Fetal development: Week 16 / Wee lad or lassie?

I've had my anatomy ultrasound. Spinal cord is detected and it developed well. Brain of the size of a peanut, so far, appeared on the screen. Black spots showing both eye sockets are so visible. Nose and nose bridge are developed. Bones in the hands and fingers are so transparent since the skin is so thin and no fat composition has developed, yet, at this stage.

Pink or blue? Wee sitting or standing? We're only 80% sure cuz legs were crossed during screening. It's a mystery to be confirmed latter in the months.

Baby has lots of actions in there. Somersault. Yawn. Scratch head with the right hand. Flipping up and down. Just whole lot of self-entertaining programs lining up in there.

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Little fetus should measure about 11.45cm by this week. Mine is 11.05cm. I'm on the right track yay. The baby no longer looks like some sort of alien with out of proportion head to body ratio but rather they're starting to even out a bit and rest assure that the rest of the body is starting to grow faster than the head from now on. Baby's limbs are lengthening, almost reaching the normal proportions, which he/she will have at birth. Eye lids are seal shut at this stage but they're sensitive to the light. Hence, if you're planning to enjoy a sun bathe, your baby will be busy covering the eyes with their hands. Little one can suck the thumb and perform all sorts of actions with their hands, fingers, face (facial expressions) and reflex movements. They're just as active as they're going to be when they're ready for the world.

Wk 16 to wk 18 is a period where doctor would recommend for some tests to be carried out to check for the risks of genetic or birth defects. AFP test, which takes sample of preggo's blood and put it to test thus it's totally safe for the baby whereas amniocentesis test could be harmful for the baby at certain level since a sample of fluid need to be taken out from baby's amniotic sac. Both tests are to determine if baby's exposed to any risks of defects or Down Syndrome. I had some hesitation whether or not to do the test but hubby assures me that God is taking very good care of our baby so we just rest assure all the worries in His hands.

Give thanks to God that baby looks okay to gynae and she gave away that satisfaction look after checking our ah B. I'm relieved.


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Short note: My skin is stretching as stretched as possible. I feel the tension. Inside out. Outside in. It just makes me feel so uncomfortable at times. All my micro veins are becoming visible on both side of tummy. I'm like a bloated balloon ready to be let go into the air. Wait. Not yet. I'll stretch further and i will get bigger. Then, i shall be ready for the flying...in my hot air balloon. Goodnite folks.

Too early?

Recently, i've kick start on my baby's prenatal learning process. How? Thanks to the BeBeSound Prenatal Kits (borrowed from a friend of mine) which includes a heartbeat listener, two earphones for both anticipating mom and dad, a pair of speakers with a fetal microphone. And a guidebook of course.

We failed to locate ah B's heartbeat mostly because ah B is still very small thus weaker heart pumps. So, we shall wait and wait til we reach 20+ weeks for stronger heartbeats from now. At the meantime, we indulge ourselves in the excitement talking to our unborn baby. We talk, we sing and we just blabber away twice daily for 10 mins session each cuz the book tells us baby needs a lot of rest. Don't over disturb.

I'm not too sure if this is too early but i'm sure it will sure has its positive effects on baby's brain development. Like learn to talk sooner, walk sooner, think sooner?...since brain controls everything else. Friend of mine introduced this BabyPlus product to me earlier last week. I'm still half confused with the functions of the product. It's said to contain 16 pre-recorded maternal heartbeats that differ from mom's and baby starts to learn to differentiate and thus get the brain to learn and function prenatally. I was a little convinced to get the product but then i have to shipped it oversea and bla x3 then i think i can just settle with the BeBeSound kits to get my ah B's brain functions early too. We'll see how it goes.

Mother's Day 2008

What I did? I sms-ed my faraway sister to buy a cake, which was on me, for my faraway mom in Australia. She settled with a green tea cake which to me it looks so much like an overgrown cabbage sitting on top of a layered sponge cake.


Cute yet scary...

As for my in laws, hubby and i bought a cake and it comes with a fresh carnation flower as a present for the mom. It was thoughtful in a way but when mom received that flower she laughed. She knew it's the tactic of cake houses nowadays to have "complimentary" flowers but i guess the cost has been added into the cake's price. We celebrated during lunch, cut cake, open up a red wine, took photos and all giggles away happily.

My thought? 2008 was kinda special for me thinking that i'm a mother-to-be and will i ever get to have celebrations from my kids in future? How long will it take for them to comprehend the actual meaning behind over-commercialised Mother's Day? I joked with my mom that my ah B will need many more years to come to be able to celebrate Mother's Day with me. Jokingly and yet so true, she replied "It doesn't matter cuz I also waited until today for my kids to understand it." I love my mom and now, my momS. Moms are indeed the greatest friends you can find on the Earth. Of course, dads aren't forgotten. They play significant roles in the family too! No money no talk! Dads are the greatest free ATM machines God has ever supply to human beings.

Cravings anyone?

Lately, i just love a rich spread of crunchy peanut butter on bread and munch it down together with a cup of thick Ribena drink! Sooo yummieeeeee!

To the preggos out there..

As early as week 11/12 onward, have you noticed that your heart beat is getting "louder"? It seems like someone is knocking from inside and when you look at your tummy's surface, you can even see the "thump thump thump" movement on the complexion itself.

If you do, you're more than just normal. I noticed it since my week 11 and according to findings, it's the increased volume of about 20-25% of blood in your body that is causing such heavy thumps. Your heart is working hard to provide blood for two individuals remember? So, protect your heart, eat healthy! Your body and baby will appreciate you in return.

Somewhere in Gunung Gading, Sarawak (photo post dated back to last year)

Half way heading towards the waterfall. It was soooo humid in the jungle!


Relaxing with mount-climbers in the hut near the fall


The life-saver waterfall we awaited for


A bloke cooling himself at the water pool

December 2007 @ Singapore

At Vivo City


In a cafe


Our daughter