Week 33

I went for ultrasound last Saturday, January 21. So, here's Baby Stefan at Week 33 in my womb :)

He is now 1.97kg and gynecologist said everything is okay. Head in normal delivery position, and due date should be in approximately 6 weeks from now; which is estimated at March 6.

Praise be to God!

And I'm praying everything will stay okay and I'll be able to deliver normally. Love you, Stefan!

Confinement Period

The title said it all. No, it's not like I'm observing "The Confinement Period" now. Am only 33 weeks plus pregnant and OB just told me there'll be approximately another month to go before my baby enters the world. So yeah, that's when the confinement period begins... right till 40 days after delivery (this is what my mom and mom-in-law told me, so I guess that's Kadazandusun's after delivery treatment course).

And for this, my mom actually prepared for me a couple of things...

Traditional Chinese Medicine (note the HALAL logo) for "buang angin" and "pecah darah".

I think this is to help regulate the body temperature and blood circulation. I will be taking this a pair once a day during the confinement period.

And...

Fragrant dried leaves... They called it "tawa'oh" or something like that. This is the ancient Sabah herbal bath believed to help in cleansing and regulating the body systems. The leaves must be boiled in just enough the amount of water for two bath times each day. I will have to use this lukewarm herbal water to wet my body, then use my favorite body shower gel as usual, and then to rinse it off again with the fragrant herbal water... which also said to give 'soothing and calming' effect. My sister said my bath towel will be yellow-tinged though :)

Well, if my ancestors swore by it, by all means these preparations must have worked through the generations! No adverse effect recorded so far (according to hear-say), and as I do have ample faith on what my older generations said... then hey, why don't I use them too... After all, I do agree they only want the best for me. Having said this, being a veterinarian, of course I prefer conventional medicine and health science compared to TCM :).

Other than these two, I must also avoid windy places and cold areas. Rooms, floors, water and the air con should all be in normal room temperature. Hair-washing is totally prohibited throughout the confinement period. I must only eat 'drunken chicken soup' or 'sup ayam lihing' for the whole 40 days. This is actually chicken broth prepared with sweet rice wine in 1:1 ratio and some ginger.

Last but not least, I have to stay inside the house at all times. I reckon that's why it is called "The CONFINEMENT Period".

Healthy me, healthy baby and HAPPY HUBBY!

Sign of the Cross

St. Cyril of Jerusalem in his "Catecheses" (xiii, 36) remarks: "let us then not be ashamed to confess the Crucified. Be the cross our seal, made with boldness by our fingers on our brow and in every thing; over the bread we eat and the cups we drink, in our comings and in goings; before our sleep, when we lie down and when we awake; when we are travelling, and when we are at rest".

This morning was very different to me. Today was the day when my husband had to leave me for work to Singapore for one month. I've been through this before, but it felt kind of different now. I reckon it is because for over one year since we got married, I have never actually stayed away from him. And maybe also because I am 31 weeks pregnant now, so all those emotional build-ups just sink in easily. It must be that. This distance makes me realize that I do, I do and I DO want my dear husband to be with me all the time. Maybe this awkward feeling will go away once I'm settled with the new environment. Anyway he will come back in a month time, so everything will be just fine. I am actually counting the days.

Now I would just like to share what happened this morning. Something that really, really touched my heart. After packing and getting ready, my husband sat down at the side of the bed and told me that he wanted to say a prayer. So I watched him praying in silence. Finished praying, he turned towards me and said, "Let me bless you and our baby". And he placed a gentle sign of the cross with his thumb, first on my forehead, and then on my gravid womb. In return I did the same on his forehead. Then he gave me the warmest hug I have ever known. And yes, I was teary because, that, really, really touched my heart. I just feel so blessedly loved by my dear husband. And I thank God for the very wonderful moment I have just experienced, and the beautiful soul mate He gave to me.

This I will cherish for always, and will keep me strong whenever I feel lonely or down or afraid.

Your Daddy loves us so much, my baby Stefan. May he always be blessed by God too, every hour and every second of every day.