Tuesday, August 4, 2009

My Baby Girl's 4D Scan at 31 Weeks...

Just a night before my husband left for Angola, we've managed to book a 4D scan to see our baby! It was the most wonderful bond we've ever had with our baby (even before birth).. Feels so amazing...

Sharing the photos with you is my great pleasure, as a very proud mum! We gonna be seeing her in a few weeks time, about 7 weeks!, can't really wait...

Thursday, July 23, 2009

I Am 30 Weeks Pregnant - This Is What My Baby Looks Like!

At this stage my baby's lungs and digestive tract are almost fully developed. While baby may soon slow up growing in length, (he measures about 15.7 inches/ 40 centimetres from crown to toe by now), he will continue to gain weight until he's born.

This week baby continues to open and shut his eyes. He can probably see what's going on in utero, distinguish light from dark and even track a light source. If you shine a light on your stomach, your baby may move his head to follow the light or even reach out to touch the moving glow. Some researchers think baring your stomach to light stimulates visual development. But don't expect 20/20 vision when your baby is born -- newborns can see a distance of only about 8 to 12 inches/ 20 to 30 centimetres. (Children with normal vision don't reach 20/20 vision until about age 7 to 9.) To complete the picture, baby now has eyebrows and eyelashes.


A pint and a half/ around a litre of amniotic fluid now surrounds the baby but that volume decreases as he gets bigger and has less room in your uterus. As you and the baby continue to grow, don't be alarmed if you feel
breathless, as if you can't get enough air; it's just your uterus pressing against your diaphragm. There is a light at the end of the tunnel though. At about 34 weeks (or just before birth, if this is your second or third pregnancy), baby's head will move down into your pelvis as the baby gets into the right position for birth. That will make breathing and eating a lot easier.

Source: Baby Centre UK

Creatine Supplements - The Muscle Builder

Creatine is one of the most popular sports supplements on the market and is used by bodybuilders, athletes, sportsmen and women alike. It is a compound made naturally in our bodies as an energy replenisher, it is manufactured in the liver, kidneys and pancreas and secreted into blood for transport to muscle (amongst other) tissues.

The process of taking creatine supplements enables the muscle cells to become hydrated, which in turn leads to a faster synthesizing of protein by the muscles, with the overall effect being that of increased strength and energy. This enables the person taking the supplement to be able to work out longer, build lean muscle which furthermore results in the loss of unwanted fat.

Unfinished Baby's Room

Just this afternoon, my super excited husband had managed to finished putting up the covings in our baby's room and finishing them with paints. Soon after, we both started placing the wall canvas, and The Farm border but haven't got a round to put all the stickers yet and some other decorations. This is what her unfinished room looks like!
A SOFT LIME (light green) and HAPPY DAZE (bright yellow) color motif. We're going to place her moses basket, crib and the cotbed maybe two weeks before her due!

Human Touch Massage Chairs for Healthy Living

Being 30 weeks pregnant, back pains have becoming a daily recurrence. I am aware that back pain is very common in pregnancy as pregnancy hormones relax joints, ligaments and muscles and the increasing weight also adds to the problem, especially as it is natural to push our bumps forwards which puts greater strain on our back. It has really never been easy for me to deal with back pains from the first time I'd experienced it, until I realized to do some exercise to help.

In fact, in some stage my husband and I have thought of buying a massage chair or anything that can help to ease the pains. Massage Chairs apparently are good in providing back pain relief and combine high-tech massage technology and undeniable style.

The Human Touch massage chair technology closely mimics known therapeutic massage techniques used by spinal and back care professionals. These techniques include:
  • Compression that feels like hands pushing firmly on your muscles along the side of your spine and in towards the spine itself.
  • Kneading, this mimics the feel of thumbs pressing firmly on both sides of your spine while moving in circular motions
  • Rolling which is the gentle motion of pressing firmly on one side of the spine and then the other.
  • Percussion feels like fists or the edge of the hands quickly tapping on back muscles.

Another great thing about a Human Touch massage chair, is that it really is a whole body experience. Not only does your back get massaged, but your calves and feet as well.

Monday, July 13, 2009

We've Got Our Travel System, Cotbed and Mattress Today

We've finally received our order from BabiesRUs today! Apparently, we have now all the accessories, bedding and materials needed for our baby's arrival. ALL COMPLETE!! Well, except putting decorations on baby's room wall, other than that, no worries at all...

Turbocharger for a Faster Ride!

The topic of turbochargers usually comes up when people talk about car racing or high-performance sports cars. Now the question is, can we actually upgrade our normal car engines into a high speed engine? The answer is YES, for as long as the turbocharger fits into the engine. Therefore, if you ever want to upgrade your cars, just visit Turbochargerpros to find the perfect turbocharger for your ride.

Whether you're looking for a Volkswagen turbocharger and or any other model, Turbochargerpros have all the units in stock.

Apparently, I have learned that turbocharger increases the power output of an engine while surviving extreme operating condition or boosts pressure that increases the manifold pressure in the intake path. This is what you ever need to turbocharger your ride! Why not go for it then...

I've Been Experiencing Lower Back Pains, Have Found this Natural Remedy

Back pain is very common in pregnancy as pregnancy hormones relax your joints, ligaments and muscles. Your increasing weight will add to the problem, especially as it is natural to want to push your bump forwards which puts greater strain on your back. Walking, prolonged sitting or standing in one position may make your back pain worse.

How can I prevent it?

Try to use your body more efficiently. Stand up straight and tall, ensuring your chin isn't tilting upwards. Avoid standing for too long in one position. If your job involves standing for long periods, keep changing from one foot to the other, sit down when you can and take a walk at lunchtime. In bed, use plenty of pillows for support; keep your thighs parallel to prevent your top leg twisting across your body (recovery position). When getting out of bed, roll onto one side, push yourself up to a sitting position, then slowly stand up.


Don't carry heavy shopping - shop online instead, or ask a friend to help you. Avoid carrying a baby or toddler on one hip, as this puts great strain on the back. Ask for help with housework and chores, or hire a cleaner for a few months, if you can afford it. Wear comfortable shoes with broad supporting heels and adequate straps to prevent your feet from slipping about and twisting your ankles. Wear a well-fitting supportive maternity bra with wide straps and adequately sized cups, to avoid extra strain on your shoulders and rib cage.


At work, you could ask your employer for a lumbar support or an orthopaedic chair, and avoid crossing your legs. Check the position of your computer screen and mouse and adapt these if necessary; leave your desk regularly to move about and get some exercise and fresh air at lunchtime. When driving, make yourself comfortable – and then adjust your rear view mirror so that you do not need to move your head to an unnatural position to see out of the rear window.


Self-help suggestions

Exercise

Gentle exercise, such as
walking and stretching, may relieve stiffness and pain. However, don't force yourself to keep walking if you experience pain. Take a rest, otherwise you may strain your ligaments further. Swimming can help too, but avoid breaststroke unless your face is completely in the water, so that your neck and spine are in a straight line. Yoga, tai chi or relaxation classes may be helpful, but always let the teacher know that you are pregnant.

Massage

Gentle massage can ease some backache, but the effects tend to be temporary. If your partner gives you a massage, don't let him massage deeply in the dimples either side of your lower spine, as there are acupuncture points here which can stimulate contractions. If you have sciatica, avoid massaging directly over the affected area until the true cause is known, as this can worsen the condition in some women.

Aromatherapy
Relaxing in a warm bath with essential oils of lavender, ylang ylang or marjoram (for muscle pain) may help. Lavender oil should be used only occasionally in the first trimester, as there is some evidence that it may stimulate contractions
(Cavanagh and Wilkinson 2002). Don't use more than two or three drops at a time.

Alternatively use a warm (but not hot) water bottle, or make a compress by adding two drops of each essential oil to warm water. Soak a cloth in this water and place it over the small of your back.

Homeopathy
If the pain is made worse because of injury or strain, gently rub homeopathic arnica cream into the area. Other homeopathic remedies which can be useful include
nuxvomica. Try taking it in the 30c strength, if the pain is aching, dragging and bruise-like, but you have constipation and you are irritable and refuse to "give in" to the pain.

Sepia may work if you feel as if you have been "hit by a hammer", are run down, exhausted and feel worse when you are bending down or sitting, better if you walk about. If your symptoms do not improve after a few days, consult a registered qualified homeopath.

Herbal remedies
Herbal remedies which are popularly used to treat backache in non-pregnant patients, such as Devil’s claw, should be used with extreme caution as there is insufficient evidence regarding their safety in pregnancy
(Gagnier et al 2004; Ernst et al 2006).

Source: Baby Centre UK