My Lady of the Lantern

Non-Darn: Met Dr. BS yesterday for a regular appointment. Everything appears normal. Kaiser was in a head-down position. My BP was singing tra-la-la at 120/80 which is pretty good. I was 32w5d by LMP, and Kaiser was 34w3d by the average U/s Gestational Age( I-am-in-love-with-the-doc's-ultrasound-machine ). Kaiser weighed 2032 gms (2 kgs), and that is a good thing too. I got egged for not doing very good on the have-small-meals-frequently thing. We saw a loose cord around the neck y'day in the ultrasound, and I was told that it is not a big deal because it can wind and unwind/slip-off. I told Dr. BS about the fact that I would be going to City X for my delivery. I was feeling a bit guilty in telling her this, but thank God, she took it very nicely. She has offered me all help in case I need any medical aid before I reach City X. I promised her that once I come back, I will bring Kaiser to meet her. Darn: So I had in mind two boy names and one girl name for quite a fixated while...

Have you cooed cheer at Clare's news? Or am I the absolute last one to know? Go on and cheer in case you have not and make me feel less bad, please? The nut of this post is that I met Dr. BS yesterday and had a quick peek at Kaiser as well. Everything is fine and well. I was 30 weeks 2 days yesterday, but Kaiser being the show-off (in Kakunaa's words) was 31 weeks. One thing, I can now discontinue the aspirin I was taking. Secondly, there is not much that can be done about the pain that I am experiencing. I have my own tricks - partly taken from Dr. Google. For one, keeping knees together while moving on the bed helps. Second, the first time I hit the bed, I tend to not fallback on my back but sleep sideways. And flinch whenever it hurts. It helps to flinch. :-) ^WiseGuy^

A girl I knew in school sent in a friend request to me on FB. I would have referred to her as a friend if I had been writing on my blog when I was 18, which I am not. We moved within the same group in school. We parted ways in college and we did meet each other in a common friend's engagement. She was married by then, and awkwardly enough gave me the 'I did not see you' treatment in the party. She just ignored me and I did not bother to go speak to her. That was years ago. News/Gossip in tiny bits kept trickling in through the years to me about what she was upto. And she was one of the few women I quoted as example to God to please give me a fertility break once and for all. When I was (which I was till very recently) wondering about my malfunctioning apparatus, she was one of the people that I would think about how they could take it so easy and get away. She was one of my cases as example that I pleaded with, when I negotiated with God. It was not so much as a negotiatio...

I am a bozo...I will let you know why very soon...in fact as soon as you hit the last part of this post...for which you are forbidden to skip the middle part and go straight to the last part, because in the middle part I haz not been styupid, and I have been styupid per se, but it is only described in the last part, so you first read what follows here and then go to the last, rather than going straight to the last. (Why do I feel like you are staring in pain at your monitor?) Okay, you haz to read this part first. This part and much of the rest of the post comes from yesterday evening when I went to meet Dr. BS and see Kaiser for good measure. *** BP is down to 120/80. Hurray! *** Kaiser was lying transverse. *** It seems my placenta has moved down. *** In my quest for movement pattern , Kaiser still flummoxes me. If I had written this on Wednesday, I would have said that Kaiser 'sleeps' when I wake up in the morning, coz there is nothing I feel for a good half hour after I am ...

Oya, I have more to add on what I am experiencing. First one is scratching ... I went scratch scratch scratch the skin around my belly-button, boobsies, and I wondered what was up. Google did not really help me coz it listed some scary c-ailment that has scratching and rashes as a major symptoms. I needed to moisturize better...that's what I learnt the hard way. Previously, I would do it once in the morning...but now I massage olive oil lightly in my skin pre-bath and moisturize twice a day. No more finger-fighting with the skin! And holla, my right ankle acted horribly a couple of days back, and y'day again! I was able to identify why...if I slept/lay down too much on my right side, apparently the right ankle, and the thigh go painful...and it's not the romantic painful. My right thigh is dough, the left one is plaster, I suppose. And coz it is good time for it, here is my 19w5d belly shot . Take Care! ^WiseGuy^ P.S. I have added a poll for your voting pleasure on the side...

Nopes this post has got nothing to do with the expletives-riddled TV show of the same name. First of all, a belated update on how Thursday (17w4d, officially) went for me. My doc was leaving for a conference the next day and she had a jam-packed waiting room. Even though I made it on time, I had eight patients waiting before me. I was nervous and the waiting was a little bit hard. Anyways, I had my turn and I was asked to lie down on the get-ready-for-an-ultrasound lovebed. Few things from the ultrasound: - Kaiser was doing well. Baby was again lying east-west, but h/she faced upwards. He/She kept his/her legs straight till Dr. BS poked him/her gently. He/She kicked back with both his/her legs. I had to see the movement. I was all lumps before that. - The heart rate was 158 bpm. Baby weighed 187 gms. - The liquor looked better. The report says: Adequate Amniotic Fluid. - Kaiser measured 17w5d. Also, my BP was down to 125/80 which is my best reading so far in the pregnancy. I have to ke...

Just want to lighten my mood a bit here. This is just a quick list of what I feel these days: Hair: I haz dem. They are falling off my head, but flourishing at other places...like my stomach. I also have a linea negra . Skin: Well, an oil factory would be an overstatement, especially since the output seems to have diminished recently. However around my belly, skin seems a bit dry in certain areas...such as around the navel and a little band over the pubic area. Strategy: Area-specific moisturization. Cravings: I have nothing specific actually. I like white bread, and rice. Between salty and sweet, I seem to be hovering equally on both the types. Sleep: Well, when I lie flat on my back, that one point at the tail-end seems to carry all the tension. Turning sides helps. I have been told to prefer the left side, but I like to turn to my right initially. And oh, here is a 16w5d belly shot. Take Care, ^WiseGuy^ P.S. Dear Kaiser, I want you to be doing great, whatever it may be that is ...

We met Dr. BS today in the forenoon. She had an emergency last night and was unavailable for the appointment y'day. The meeting started normally. (normal normal normal grrrrr....) The nurse took my BP and it was 130/80. Dr. BS came in and the ultrasound began. The baby seemed to be lying face down east-west direction. If anything, it was that Kaiser was moving both his arms and legs continuously and it was amazing. The doc took the measurements again and Kaiser was 17 wk something, which I did not hear properly. In her chamber she started with a line: "The liquor is on the lower side." I wondered where liquor came to be in my system. Well no surprises if there was no vodka around anywhere. My inner funny bone did not crack much butt coz when I clarified I understood that she meant amniotic fluid . I also got my first Tetanus Toxoid injection today. Added to my prescription are Arginine granules and more rest. See you in a week again, Kaiser. Those waters better have rise...

I finally did manage to take belly pics last evening. Here is a glorious 13wk5d shot for your viewing pleasure. And since I don't want to end the post in just two lines, I just wanted to add that my BP dropped to 130/80 in the last trip to Dr. BS. ^WiseGuy^

Went in for a check-up on Wednesday night. It went well. Mummy was with me. We had an ultrasound. Kaiser has me confused. The blog ticker bombed-tick-tocked at 13wk3days but Kaiser was measuring 14wk2days. As usual, I will keep holding to the conservative figure. This trip of Mummy was also subject to discussion on where I would finally want to have my delivery. Still very fluid on that. I have not been able to take a pic of the belly, and I will perhaps do it in a couple of days. You guys be good. ^WiseGuy^

Dear Kaiser, You seem to be doing so good. I am somewhere between 11 and weeks pregnant with you. We saw you on July 26, and you were measuring 3 days ahead! I think it was watching you flail and flap your arms that really got to me. Tears slid off my cheeks. I like the nurse in the hospital. She noticed my tears. It makes so much difference, Kaiser. People can be so kind in their silent understanding too. Last week, your Papa wished you 'Good Night' one night, and kissed my belly too another night. I have to tell you, I just could not control my laughter on the latter because it feel so weird. I call you Kaiser, but between me and Papa, we call you Baku. It was a name we picked from a movie we saw - 10,000 B.C. Nothing too impressive about the movie per se, but there were two kids in the movie, Baku and Tudu, and we simultaneously swooped up Baku. I was acting you out Monday night. Just like the way I saw you on the ultrasound screen. My food tastes have changed monumentally. ...

Before anything, I really want to appreciate the lovely and wisdom filled comments you left me on my previous post. They brought me insight and I feel better about having spelt it out. --- Last evening was my fortnightly appointment with Dr. BS. Chronologically, I was 11wk1d yesterday. Kaiser measured 11wk4d!!! I am really exasperated with keeping all the numbers intact really....everything still seems to be very fluid. But I loved my little champ for this. Kaiser was flapping his hands and legs. I was amazed to see the growth spurt...from the tiny being that I saw last, Kaiser now resembled more like an actual baby. And I told myself that this was my uterus that was being visualized. I was watching...my baby! I have planned to keep my calculations as per the chronological details only. My prescription got modified a bit and the drugs I am taking will change from 6th August. One thing, the baby aspirin will continue till my eighth month. My BP measured 140/84...slightly higher than usu...

I don't really have an elaborate tale about why the ban on New Moon nights. It is explained thus: New Moon nights are especially potent for Tantric practices and Black Magic. I know that there is nobody on this planet sticking needles into a lemon or tiny doll in my name, but apparently lot of things are attempted on such nights. That is the source of the ban. MIL dear is just being super-extra-frills-added-cautious. Here's my strategy - Won't go out if it I can help it. Will go out and not tell my ILs about my trip. I want to be comfortable in my skin. I want to do things that appear okay to me. I don't want to just acquiesce because somebody else has some prejudices. So, I will follow the line till I can, and then, well you know me. --- On a different note, here is my 9w5d belly . (I am not quite adept yet at taking pics of my belly. I will improve.) You are not permitted to comment on the clutter in the background. :-) I would be 10 weeks tomorrow! 10 weeks!!! ^WiseG...

Dear Baby Kaiser, The ticker tells me that I am 9wk0d today. I would be hopefully seeing Dr. BS tomorrow so that I can see you once again. I think the bump is starting to appear. You know your momma is not flat-tummied anyways, so she can't really make out if it is your presence or just her old bloated belly showing through right now. I tend to sleep lot lesser in the afternoon, but I make sure that I do lie down for about 10-15 minutes after I come back home from the office. Hope you appreciate that. :-) Your Dadi called me the past week to ask me how you were doing...and how well I was coping. Was so glad to tell her, "All is well". I started having almonds from July 7 (Wednesday). I had soaked four on Tuesday night. Your dad cleaned his hands on two. Yep! Anyways, next day onwards, I started soaking more because you know...bleh! With the way my food cravings have shifted gear, I am yet to decide what you really like. Or anything that I want to eat in particular now get...

Kaiser! Yeps, finally did get to see my doc last night. Baby was measuring 6 weeks,1 day...and I am just too glad about it. So here's the rehashing...my life would change every Tuesday Sunday, as I make it from week to week into this pregnancy. Birdman was there. We got a pic of the ultrasound and he asked me about the contents of the picture....he was walked through the uterus, the sac and precious being developing inside. So we have this one perfect baby going super strong...and I pray to meet the little one in February 2011, safe and healthy in my arms. That would be so good really. ---- Rant ahead... Yeah, I told you about Dr. M right? The assistant to Dr. BS? Well everybody has to go through Dr. M, and then only Dr. BS would see the patient. Last night I was very hopeful of getting that ultrasound from Dr. BS, and was not very happy when I was made to sit in front of Dr. M. Two things really snap-cracked me : a) She told me, 'Let's see you .' I froze, because if I...

Today I am on the threshold of a new week....and I just look at how close I am getting to those highlighted milestones ( have marked dates on a calendar )...12 weeks is far off, 28 weeks is even more away...and yet every passing date is such a blessing. My symptoms are fluid. My nausea has ceased. Thankfully my boobs and pee-circus still remind me hugely about my present condition.... I also tend to have this dull bitter taste in my mouth, and I appreciate it whole-heartedly. I have my appointment scheduled tonight...and I am pretty excited about the prospect of seeing the gestational sac....I hope and pray that I do see it... I am taking every step with a lot of caution, and I have still not allowed myself unbridled joy over this. I want to be reassured. To this and beyond!! ^WiseGuy^

A tingling sensation coursed my veins when I typed the title of the post...how does it feel to actually say it, to type it, to think it, to be it? Anyways, I have my list of good blood tests coming up. I have taken half day leave for Friday, and a full day off for Saturday, and I will do the needful then. I would be ready with the reports when I get to my next appointment with Dr. BS. I had some heavy invigilation duty imminent on Sunday, and the only way I could duck it would be the Saturday off. I want to duck it. I have done my share of those in the past, and would not want to indulge in it right now. I can probably get excused by revealing, but I don't want to reveal yet. And oh, a colleagueriend(colleague+friend) knows. I told her. I would not feel very bottled up now, and she is 'leak-safe'. My life would turn a page every Tuesday, and I hope hope hope to be all good to read through each of it. -- Birdman came home today morning. I had put in two paper slips, one over...