind so it's harder to focus. Not to forget the backache and lack of good sleep. If you are working, this is a real challenge. Take notes, set reminder, try to keep every thing in writing to ensure you don't forget important task or dates. Get more sleep or short nap whenever possible.

9. I dream a very lucid, detailed dream.
During the first trimester, I kept having these weird dreams. They were quite detail, most of the times involving people I know. Gardens, flowers and every other thing seemed to be in colors. It was strange and disturbing.
Tips for rookie mommy-to-be: Again, blame the hormones. Some says it reflects the mother's anxiety - hopes and fears for the growing baby. Nothing to worry and do not overreact because it's just a dream. No matter how vivid it may be, you will easily forget it in couple of hours - thanks to your pregnancy brain!

10. I become a more positive person.
Even your father admits this. I used to give him a hard time, he used to complain a lot about me being short-fused and grumpy, but I have changed since I conceive you. We argue less and less. I am much more relaxed and spend more time being grateful.
Tips for rookie mommy-to-be: It's important to stay happy and positive to support the development of your baby. Unhappy mommies may have difficulty to take good care of themselves and the babies. Research has shown that babies born to mothers who are not happy during pregnancy may be less active, show less attention and be more agitated. If you feel unhappy, anxious, restless in any way, better to consult with your Gyno so he/she can refer you to have proper treatment.

I think that's all for now. See you on your 4D screening this coming Thursday - hope you're all healthy and happy there!

Love,
Your mother.