STOMACH CRAMPS :(

Wow! I’ve had a long attack of the cramps (1/2 hour) just when I was picking up our laundry from downstairs. The people in this condominium block was so nice to show concerned (the lady who tooked care of the minimart asked after me,  seeing me leaning over my laundry basket in pain and the nice security man helped carry my load all the way to our apartment!). They advice me not carry too heavy a load especially during pregnancy.

Pity I can’t tell tell them in thai that its a norm and stomach cramps happens when you lease expect it to. Though saying thanx profusely to them for helping won’t do such a good job as actually talking to them, I consoled myself that I nodded my head, said a lot of yesses and thank yous;)

Well, I guess I now know what to ask doc for my next visit – it’s how to avoid stomach cramps!!!

IT’S CONFIRMED!!! IT’S A BABY GIRL….

Yep! Doc Supa called around 1.30pm yesterday, 23rd June 2008 and confirmed that you are a healthy baby girl! Immediately daddy plans to ask his colleagues to help him find a cute thai middle name. Mummy’s only condition is that it must be a cute name so you won’t resent us once you grow up;)

I’ve gained about 8 kilos now and was told by visiting Aunty Ina that I would need to control my diet now so not to be too big (at least not more than 20 kilos). Baby should be around 1.43kg and the lenght of a carrot! If anybody wanna see a graphic of how baby looks like please click here . No wonder I no longer need the support of a wedge cushion coz my stomach is big enough to rest comfortably on the mattress during sleeping.

Other than a few aches around the navel area and painful pressure in the stomach I think I am doing well for the pregnancy. I have minimum problem with swelling around the joints especially after long, long walks (which i did while exploring villages in Hanoi, Vietnam last week) and no more CTS! Phew! That was a painful phase.

Dumneon Saduak Floating Market – 1.06.08

From Kanchanaburi, we got into a rented van for 1300bht to take a 2 hours ride to Dumnoen Saduak District, Ratchaburi Province (105km West of Bangkok). We stayed at Ban Suk Chok Resort at Thambon Tha Nat, tel: 03 225 4892.

We rented a 3 bedroom cabin for 1000bht. Do not expect a clean and new surroundings because it is not but still it is comfortable enough for a nite sleep.

That afternoon we went to Talat Nam Amphawa – a 2 hours hired boat trip from the resort at 1500bht return trip. It rained when we were walking in the market but I appeased my cravings for thai sweets with buying a lot of the coconut sauced goodies, cookies and sweet rice crackers. I’ve wrote about the market here also.

The next day, a Sunday again we took a 15 minutes boat ride and this time its to the largest floating market in Thailand – Dumneon Saduak Floating market. I was dissapointed with the fares available at this market because they are mostly souvenirs and light food & beverages. I only bought jackfruit & pomelo for the trip back to Bangkok and nothing else.

Mobility After the 5th Month

One day I was getting off the sofa and suddenly I realised that I do not have to struggle to get up and my belly seems a bit lighter. At first I was worried but feeling the baby kicking inside me I guess it means my body have finally accepted the extra weight and adjusted.

So pregnant woman out there, be assured! It’s not forever…..;)

Pregnancy Food

Living away from home makes a pregnant woman accutely aware of parents cooking especially Dad’s homemade anchovies with tamarind paste, onions and large chilies…..yum!!!!

Thank goodness Thailand have their own food that can at least appease me for now. Rice crackers with honey on top.  It’s bland but a bit of sweet help with the food-with-no-smell problem and do not have aftertaste which a pregnant woman avoids at all costs.

Of course peanut butter & strawberry jam helped with my late nite snacks attack and chrysanthenum tea sometime helps disguise the metalic taste of water.

Kimchi Stew Soup is very good for the cravings of spicy tangy taste but I can only consumed it after my 4th month due to the garlic base in the soup. 

BABY AT 19 WEEK – 3.06.08

My baby’s 19th weeks pictures. We can see the spine but due to baby being very active, our doctor can’t tell the gender so we have to wait for the Anmiocentesis results to come out within 2 to 3 weeks. But we saw the baby’s 4 perfect chambered heart, its active kicking limbs and her 2 palms near her face…..

I had the Amniocentesis done to check for any abnormalities since I am above 35 of age and the risk of such complications are higher for my age group. The procedure involve a long needle injected into my placenta and withdraw a certain amount of fluids to be analysed.  The results should give an accurate chromosome reading whether the baby is ok and its gender.

That day was also the first day I finally felt the Quickening (baby’s kicking and punching) in my tummy. It was a ticklish experience and I actually laughed out loud from the sensations. Both hubby & taxi driver must think that there’s something wrong with me on the ride home.

JUMP – Comic Martial Arts Performance in Bangkok

Yes! We are booked for the 21st June 2008 show in Royal Paragon Hall, Siam Paragon, Bangkok.
I had so wanted to see Jump during my trip to Korea and I can’t believe it that I finally get to see it here in Bangkok! The show starts from 18-22 June 2008 and if anyone wants to see them please visit www.thaiticketmajor.com for more info.
Here’s an article about ‘Jump’ by Bangkok Post out on June 6th, Friday.

Thai Cooking Class at Kanchanaburi – 30.05.08!

We had another chance to go to Kanchanaburi, about 2 hours south of Thailand where it is famous for its River Kwai and Tiger Temple. Catch a bus at the Southern Bus Teminal in Bangkok and a one way ticket is around 105bht per person.
Upon reaching at our guesthouse (Ploy Guesthouse – a stylish tropical retreat at 79/2 Maenam Kwai Rd, Kanchanaburi Province, Tel: (034) 515 804), we decided to go for a cooking class which is around 750bht per person and it includes a trip to the local market and learn how to cook 3 traditional Thai dishes (green curry, phanaeng & pad thai) instead of visitng the temples again.
In this class we learnt that and more! Chef Mickey was such an entertaining host that we all enjoyed ourselves enormously.

PS: I’ve tried cooking tom yum goong, green curry & pad thai at home and let me tell you the lessons really worked in terms of self confidence and measurements! I made a mean tom yum & green curry! Though I might have to get more practice on the pad thai coz hubby thought mine was too sweet….;)