4th Month: Two (and you) go on Adventure! (Part 1)

By this time, Mommy feel much much better. So your very adventurous Daddy. Decided it's time for us to hit the road for some adventure. Initially we wanted to travel Europe, but knowing you are coming, we decided to keep the money and travel UK instead. We drafted out a plan for 7 days 7 cities Backpacking Holiday.
It was fun to plan and of course more fun when we're on the road.

Dad had to finished his papers (as we are in England for your Dad's Master's Degree) so Mommy got the task to create the itinerary, listed things to do and places of interest to visit including the entry fee and other cost, planned out our food and accommodation and of course means of transportation. Then Daddy and Mommy discussed it and then it's Daddy's turn to use his magic card (bank card) and start doing the reservations etc.

Soon everything is set and we're ready to go. Backpack are packed, Tickets on hand, Money in the wallet, itinerary printed, Lonely Planet book ready, cameras+batteries checked, food packed - next we pray for good weather, safe and fun trip - (and no nausea for Mommy)

Few days before we left Mommy and you had an appointment with our midwife. She assured us that we are both fine and fit for travel. She even said that this will be good for both of us. More walking for pregnant woman is good and healthy. Visiting new place also brings joy. When Mommy is happy you are happy, Daddy is happy too.

We told Jan and Rusty about the plan. Grandma Jan of course always exclaimed in her usual cherry tone, "O "Darling How Lovely!" ... she will continue with, "I'm sure you both will love and enjoy the trip"... and she will always add, "But Darling, do make sure that it's alright for you and peanut to travel. Simon take good care of her".

I hope one day you get to meet Jan and Rusty. They are your British Grandmother and Grandfather... or we call them Grandma Jan and Gruff

The 3rd Month - Begin to feel slightly Better... HALLELUJAH!!!

The first Picture Daddy officially post on Facebook
titled "Helena and The Bump

It's March and we're entering 3rd months or period between 9 - 12 weeks of pregnancy.
By this time, Mommy is fed up with staying in bed, nauseated, vomiting, dizzy and tired. Grandma Jan was really concerned with Mommy's condition so she came down often to check on Mommy while Daddy was in campus. She's such a lovely person. You will fell in love with her the second you met her. I wish one day you got to meet Jan and Rusty. Anyway, The headache was becoming unbearable so Mommy had to go to the doctor. He said it's a bad case of Migrane and it's normal to happen to the 1st Trimester. He advised Mommy not to take any other painkiller except for Paracetamol.

On the second week of the months. Mommy was feeling slightly better and it was Mothering Sunday in UK. We surprised Jan with homemade card with all our pictures. Later Jan and Rusty took us for wonderful walk up to the Longman of Wilmington, High and Over and An old Church in Alfriston. We had a really great time exploring the English country side. It was a blessing. Most tourist, or student or visitors never had this opportunity.

At Long Man of Wilmington

With Jan, Rusty and Jessica the Dog - Background is High and Over view

Very beautiful and old Alfriston Church

It was such an enjoyable walkabout that Mommy forgot about the nausea.... that is... until we're back in the car. well well well....

This month also marked the beginning of feeling better. Appetite is slowly back or Mommy should say, we can keep a little food inside Mommy tummy for sometime. Then one day, Mommy said Mommy would like to eat and would like to eat Indian food. hahahaha.... so Daddy took Mommy to an Indian buffet restaurant and we ate heartily. This is the first time Mommy can eat and actually enjoy the food. jan and Rusty took up the initiatives too and sometimes invite us for dinner over take-away Indian food. really delicious.

You know what? There is one blessing we often neglect... it's blessing to be able to taste, enjoy and digest food well. So Dear God, thank you for the come back of my appetite!

1st Antenatal Appointment

Two days before mommy's birthday, We have gone to our Antenatal Appointment. Mommy was a little over 10 weeks pregnant. According to NHS information,

Antenatal care is the care you receive from healthcare professionals during your pregnancy. You'll be offered a series of appointments with a midwife, or sometimes with a doctor who specialises in pregnancy and birth (an obstetrician).
They will check that you and your baby are well, give you useful information about being pregnant, and answer any questions you may have.

During this appointment, Mommy was assigned to a Midwife whom will be our chief supervising Midwife during pregnancy. She asked Mommy a lot of question to build our Health History. She then gave mommy information on healthy life during pregnancy, estimated time of delivery, information on our rights as pregnant women in UK and some forms to fill. Pregnant Mom also got a hand-held book containing all information plus forms to fill out by the midwife every time we come for an appointment. It's a kind of medical history. We have to carry it with us where ever we go, thus, if ever anything happn to us doctors and medical staff anywhere can easily follow up our conditions from the book. Very thoughtful!

It was a very good session. The Midwife was very kind, patience and reassuring. Appear to be professional but very friendly. Mommy believe we are in a good hand. Daddy was present in the session too.

We got to hear the sound of your heartbeat.

It was the most magnificent sound we have ever heard in our life.

It was the sound of life... growing... and promising. 

Your First On-Screen Appearance!

We couldn't touch, hug or kiss,

but magic moments we didn't miss,

Even oh so tiny as you seemed,

you were already our star of the screen.

We woke up very happy on March 11th 2010. We're going for our first glimpse of you dear!
Your first ultrasound. Mommy was a little over 13 weeks of Pregnancy. As happy as we are, Mommy feels slightly scared. Don't know why? Maybe Mommy is afraid that you will have problems etc. But Praise God! all went very well! We see your head and your body. We can hear your heartbeat too. How beautiful moment that was! Mommy still has tears of joy everytime we remember that day. You are now becoming more real to us.

The nurse and midwife at Royal Sussex Hospital who served us was very kind and helpful. They gave us the copies of your ultrasound to take home. oooh what a Joy! Mommy swear that in one of those pictures you were smiling back at us.

This is the picture that mommy swear you were smiling

Note on 14th February 2010

Mommy' Birthday. This is a memorable time because Mommy already received the best gift of all. You! in Mommy tummy. Mommy is no longer the birthday girl but a Birthday Mommy-to-be. How cool is that?! Very cool indeed. Nothing can beat that. On that day, we thank God for trusting us with the greatest gift and ask God's wisdom and joy for days to come. Two days before this Mommy had gone to our Antenatal Appointment. Stories on the appointment click here

Daddy Surprise Mommy with Breakfast in Bed and some presents, new pants - 2 size bigger of course in preparation for your development. What Daddy didn't know was, we both had gotten him a surprise... ^_^
Despite the nausea and vomiting, you and Mommy had walked to the city center and got daddy his teenage dream... A SKATEBOARD!. Daddy was so surprised and happy to see the gift we hide under the bed. Hahahaha... one thing for sure, daddy had to ride it.

Daddy trying out his skill in Skateboarding. He's a natural!

Coping with Nausea and Morning Sickness

Now here's some tips to relieve the Nausea and Morning Sickness taken from NHS website

Nausea is very common in the early weeks of pregnancy. Some women are sick (vomit) and some have a feeling of sickness without being sick. Some feel sick in the mornings, some at other times, some all day long. The reasons are not fully understood, but hormonal changes in the first three months are probably one of the causes of morning sickness. If you experience nausea, it usually disappears when you're around 12 to 14 weeks pregnant.

Nausea can be one of the most trying problems in early pregnancy. It comes at a time when you may be feeling tired and emotional, and when many people around you may not realise you're pregnant and expect you to be your normal self.

How to avoid nausea and morning sickness

The following tips may help to prevent nausea.

• if you feel sick first thing in the morning, give yourself time to get up slowly - if possible, eat something like dry toast or a plain biscuit
• get plenty of rest and sleep whenever you can, as feeling tired can make the sickness worse
• eat small amounts of food often rather than several large meals, but don’t stop eating
• drink plenty of fluids, such as water
• ask the people close to you for extra support and help 
• distract yourself as much as you can, often the nausea gets worse the more you think about it
• avoid the foods and smells that make you feel worse: it helps if someone else can cook but if this is not possible, go for bland, non-greasy foods, such as baked potatoes, pasta and milk puddings, which are simple to prepare
• wear comfortable clothes: tight waistbands can make you feel worse

Pregnancy 1st and 2nd Month

Right! Let's continue.... Now we're entering 2nd month of pregnancy (week 6, 7, 8). Mommy was looking more and more ugly everyday. ^_^... excessive vomiting and paralyzing headache/migraine is excruciating.

Mommy cannot smell cooked Onion, raw meat and any other still not identified smell. It means Mommy cannot cook. So Daddy had to do his own cooking every night or morning. When he does, Mommy will have to lock the bedroom door, open all windows in the dining room and kitchen and hide under the blanket to make sure, no Onion smell can penetrate mommy's smelling sense. Most of the time it didn;t help. Mommy will just throw up anyway.

As for eating, Mommy will eat very little but often. And it will only be Banana or hot bubur. Sometimes mommy eat daddy's cooking when the smell says alright. Daddy was very good to cook his food and mommy's, clean the house, wash the clothes and then go to Uni and study.

As for raw meat, Mommy then realize how yucky the raw meat smell. Mommy enjoys food dear, also meat. So being off meat came as a surprise. Every time Mom and Dad went for our weekly shopping, Mommy always avoid the meat and seafood section. The smell or wait.... Just the thought of the smell send mommy on vomiting fits.

Around this time, Mommy also like to have Cinnamon Swirl that were sold at Budgen Store near the Station. But this didn;t last long. Soon Mommy associate this taste as vomit as well.

Now, usually pregnant woman will have certain craving or what Indonesian refer as "Ngidam".
Mommy craved for Sambel Kelapa and Ketupat Air. Which is a traditional dish and nowhere in UK we can find the right coconut so that we can make it ourselves. Daddy teased Mommy so much that in one occasion, Mommy cry so hard over the most wanted food. Daddy has the picture in his laptop which Mommy refuse to post here due to the state of ugliness in Mommy's crying face. This is a surprise because Mommy doesn't really like Sambal Kelapa nor Ketupat Air.

Anyway, after we have settled at our new house with Jan and Rusty. We dealt with all the address changing for our health service benefits. Thus, we can proceed with antenatal care and service.

What the Book says about this phase?
By the time you are six to seven weeks pregnant, there is a large bulge where the heart is and a bump for the head because the brain is developing. The heart begins to beat and can be seen beating on an ultrasound scan. Dimples on the side of the head will become the ears, and there are thickenings where the eyes will be. On the body, bumps are forming that will become muscles and bones, and small swellings called limb buds show where the arms and legs are growing. At seven weeks the embryo has grown to about 10mm long from head to bottom. This measurement is called the ‘crown-rump length’.

While you may be feeling ill during 8 weeks pregnant your little bean is thriving! By 8 weeks pregnant the small tail your baby developed in early pregnancy slowly evaporates. In the upcoming weeks your baby will develop eyelids. During pregnancy week eight your babies legs and arms grow longer and longer, helping your baby look more proportional inside your womb. During this time your baby's brain also continues to mature and grow, as nerve cells start connecting or talking to one another. These nerve cells will allow your baby to communicate after birth. 

While 8 weeks pregnant your baby's lungs are also working diligently to mature. It will take a minimum of 36 weeks however for your baby's lungs to develop well enough to allow your baby to breathe comfortably on his own. One of the more serious complications premature infants face is immature lungs. Fortunately modern medicine has afforded doctors many treatments that can help stimulate lung development if mothers experience premature labor. 

"Peanut" Few weeks in Mommy's Tummy

Cold January morning at our small rented room near Brighton Station.
Nice place but not nice landlady

When we found out about you, your were about 4-5 weeks old and growing in Mommy's tummy. Of course Mommy's tummy was not yet big and round. Mommy cannot even feel you moving. One thing that Mommy feel changed is the constant headache, nauseated and vomiting.

Actually the sign of your coming began on New Years 2009-2010. We made Tom Yam Soup for New Year's Dinner. It was one of Mommy's favorite food, but somehow the soup tasted so unbearable that Mommy could only eat small amount of it. Now, if the gestation calculation is right then on New Years you would be slightly over 4 weeks old.

The Tom yam Soup Mom and Dad cook for New Year 2009/2010

What the book says about this stage of pregnancy:
Your baby is still very tiny, roughly 1mm or slightly longer. For those of you that need a visual reference that is roughly about the sizes of a small lentil bean!
In weeks four to five the embryo settles into the womb lining. The outer cells reach out like roots to link with the mother’s blood supply. The inner cells form into two and then later into three layers. Each of these layers will grow to be different parts of the baby’s body. One layer becomes the brain and nervous system, the skin, eyes and ears. Another layer becomes the lungs, stomach and gut. The third layer becomes the heart, blood, muscles and bones.

This is when we decided to call you "Peanut". Because you are lovingly nicknamed as Peanut, then I am "Mak Peanut" (as Autie Novi Hamid called Mommy) and Mommy Peanut from everyone else.

What The book says about Pregnant women at 4 weeks of pregnancy
In the first four weeks of pregnancy you probably won’t notice any symptoms. The first thing most women notice is that their period doesn’t arrive. By 4 weeks pregnant you might start feeling a little bit pregnant. The most common symptom women experience this early in pregnancy (aside from a missed period) is increasing fatigue. That's no surprise given the work your body is performing to create a new life! Other women feel some mild abdominal cramping in early pregnancy while some report increasing breast tenderness. 

As for your Mommy, I didn't feel anything so drastic at that moment. Now if I think back there are sympthom such as Mommy wanted to sleep a lot, a tingle feeling on Mommy's breast and feeling off towards several food such as seafood.

1 week later, (you are 5 weeks old) all the pregnancy sympthom fell on Mommy. The book says,

Some women may began to experience Morning sickness. Other women will start noticing they need to urinate more frequently, while still others will start noticing their breasts are growing (and quite tender). Keep in mind that morning sickness (nausea in early pregnancy) doesn't necessarily happen in the morning. Some women experience morning sickness during their entire pregnancy! Fortunately this is the exception to the rule rather than the norm. 

As for Mommy, our 5th weeks marked the beginning of Mommy's 'friendship' with toilet bowl, sink and a vomit bowl. Yep! What they called as Morning Sickness... actually continue for the entire days and weeks and months. Your daddy was busy studying and Mommy will have to try to be strong and won't caused too much havoc that will disturb your dad's focus. Nevertheless, your Daddy was amazing. He left for University in the morning with his packed lunch. But before that he make sure that mommy has food and water that are easy to reach in case of bad headache and vomit hit.

During this time, Mommy was having terrible time. Mommy cannot keep anything down. Mommy can only survive on Milk, Hot plain Bubur (rice porridge) and bananas. Mommy's headache was so severe that Mommy can only stay in bed. Sometimes when Daddy came home in the afternoon, he still have to mop the floor from Mommy's throwing ups.

Everyone advised Mommy to eat Ginger snaps or ginger biscuits but that didn't work on mommy's case.

What the Book says about baby development on the 5th weeks
During pregnancy week 5 your baby's vital organs are growing at a furious pace. Your baby's heart, central nervous system and even bones and muscles will start forming rapidly from this point on. Right around 5 weeks pregnant your baby also starts forming a skeleton. Keep in mind that every baby grows at her own pace during pregnancy.
Pregnancy week 5 is a critical week for heart development in your baby. The heart begins to separate into different changers and starts pumping blood as early as five weeks of pregnancy. Some transvaginal ultrasounds may be able to pick up a heartbeat as early as 5 weeks pregnant, though this often occurs much later. Much like other organs in your baby's body the heart is formed from multiple layers of cells, in this case cells labeled the mesoderm. Other organs that will also develop from this layer include your baby's cartilage, muscles and bones. 

Aside from feeling crappy all day due to Morning sickness. Mommy and Daddy felt very much blessed. God had prepared everything, perfect on its time. We now live in a wonderful basement house with Jan and Rusty, our landlord who treated us just like their children. They have 1 dog named Jessica, 1 cat named Twinkle and 4 hens.

Our Basement Dwelling at Jan and Rusty's House

When You were just a wish upon a star....

There is a story we'd like you to know:Once upon a time, many moons ago,When you were just a wish upon a star,A twinkle in the sky, oh so far.The thought of you would make us smile,And we would talk of you, all the while.

Dear Tania,

God weaved inside Mommy when your Mommy and Daddy were far away from our family in the country called England or UK (united Kingdom). Mommy was accompanying your Dad whom at that time studied at Sussex University for his Master's Degree. We live in a city called Brighton in the South of England.

You came as a lovely gift from God. We have been talking about having a baby but we don't know when will be the right time for us to be ready to receive you. We have prayed out this and we believe God's time is always the perfect time. God then decided to gave you when were far away in a different country. We were overjoyed when we learned that you have come to us. But we were also scared, because of so many things such as: Can we be a good parents to you? Do we know how to raise you right? Do we have enough money? etc etc... But all that worries are nothing compared to the realization that you are soon to be born to us.

Daddy held Mommy the minute that we know Mommy is pregnant with you and we prayed. You are a gift, our little bundle of joy from God. We know we have loved you right then and will always love you.

The Day We know You are Coming

It was January 7th, 2010.
Mommy was not feeling well for the last few weeks. Headache, dizzy spells and no appetite.
Daddy jokingly told Mommy to go and check if something is wrong and that minute we found out that Mommy is pregnant. Unlike anything on romantic movies or soap opera where the man will lift up the woman and then sweet music plays in the background etc... Your Mom and Dad were in emotional cocktail.
We were so overjoyed, confused and couldn't believe it...
We sat down and hugged each other for a long time.
It felt Sureal... SUREAL!

The next day, we did another test and still it was positive. We are now sure... that our little baby is coming.

On January 9th, we phoned to Ambon to let both Grandmas and Granpas know about your coming.
This is a much too good news for us to keep especially when we were far away in foreign land.
Everyone was excited.

Your coming is so perfectly planned by God. God prepared everything that we need prior to your coming.
A new accomodation, a house, with a very nice landlord who treated us like their own family. Jan and Rusty have also loved you ever since we told them on Jan 10th.

From then on... our life changed. You are the conter of our thoughts and joy. We talked about you. Dream about you and pray for you. -