Gastro-esophageal reflux and heartburn in pregnancy

You will be one of the lucky few if you didn't have gastro-esophageal reflux (GER) and heartburn during pregnancy.  Trust me it ain't pretty.  You go and complaint to the doctor and doctor said, well, woman, you just have to deal with it :( .  If I understand correctly, both happens due to the hormonal changes during pregnancy.  When you are pregnant, your stomach becomes more acidic.  Yeah, something like that.  I ain't no doctor guys!  For medical explanation you should seriously consult your doctor, not me bahahaha.

I had GER and reflux during both pregnancies.  Yes, both pregnancies.  I was pregnant twice.  3 kids, 2 pregnancies shukran Ya Allah.  It was horrible.  It got worst for me when I entered the third trimester.  Imagine with the never-ending morning sickness - 20 weeks with my first and 31 weeks with the second of morning sickness - the all else looks yucky moment, trust me the GER and reflux didn't make it any better.  It overshadowed the excitement of welcoming a baby in your tummy :(   

How about if you can manage these two culprits that make your life miserable during pregnancy?  Wow, now there's an over-the-counter remedies for GER and heartburn, can you believe that?  I am not denying natural remedies, but hey, if there is also a quick over-the-counter remedies, then why not?  It is safe for the preggers, affordable, and hey, when you're sick you're just willing to try anything right. 

Let's explore how you can manage the GER and reflux in pregnancy,

 

You can explore more about managing your GER and reflux on Gaviscon's Malaysia website.  Good luck managing those culprits so that you can enjoy carrying the baby(babies) in your tummy. 

*A friendly reminder here, mommies and mommies-to-be, please do remember to consult your doctor before taking any medicine. 

Baby Bump?

You have no idea how many people had come up to me asking if I was pregnant.  Those who knew I was pregnant with the twins included.  I was even offered a seat in the train once when I came back from maternity leave.

Sumpah.... this ain't no baby bump, people. My post maternity belly was this bad this time around.   I didn't lose much weight this time.  I don't actually mind that much but people are making such a big fuss out if it, I wonder if they even have the rights to.

It has been ALMOST 9 months, the post maternity belly is still here.  Tapi, I am just going to hold on to what the doctor's told me.  1) my belly expanded twice as much this time.  It will take probably twice as long to rid of the belly.  If you didn't have twins, you probably wouldn't know. 2) in a normal single pregnancy,  it takes 2 years for your womb to heal.  Untuk rahim properly kecut lah katanya.  The doctor said with twins, I should be looking at 4 years.   The truth in this, I am not sure myself hahahaa.  But I am holding on to it so that's a good sign right.  I wonder if it will take me 4 years to properly lose that post maternity belly.  What the heck if it does because I would probably be having another child, then. 

So women, if you are like me, understand that if it takes you 9 months to carry a child and grow that belly, it will take that long or longer to lose it too.  It ain't no baloon that flattened once it pops.  Chill, ok.  Be grateful you had the opportunity to be fat.  Some weren't as lucky.  But it doesn't mean we should just let it be.  Lets work on this together and ignore the nasty comments :). 

Having a baby us great.  Post maternity belly, is errrrr nit great but what the heck.  Count your blessings.

GBS..errr G what???

"Group B streptococcus, or GBS, also known as group B strep, is one of many different bacteria that normally live in our bodies. Approximately one third of us "carry" GBS in our intestines without knowing." Source: www.babycenter.com.my on Group B Stretococcus.

P/S: Boleh lah baca pasal GBS ni kat link atas tu ek... I am not a doctor so I dare not write about it. 

I swear never in my life have I heard of such bacteria, let alone know that such bacteria had lived in my body!  Yes, no joke, for info I was informed that this bacteria was the reason I had delivered my babies premature.  Sedih, kan.  To know that you are the cause, the cause for them to suffer, put their lives on the line.  Which mother (yes, which, except those yang suka buang- buang anak), wants their children to be sick, unhealthy. 

 

Nevertheless, Alhamdulillah, both babies are now safe and sound.  They are also free from GBS.  Yes, GBS could infect your baby too, I heard causing your baby to be paralysed.  According to the pediatrician yang treat my twins tu, they had given them antibiotics and my babies were free from the bacteria. 

 

I have yet to schedule an appointment with my gynae to discuss further on the bacteria.  Life is too hectic now, what with the twins who got sick from pneumonia, rota virus, anemia and fever, then the arrangement to stay in Kampung for a while, and the weekend visit, my working in Seremban for a few weeks, macam- macam lagi ler (excuses) kekekeke.  Nanti kena pergi jugak, promise!  Though I have already spoken to the Medical Officer from Hosp. Serdang, and she told me that this GBS can't be treated, and I need to be on antibiotic for my next pregnancy as a precaution.  Kalau tak, hemm, tulah.  Boleh cause miscarriage or early delivery, such as the case of the twins, deliver masa 31 weeks. 

 

Macamana boleh detect ada GBS?  Right after labour, the gynae dekat Serdang came to see me.  She asked me if I felt anything different within a week nak bersalin tu.  I told her, that ada sikit rasa sakit nak buang air and dekat lower abdomen.  She asked why I didn't get myself checked up, and I went silent.  What I didn't tell her was, that, I had felt as if something was wrong during my pregnancy all the time, complaint about the pain too many times, got myself checked too many times, but all that they had ever told me was - 'there is nothing wrong with you, biasa lah tu bila mengandung memang macam tu!'  Masa pregnant kan twins, ya Allah, pain sana sini, I had green discharge, macam- macam lah.  Semua test negative, both private and government.  Belum masuk kena maki hamun kat Klinik Kesihatan Batu 9 lagi, by this doctor perempuan yang bermuka ketat yang bila tanya what is wrong with you, you must give her stratight answer, jangan bagi details.  I assume that this was because they had tested for the wrong bacteria!  Fools.   

 

Ohhh back to the how Serdang found out I had GBS (thank you doctors and nurses at Serdang, you had been nothing but wonderful to us), they took vaginal swab after I gave birth.  After the third day, the doctor informed GBS was the cause for my premature delivery.

 

Anyway, yang sudah tu sudah.  It was something that made me re-think my choices, to have more children in the future, because it was what I wanted - to have a big beautiful family like where I came from.  I was raised in big, chaotic family, have great relationship with my siblings, mashaAllah, how can I not want the same thing now, kan???  Tapi, agaknya kalau keadaan ni membahayakan nyawa dan masa depan anak, haruslah difikirkan kembali.  It is something that I will need to discuss with my gynae later on, whether it is safe to have more children, whether antibiotic will really make a difference.

 

Till then, kena lah hargai saat- saat indah bersama tiga anak sedia ada :-)

Names

Ok its that fun part of pregnancy again!  Figuring out names for your loved one!  This was my post when deciding to name my first princess, http://diana-am.blogspot.com/2010/06/it-is-time-to-name-my-little-princess.html. 

 

I have actually reserved some names for both boys and girls during my early pregnancy.  However now that I know both of them are girls, let's just share the girls names, yeah? 

 

Ohh but before that Mr Hubby decided to keep the name 'Amani' so yeah this time the girls are going to have two names too... How I wish they don't but well let's keep both of us happy ya?

 

So here goes, my shortlisted names for now :-)

 

Ariana Amani (Very Holy/ Wishes,Aspirations, Hope)

Adrina Amani (Happines/ Wishes,Aspirations, Hope)

Aerilyn Amani (Beautiful Air/ Wishes,Aspirations, Hope)

Wafa Thahirah (Loyalty/Holy)

Tasnim Amani (The waterfall in paradise/Wishes,Aspirations, Hope)

Zaynah Amani (beautiful, beauty/ Wishes,Aspirations, Hope)

Zehra Amani (Flower, bright/ Wishes,Aspirations, Hope)

So which two names do you like most?  For now both of us are going for Ariana Amani and Aerilyn Amani.  That might change later, depends.  I know hubby loves the name Zehra Amani too but we've decided to go for the letter A, just like our eldest princess Ayesha Amani. 

My baby bump 20 weeks...

Dah pun masuk 20 weekss, yeay.  Baru lah teringat nak ambik gambar hehehe.

 

One thing yang aku perasan, pregnancy kali ni perut ada shape sikit.  Dulu masa preggy with my first, aku memang mengembang ketepi yang lebih.  This one rasa lah macam perut lawo sikit.  Though not much hahaahah :p

Anyway....... can't wait to give birth to my two lovelies!  Tak sabar nak sambut dua permata ni hemmm. 

My Twins at 16 Weeks ++

Berikut latest ultrasound... Alhamdulillah according to the doctor, both are fine.  Tapi masa scan tu, the other one tak jelas sangat lah... Sebab mendongak kata doctor.  Nampak kepala sket, pastu nampak la kejap anggota badan then pastu hilang. 

 

InshaAllah semuanya akan OK.  Doctor did say that we should pray dielakkan dari premature birth.  If both of them gained 2kg+ and above 34 weeks everything should be fine.  Cuma doctor concern yang berat aku cuma bertambah 500 grams.  For someone carrying twins, to her, those wight isn't much.  Tapi bila tengok berat baby OK, doctor was slightly relieved.  Cuma I was advised to eat properly. 

 

The left twin, weighing 166g (6oz)

The right twin, weighing 155g (5 oz)

Berat diorang beza dalam 1 oz gitu.  Memang doctor panggil left and right, tapi according to her sorang atas sorang bawah lah hehehe.  Susah benooooo aku nak paham tengok ultrasound ni. 

 

Soklan memula tanye masa nak buat ultrasound ni, 'Doc, dah nampak jantina belom?'.  Ngehehehe.  Dah sah- sah la doctor tu gelakkan aku.  Too early lah nak nampak jantina. 

 

Anyway, may all be OK.  That is all I hoped for, now.  Preparation is besides the point. 

 

P/S: Daddy bengang tak dapat tengok sepenuhnye sebab anakanda puteri kesayangan kami berlari- lari dalam bilik doc, sambil tanya, 'Tu capa? Tu capa? (Tu siapa.. tu siapa). 

Mengantuk

OK seriously kena admit yang aku memang dah laaama tak berjaga macam ni.  Dah preggy for how long?  15 weeks kot kan?  So lebih kurang gitu jugak la kelamaan tidak berstay up...





(Photo courtesy of Michelle Meiklejohn/ Freedigitalphotos.net)



 

Tengok Koala tu pon ngantuk ZzzzZZZzzzz.  Malam tadi sebab desakan kerja.  Tapi kalau tidak pun sebab desakan kerja, dua tiga hari ni memang susah nak tido.  Ermmm the truth is, aku tengah alami menda yang sama aku alami masa mengandungkan anak pertama dulu.  Masuk jerrr second trimester, masalah tak selesa tido pon bermula.   

Belakang dah mula berdenyut- denyut.  Pusing kiri salah.  Pusing kanan pun salah.  

Kaki cramp.  Especially belah kiri.

Kepala sakit, ouch ouch ouch.

Nak terkencing almost every hourly lah.

Mengantuk tapi simply tak leh lelap?  

Rasa kelaparan yang amattttt sangat mengganggu perasaan nak tido.

Ni memang antara benda- benda yang aku alami dulu.  Paling aku tak tahan part sakit belakang dengan cramp tu ler.  Mak aiiiiii terjerit- jerit aku dulu sampai Mr Ah Bob tanye, 'naaaape yang nak beranak ke? nak beranak ke?'  At 6 months... Yang tu, tido bantal banyak kat kaki pon doesn't help.  Minyak panas pon doesn't help.  Resting pon doesn't help.  Doc cakap maybe awak ni kurang calcium kottt.  

So agenda tengahari ni bukan mencari makan, tapi mencari napsu tido.  Tido kol 5:30 am this morning didn't help.  Woke up for Subuh just to realised I was sleeping on my tummy, aduhhh cramp rasa.  Kecian baby kena himpit dengan Mommy gomoksss hehehe.  

and to sleep I go...

Anak - anak Twin Mommy...

Semalam pergi check up kat Columbia Asia kat Cheras nun, sebab baru discover diorang ada jugak night clinic every Wednesday, dan juga clinic pada hari Sabtu.  Memang tak menyesal lah buat keputusan nak check up dengan Dr Norshida Brahim, instead of Dr Anita Rina KPMC.  Check up nya thorough.  Dr Norshida Brahim ni orang nye teliti, lemah lembut, sopan santun, peramah, dan explain macam- macam kat kita.  Tujuan pergi semalam memang nak try doctor ni, if likeable nak continue check up kat sini sampai ada cuti (next year) untuk pergi check up government.  Lagi satu untuk dapatkan second opinion, kalau tengok post yang sebelum ni kat sini tentang anak twin Mommy tu....

So kesimpulan nye memang betul lah Mommy carrying twins, Alhamdulillah.  Tengok gambar kat bawah ni... gambar bawah anak pertama, kepala dia at bawah.  Menurut doctor, dia akan keluar dulu masa bersalin.  Twin ke dua pulak, kepala dia kat atas... ini anak ke dua. 

Gambar anak- anak...

So bila cakap pasal siapa keluar dulu, my question would be hemmmm will I be able to do vaginal delivery?  Dah tanya Dr Norshida, she said that kalau private practice, dengan dia memang takleh bersalin normal, dia tak buat.  The reason being, even if both Mom and anak-2 are fit to deliver normally, perlu 2 orang doctor untuk sambut.  Kat Columbia Asia ni cuma ada 2 org OBGYN jer... so that left her alone lah to deliver my babies.  Sucks, kan.  So takpelah yang itu kita work out nanti yer. 

Anyway, based on semalam Alhamdulillah both of them are healthy, measurement wise memang sesuai dengan age.  Tapi that is if there is only one of them.  Since ada dua, ada possibility akan keluar awal sebab besar. 

Placenta (uri) pula berasingan.  Kalau berasingan means, non- identical atau fraternal twins lah.  Jantina bolegh jadi berlainan sebab non- identical.  Kalau identical tu akan sama jantina.  Perwatakan, minat dan sebagainya juga adalah berbeza for fraternal twins ni.  Fraternal twins ni terjadi oleh dua sperm dan dua telur berasingan yang bersenyawa.  Risk- wise, separate placenta ni kurang risk komplikasi nye.  Contoh thing that could happen when they share placenta is the sizes of the foetus could be significantly different (1 big and 1 small).  Nanti 1 day maybe I will post more details about identical and non- identical twins ni.  Existing research and posts dah banyak sebenarnya cuma kena banyak google dan membaca. 

Apa pun doakan hopefully all will be all right.  I have so much to think about when it comes to two of them.  Such as kalau c-sec nanti lambat recover kesian kat 3 orang anak- anak Mommy, will they be able to grow healthily, dan sebagainya.  But that's again is up to Him right.  Doa je banyak- banyak.

Pregnancy pillow...

Disebabkan masalah tak selesa tido, rasa macam nak belione of these... tapi boleh guarantee yang kalau Mommy beli, kena berebut dengan Ayesha Amani hehehe.  Takpun, jadi macam one of those barang yang aku beli kemudian abaikan sebab tak praktikal... Huh

Source: Mr Google

Source: Mr Google

The never ending sickness...

Yes, that's what it feels like at the moment, and no, I am not complaining.  In fact, I am far from complaining.  Let's be thankful that I am able to experience the morning sickness for a good reason.  In fact two, good reasons InshaAllah.

However I am not as strong as I seem to be lar... Kat office boleh lagi nak keraskan muka buat macam takde apa- apa.  Balik rumah sebab ada tempat bermanja mula la. Ehek sana, ehek sini.  

Especially bila harini dah berkali- kali mengadap lubang tandas.  Ohhh bila sebut toilet bowl, teringat aksi anak dara saya meniru aksi- aksi muntah saya di toilet bowl.  Uwekk uwekkk kata beliau.  Caught red- handed by Daddy.  LOL.  Funny, that she is mocking me.  Not funny that Mommy is really really sick, honey.  OK but I didn't fail to laugh at her jokes.  

Anyway, the morning sickess takde tanda- tanda nak mengurang lagi.  Though from diet point of view, dah boleh sikit- sikit makan seafood like kerang and prawns.  No red meat or chicken or fish yet.  Mostly veges (spinach only la for now).  I can eat rice already, yes so that's new.  No more bread-only diet.  Am glad that I could eat, little by little, for my babies sake :-).  Still not much of water intake, pressure is still low sometimes.  I try to drink juices as advised by my Obgyn, but I am a bit scared that I might turn diabetic.  I am also already showing signs of oedema. 

May it all be easier soon, I want to start enjoying this pregnancy :-) 

Makan Supplement Masa Pregnant

Bila pregnant ni, kita orang Melayu terutama selalu terpedaya dengan mitos- mitos berkenaan dengan supplement provided by our O&G specialist.  Takyah tengok jauh, mak mertua dengan mak aku sendiri orang paling utama percaya dengan mitos ni.  Kalau makan anak jadi besarlah, ape lah.  Kalau iye pon anak besar, tak happy ke anak membesar dengan sihat?  Kita lagi redha badan kita je gemuk, anak keluar tak cukup khasiat?  Iye, memang besar susah nak push, tapi, have we ever tried to educate ourselves with the reasons why the supplements/ the vitamins are important for us, for the child we are carrying?  Have we ever thought that, if we are lacking any of it, the baby may not have enough and this may cause harm to the baby.  Deficiency in certain vitamins can cause birth defects!  Ingat tu! 

Based on experience, masa first trimester ni doctor akan bagi folic acid yang paling utama nye.  Additional to the folic acid would be iron tablets, B-Complex, Calcium (kalau tak minum susu dan mabuk- mabuk nye time ni sesuai makan).  Masuk second and third trimester, doctor bagi obimin dan additionally aku ambik calcium lah, as usual.  Obimin ni tak silap aku contains combination of all.  

Bear in mind, vitamins ni ada je dalam makanan kita kalau kita makan makanan seimbang.  Tapi dah nama pun mengandung, kena topup sikit in case kurang.  Kalau kena mabuk takleh makan macam aku, hemmm.  Lagi la lembik kalau tak makan vitamin, apa la khasiat yang anak ada kan.   Tapi kan, kalau tengah mabuk giler makan B-Complex memang ko sendawa menda alah tu je la sampai ke sudah sampai meloya.  Hehehe. 

Jom nak highlight sikit, extracted from several different sites, tentang each vitamin yang aku ambik dan kenapa penting nye vitamin ni.

Folic acid - membantu menyokong placenta dan mengelakkan spina bifida dan other neural tube defects (which affects the brain and spinal cord).  Cer google sket spina bifida tu, aduhai.  Atau leh baca kat sini: http://www.lucinafoundation.org/birthdefects-spinabifida.html .  Na'uzubillah.  Semoga Allah jauhkan anak- anak kita dari birth defect sebegini :-(

Keadaan spina bifida.  Courtesy Mr Google.

Iron - membantu menghasilkan hemoglobin, prevents anemia, low birth weight dan premature delivery.  Iron ni mostly dalam red meat, macam aku dulu kurang iron diorang suruh makan kerang.  Tau tak, kalau ko anemic bole menyebabkan preterm delivery.  Kesian kat anak... Cubalah ek, makan makanan yang kaya dengan iron ni.  Makan bayam pon ok.  Tapi tulah, bila dah mengandung ni, nutrient kita banyak diserap anak, so nak bagi cukup try la makan supplement. 

Calcium -  Oh btw kalau anda macam saya, dah la lactose intolerance, nak makan apa pun tak boleh, dan baru sikit mengandung dah sakit belakang, sakit kaki dan sebagainya, silakan la makan pil calcium.  Calcium ni untuk strong bones and teeth, prevent blood clots and also helps muscles and nerves function. 

B- Complex -eurhhh rasanye, baunye, sangat tidak memberansangkan.  Busukkkkkkkkkk.  Apa ada dalam B- complex, ada thiamine, niacin, folic acid, biotin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6 dan vitamin B12.  Doctor bagi kat aku, apparently untuk bagi selera sikit makan.  Antara kebaikan B-Complex adalah to support and increase metabolism rate, maintain healthy hair and muscle tone, enhance immune and nervous system function, promote cell growth and division, including that of the red blood cells that prevent anemia, and also reduces risk of pancreatic cancer.  Fuhhh berjela kebaikan nye.  Tapi jangan lah ambik over sangat, ikut apa yang doctor prescribe.   

Obimin - Obimin pulak mengandungi combination of essential vitamins and mineral.  Aku masa dah masuk second trimester memang makan obimin dan calcium je.  Tak makan dah individual vitamin tu.  Tu yang MIL tengok, eeee makan vitamin nanti anak besar.  Erkkkk.  Sila tambah ilmu pengetahuan sebelum berkata- kata.  Maaf. 

Generally how obimin looks like.  Courtesy Mr Google.

Ermm ada lagi tak, vitamin atau supplement yang maybe aku dah lupa?  Korang pulak?  Apa experience korang ambik vitamin?  Atau mitos- mitos yang korang biasa dengar atau dibincangkan, atau baca kat mana- mana blog atau forum?   Atau cuba share jenis supplement yang korang ambik masa pregnant?

 

Di Mana?

Baru masuk 10 weeks of pregnancy, persoalan nak bersalin kat mana berlegar- legar kat kepala.  Nampak macam too early to think, kot.  Tapi my decision will affect my savings, so kena la decide, research betul- betul.  Lagi pulak nak deliver twins, kena lah pergi pada yang betul- betul pakar.

 

Kalau dulu, rumah kami kat Segambut, senang... nak bersalin dekat sangat- sangat dengan hospital selayang.  Nak follow- up klinik kerajaan pun senang, sebab dekat dengan rumah.  Terus- terang aku cakap la, walaupon klinik kerajaan ni lembab menunggu, dan mulut-2 nurse macam mulut longkang, dari segi check up dia agak teliti (walau cuma scan dua kali jer).  Dan cheapskate macam aku, of course le suka sebab free.  Errr sebab free so takleh komplen bebanyak. 

 

So now if you ask me, kalau ada hospital yang bagus macam Hospital Selayang, dan dekat, memang aku dah opt for Selayang.  Tapi, yang ada sekarang HUKM (Government) yang aku tau tak best kot, Hosp. Kajang yang aku dah ban for life, dan Hosp. Serdang yang walaupon baru aku agak sentap dengan peristiwa terjadi pada abang aku, dan hampir terjadi, almost almost almost happened to my nephew.  They wanted to give him BCG injection for the second time and luckily my SIL was there!!!  Lagi pulak carrying twins, I need to go somewhere capable, need to go with a specialist that have portfolios in receiving twins kot.  Entahlah. 

 

For now, aku follow up dengan KPMC.  Anak memang biasa pergi situ, dan paed dia memang OK.  Tapi entahla, maybe sebab twins ni yang buat aku kuat rasa nak pergi government.  Hemmm.  Though the service is slow, InshaAllah I will be in good, responsible hands.  This is why I am also looking into UKM Specialist Centre (UKMSC).  Tapi tu ler, bila dah namanye semua professor, menanggung lah kos nye yang tinggi kot.  Selamat menyimpan duit Mommy... Dah tentu kos aku double kot, sebab yang nak disambut dua. 

Lagi satu pilihan aku ialah Az Zahrah, sebab... Hospital Az Zahrah tu bakal buka dekat rumah.  Yang sedia ada dekat Bangi, shop lot jer.  Ni diorang bakal ada bangunan sendiri, tapi entah... Dah October, masih lagi belum buka.  Esok lusa dah buka, anak pun aku nak bawak situ je.  Oh, there is another private which is just 5 minutes away.  Columbia Asia.  Tapi O&G Specialist dia ada dua orang je, sorang laki sorang pompuan.  Requirement laki aku nak doctor perempuan.  Hemmm.... so kalau doctor pompuan tu tak available (anak nak kawen ke, ade hal ke) takleh sambut, laki aku kata dia taknak doctor lelaki sambut.  Tak rela katanye.  Oh, another requirement would be, the specialist kena ada Saturday clinic.  It will be convenient.  You see, this is why I am now with KPMC :-)

 

Itulah dia persoalan dalam kepala sekarang.  Aku takut, sebab apparently twins boleh berlaku macam- macam complication.  Aku taknak doctor yang tak sure what to do, doctor yang cuma nak memerah duit aku je, doctor yang tak familiar dengan situasi complication yang boleh berlaku.  My babies lifes are at stake.  Mine is at stake.  If I am fit to give vaginal birth (normal delivery), I am up for it, and I wish for a doctor who will support me to do the same.  C- sec is the last thing on my mind.  I prefer vaginal birth, seriously.  Semoga Allah permudahkan, segala- galanya.  The decision making, the delivery process.  Semuanya.  Dan semoga Allah ampunkan dosa- dosa ku. 

Two of them..

Nampak tak... dua anakku...

Saje lah nak update kat sini, setelah menimbulkan kekecohan di facebook dengan status propa.  Hehehe.  I mentioned  my 'double' blessings and everybody could guessed what I was on about.  Gitulah the cyber world.  Yang awak excited sangat mengupdate kat FB kenapa... Sebab tak sangka akan mendapat sambutan dan well- wishes sedemikian dari kawan- kawan dan saudara- mara.  Anyway, thank you all for the well wishes :-)

 

Errr cerita apa ni?  Macam ni... on Saturday I made an appointment with Dr Anita Rina (KPMC) for my pre-natal follow up.  Aduhai although konon- nyer ber appointment kol 2pm, almost 3pm baru dapat jumpa sebab ramai and nombor kita dah kebelakang - belakang.  Anyway, after waiting for almost one hour, doctor did the normal check ups and of course scan la.

 

Ha tu dia, masa scan tu aku memang tergelak dan menangis (gembira), walaupon tak tau apa yang dilihat mula- mula.  Until the doctor then said, 'EH sayang... you ni ada twins la sayang... you tengok tu, two hearts, two of them'... Errrr, respon aku mula- mula adalah 'saye takde keturunan twin la doc...' (Which of course baru tau belah husband ada, and belah arwah tok, dua pupu tok pon ade, but come on what are the odds).  Tapi tulah, percaya jugalah dah kata doctor begitu. 

 

Antara persoalan berlegar dalam kepala:

- mampukah aku bersalin normal nanti?  Oh please please Allah, give me the strength, the body strength and spiritually to be strong throughout this two process.

- breastfeeding, selain dari teknik yang kena dipelajari, can you imagine waking up to feed two babies at the same time?

- day care?

- expenses, means we gotta have two of everything... termasuk expenses bersalin nanti.

- the current car won't fit.

- Daddy also mentioned that he won't be able to share our bed anymore hahahaha.  Imagine, Mom, Dad, a toddler and twins?

- Will I be able to handle this emotionally?

- We gotta think of two names too...

- Errr this means double crying lah right.

 

But then again, why all the questions.  Allah gives for a reason, and if He takes it is also for a reason.  Only He, the Almight knows what is best for me.  All I should do is pray, and be strong. 

 

Ermm so agaknye betoi lah carrying two?  Hubby has agreed for a second opinion.  Nanti kita pergi.  Tapi kalo tengok gambar ultrasound, memang ada dua.  Entah lah, I find it hard to believe myself.  But if yes, I am grateful for He must have given me these rezkis for a reason.  And if not, there must be hikmah behind it too. 

 

The difference between these pregnancy as compared to last one yang menguatkan lagi kepercayaan?

- I already put on 2 kgs for the past 2 months.

- I feel super tired, the exhaustion you cannot compare to my previous pregnancy.

- Triple mabuk.

- Triple lost of appetite.

- Sangat- sangat mengah (hubby said, even time tidur pon dia tengok aku mengah).

- I feel that this pregnancy is very much more painful than the last.

 

Apa pun, doakan keselamatan kami anak- beranak.  Semoga anak- anak dalam keadaan sihat dan subur.  Dan semoga maknye pon sihat (bukan gemuk yer) tapi sihat....

 

Amin...

 

 

Morning sickness

Biasa kan dengar,orang cakap pasal morning sickness ni.  Benda yang tak semestinya berlaku di waktu pagi sahaja (tapi slalu nye pagi paling teruk) adalah benda yang aku tengah alami sekarang.  Not a pretty situation, I tell you.  Nak kata lebih teruk dari when I was carrying Ayesha Amani, entah lah.  Rasa sama je.  Masa tu pun duduk baring bawah meja office, tak boleh makan sangat dan pening- pening.  Tapi apa yang tak sama, masa tu boleh la rehat lebih sikit, sebab there were only the two of us.  Anak darling I belum ada masa tu, so jaga lah diri sendiri... Laki boleh jaga diri sendiri.

Susah nak cerita benda yang tak semua orang rasa.  Some people, ada time mengandung mabuk, ada tak.  Mine, both were the same.  Kalau dengar alkesah morning sickness ni, kadang- kadang ada orang kaitkan dengan jantina anak.  Orang kata, kalau mabuk lebih sikit, anak pompuan ler tu.  Makanye kali ni anak pompuan lah jugak kot.  Takpe Mommy redha, janji anak- anak Mommy sihat sudah lah.

Ada pulak yang berpesan, kalau rasa morning sickness tu toksah la layan sangat pun.  Yep, memang senang nak buat.  Senang bagi yang tak merasa.  Bila kepala dah pusing, pandang mata double, makan minum tak boleh, benda tu taklah semudah dikatakan.  Tengok je la aku yang hidup dengan roti kosong cecah Horlicks ni.  Walaupun badan tak mengurus, tapi memang diri jadi tak terurus lah.  Jadi super sejuk, super tired, super loya.  Akibat tak boleh makan.  Dua- tiga hari ni paksa sikit makan nasi.  Makan nasi kosong, ataupon dengan sayur jadilah.  Janji makan, perut tak meragam ye tak.

Tapi apa pun kita terima je keadaan tu dengan hati yang positive.  Berapa ramai agaknye yang berharap benda ni berlaku kat diorang.  Trust me, I am not whining.  I am just sharing how I feel, tentang pengalaman aku menghadapi semua ni.  Siap ada doctor celupar masa nak mintak MC, cakap kat aku, abis takkan tiap- tiap hari aku nak MC?  Tahan lah sikit?  Agak kurang ajar statement tu.  Takpe, aku anggap dia tak pernah merasa.

Macamana cara aku menghadapi,

1.  Try to rest as much as you can.  Meaning dalam keadaan pening ni, aku buat kerja sikit, aku rehat sikit.  Kerja sikit, rehat sikit (banyak).
2.  Tak boleh makan, aku gantikan dengan buah.  Antara buah yang aku selera makan ialah buah pear, buah guava.  Alhamdulillah at least tak dehydrated. 
3.  As suggested by a friend, Pn.Timmy Suhaimi, cuba memakan biskut Hup Seng Cream Crackers.  Wah, Alhamdulillah terisi jugak perut ni :-) Boleh makan, pelan- pelan kunyah la kan.
4.  Tak mengadap sangat handphone dan laptop ni kalau time pening lebih- lebih.
5.  Muntah time nak gosok gigi?  Aku terpaksa cheating sikit, aku makan gula- gula dulu pehtu baru gosok.
6.  Muntah time minum air kosong?  Sila lah minum berdikit- dikit.
7.  Makan lah takat kenyang je.
8.  Untuk tak menerukkan keadaan, makanlah vitamin yang diberi doctor, bagi badan kuat sikit.
9.  Aku try to do milk excercise such as breezewalking gitu.  Jalan la sikit- sikit biar badan tak lemag sangat.
10.  Cuba fikir +ve, +ve, +ve.  Itu saje.

Tapi dalam menghadapi keadaan ni, ada jugak beberapa kali meleleh air mata.  Almaklum, keadaan tengah emosi terlebih hehehe.  Apapun, good luck to self.  Chaiyok D, you can do it, yes you can!

Teringat Kenangan Lalu...Pregnancy Photos

Tiba- tiba teringat kenangan mengandungkan Ayesha Amani (I called her Adrianna when I was carrying her)... Ada lagi some of the photos entah kat mana nak jejak... Ni antara yang ada di jejak...

Saat masih mabuk, my first trimester

 

Kaki bengkak sejak 6 months...

Bulan puasa... 2 weeks before raya kot tak ingat,,,

Monday Blues: Post Pregnancy Weight!

“You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests that you think she’s pregnant unless you can see an actual baby emerging from her at that moment.” - Dave Barry

An article on babycenter said that "Your body needs time to recover from labor and delivery. Give yourself until your six-week postpartum checkup before you start watching your calorie intake and actively trying to slim down. And if you're breastfeeding, experts recommend that you wait until your baby is at least 2 months old before you try to lose weight. (If you're a nursing mom, you may also want to read our article on a healthy breastfeeding diet.)"

So it has been almost 15 months since my baby 'popped'.  That preggy belly, is still there.  This didn't use to bother me much then, but it is now.  I used to motivate myself with articles that I read - that if it takes 9 months to build, it will take some time to lose that preggy belly too!  Being pregnant and giving birth isn't like popping a balloon, popped and flat it goes.  No it doesn't work that way.  But wouldn't you want to lose all that weight when you think your appetite is out of control, and that old clothes still hasn't fit?

A little history.  I was 51kg before I got married, and 59kg within 4 months of marriage.  Got pregnant and became 79kg by the time I gave birth.  Went through a strict Malay confinement, and I lost quite a lot of kilos and became 61kg!    Then I started work, breastfeeding, pumping and just got hungry all the time.  Several months after, I gained again up to 63kg, and now while typing this I am 65kg and still growing.  May not sound serious to you, but heyyyy its my body I have the right to be concern.  Though, reality check, I will probably never go back to being 51 or 59.  LOL. 

I am sure many other mom feel the same way I do.  Feeling pressured about losing weight.  In my case, the office mates are actually making fun of me being fat, and feeling hungry all the time.  Does this hurt?  Yes, it is.  Not just that, my husband is also being mocked.  Hurts even more.  So what if we are a couple of fat parents.  Do we try hard enough?  I did, maybe my husband didn't but I'll make sure he does.  To my husband, it is enough that we love each other even though we are not 'pretty' people. 

But I don't wanna wait 2 years to be back in shape, or it will be too late!  I still need the calories for breastfeeding.  The only choice I have now is eating balanced diet and excercise.  You go girl!  Cut that Nasi Lemak off your breakfast list and start eating salads, 'roasties' (that what I call roasted chicken and beef ahaha), and all that yucky healthy food.  Oh, and to start regular excercise (still thinking what's besides the Gym, with that clingy girl of mine- would days at parks make up for excercises?)

~Didn't make much sense what I wrote today but it is Monday~

My pregnancy cravings

I was having a group BBM (the famous blackberry messenger y'all) with some of my friends today about the recent Petknode cat boarding hell which had caused stirred in Malaysia.   Many had condemned their actions but some of us had thought, well enough is enough.  If they had apologised and if action can be taken against them, enough already.  This is human vs cat ya?  Though cat adalah binatang kesayangan nabi, tapi apa yang kita nak petknode tu dapat pembalasan macamana sebenarnya?  Nak suruh mati jugak ek, baru setimpal.  Anyway I am not blogging about petknode.  Some of us are animal lovers, some don't fancy animals at all.  While we were on the subject of animals, I suddenly remembered one of my pregnancy cravings!

Yes I was cravings for a lot of things when I was pregnant.  But my cravings were not up to the point of 'I'll breakdown and cry if you don't gimme some' kind of cravings.  Mine was sort of I saw or heard about something then I thought - 'oooh I must get that too!'.  Otherwise I couldn't be at peace.  Tu jer, gelisah semacam.  Nangis tak, kot?  Did I, hubby? 

I craved for mee bandung at 3-4 am in the morning, I craved daging kancil, cupcakes, I craved mom's laksam, nasi dagang.  I craved for chilli crabs.  I was never into Durian but I wanted to eat Durian and I could eat 4 ulas masa tu.  I was also never into sweet stuff but I just loved chocolate and cup cakes and lovely desserts at the time.  Semua takda yang pelik- pelik.  Of course except for one...

One day when I was back in kampung, I followed my parents to the pasar in Jerantut, Pahang.  Near the pasar basah tu, ada ramai orang jual anak- anak ayam, itik, dan... when I was browsing I saw rabbits!  Yes, little cutie rabbits.  There were so many of them I just wanted to pet them. 

You see I was never into pets.  Animals in general are gross.  I tried to pet cats several times but didn't manage to love them as much as I could love myself.  An ex-housemate had a cat and he ate my new pair of shoes the next day I put them pairs outside the box.  So ya, cats are totally out of the love radar for me.  I don't like anything with feathers either so no chics no nothing like that.  I think you get it by now, I don't like animals.  I eat them.  I don't pet them. 

But the minute I saw those rabbits, I went 'Oooo sayang I nak rabbit... 2 ekor, nak bela... Nak bawak balik KL'.  Hubby was shocked, speechless.  Mom went 'Eee nanti busuk nak bawak balik, awak yang muntah'... Yeah I know.  But hubby got 'em anyway.  I got a pair (which later on turns to NOT be a pair), and my youngest brother got himself a pair.  SO in total we had four.  I made hubby bought the cage, because I wanted to take them back to KL.  Tapi bila dah sampai rumah, everyone went 'Eh tak boleh la awak pelihara rabbit.  Nanti telinga anak awak keluar macam rabbit!'.  Aiyooo... Party poopers la they all (*Sad face*).  That time I dah nak nangis.  In the end the rabbits were left in kampung to be taken care by my little brother together with his.  He built a nice house for the rabbits and it turns out that the rabbits weren't a pair.  Mine turns out to be girls and his turns out to be all boys.  Sekarang all those rabbits dah takde.  3 died I think and 1 was just let free about 2 weeks ago, because he was all by himself and they felt sorry for him.

Weird, eh?  I think God wanted to show something lah.  But I didn't get the message and still is not able to love any animals.  Tapi tak pernah juga saya menganiaya binatang.  Binatang pun makhluk Allah juga :-)

So to wrap up, women get all kind of cravings all around the world.  Some get the weirdest pregnancy cravings.  I consider the rabbits, my weirdest.  What's yours? 

The end of a journey, and the beginning of another...

The 16th of September 2010 marked a very important event in my life.  This was the date I held my girl for the first time, in tears of joy, beginning my journey as a mother to a child.  This was the date my life had changed forever...

The experience? Priceless.  Terasa mudah melahirkan Ayesha Amani.  She didn't cause me so much trouble, I suppose it's because I had been in a lot of pain before birth itself.  A prolonged pain since before Aidilifitri. 


That night, the 15th of September I was out with my husband, younger brother and younger sister for bowling at Mid Valley and headed to Uptown Damansara afterwards.  We got home at around 1 am and I started feeling uncomfortable since.  Rasa macam nak cirit birit, buang air kecil, all the time.  So I went straight up to my bedroom while hubby watched TV with my brother, Ta. 


Dah naik atas, ulang- alik pergi bilik air, siap termuntah-muntah.  I tried making myself comfortable on the bed, with pillows, hot water and tried excercising my back.  At around 3 something, I called hubby up and told him that I was in pain and thought I had severe food poisoning due to the puking and other things.  Hubby insisted we go to the hospital.  So nearing 4am, we left the house and went to Hospital Selayang.

When we got there, I was asked by the nurses why I came.  So I explained the symptom.  I was then asked to wait for examination.  A few minutes after, a doctor came and examined my cervix.  She said I was already 5cm dilated, and asked why did I wait so long to come to the hospital.  My answer was simple:- I thought what I had was food poisoning.  The doctor then said that the amniotic fluid is gone so she asked if my water broke earlier.  No, I didn't feelt my water broke.  Nothing at all, so the only possible reason was the leakage as mentioned by my gynae during my routine checkup.  I eventually ended up with no amniotic fluid.  The doctor which was examining me was not satisfied with her finding and asked for a more senior doctor to do the examination.  There I was again, another cervix examination, darn.... It is not something that we all like, I promise you.  Once the second doctor confirmed the finding, I was left to rest "until you feel the urge to push" , according to the nurse.  Wah cuak masa tu oke!  Dah nak beranak ke. 

Several minutes after that, I started feeling the urge to push.  Aku terus panggil nurses sekalian.  Diorang masukkan ubat untuk buang air besar, and so I immediately had to go.  I think I spent quite a while in the washroom, not knowing if it was the urge to poop or to push.  Darn it took quite a while to differentiate but after a while sitting on the toilet bowl, I managed to. 

I was taken to labour at around 5.45am and hubby followed.  It was a scary feeling I tell you, I didn't know my capability and I obviously didn't know what to expect.  I mean, the kind of pain to be expected.  Is there more?  But I do know that I will be delivering my princess, and just imagining her face at the time ease the pain.  Once I got there, I asked the midwife, if I was ready to deliver and she thought I was being funny so she answered in a joking tone as well. 

Hubby was in labour with me all the time.  He held my hand, kissed my forehead and tell me to do my best, he was my strength at the time.  He helped me push.  He put my hands where they were suppose to be.  He made sure I was in the correct position, and guided me with my breathing technique.  I knew I couldn'y have done it without him!  Sempat la jugak aku sembang- sembang dalam kesakitan labour tu.  Macamana orang boleh tergamak buang anak la, senang sangat ke diorang beranak la... Until the mid wife who was assisting said "Sempat lagi awak fikir hal orang dalam sakit- sakit macam ni", hahaha.  Ala, if I can explain the pain, it was like a very very bad constipation.  Yepp, that's how it felt like!

After several many failed attempts, I finally managed to do my final push with just the correct breathing.  "There she was," hubby said.  "I can see her hair!".  Then everything else happened so quickly I suddenly heard a small cry and a few minutes after, little princess was already on my chest!  She was the most beautiful thing, and she smell heavenly.  Owh don't they all.  Babies do smell like heaven, people said. 

I looked into the eyes of my beautiful princess, and tears finally came running down.  I said to hubby, "Abang tengok anak kita, cantik, kan?".  I saw the look in hubby's eyes, the happiness which I had never seen before.  I myself, never felt this good.  I remember this tears when we were both solemnised August last year.  No words can explain this feeling, of ending the 9 months pregnancy and entering motherhood at the same time.  The feeling was amazing.  It was different.  It was priceless.  I kissed little princess on the forehead and whispered "Assalamualaikum Ayesha Amani.  Welcome to the world..."

Now the new journey has begun.  I am not sure what to look for, not sure how great I will be at it, but I am sure there will be many challenges ahead.  I need to be mentally and emotionally prepared, and pray that the best will come. And if it ain't, that I will do better next time.  InsyaAllah.  Do pray for my best. 

Here are some photos of Ayesha Amani:

My almost- preterm labour experience at 34th weeks...

I had gone through so much during my pregnancy, good and bad, and this one which happened this Monday 23rd was the most unforgettable! Yeah kind of take a while for me to update this blog, maklumla dengan raya and everything else going on around me.  Penat oke so memang takda masa nak update.  I will try to cut the story short, as long as I get to share this experience with the rest of you, 

That day, my baby's movement was less than six within 12 hours so I got a little worried.  I know I probably shouldn't worry too much, but with the abdominal pain I had been experiencing as well, and Urinary Tract Infection discovered several days before I think I had the reasons to be worried.  Hubby and I rushed home after work for iftar, performed our prayer and left the house to go to the hospital at around 8.30 pm.  We decided to go to Hospital Selayang which was the nearest hospital we knew, and previous experience with the hospital were also taken into consideration.  

15 minutes later we arrived at the O&G department of Hospital Selayang and was greeted badly by the nurse stationed at the receptionist.  This lady with a heavy Kelantanese accent asked what was wrong and went through my check up history and commented on how I had calculated the fetal movement wrongly (believe me I didn't - she was just talking bullshit because I checked with the doctor afterwards).  This lady nurse function was probably to minimize the number of people reporting to O&G... Possibly, you never know with the government hospital.  But this one made you feel like smashing her head to the wall and if this is what you meet at the door of a government hospital, people will definitely have that stereotyped opinion about the hospital. I just couldn't emotionally handle her, so while answering her shits, tears were running down my cheek.  Real bitch I tell 'ya.

Then we went up to the O&G and proceeded straight to the registration area.  The nurses in charged were young and friendly, nothing like the one you see downstairs.  The doctor was ready to see me within 15-20 minutes.  Believe me, kalau kat government hospital, itu dah kira cukup baik.  Stories cut short, they checked my baby's heart rate and it was fine, and then performed a stomach and vaginal examination to see how much I was dilated.  Tak pasti pun kalau itu adalah the right terms but whatever it was, it hurts hehehe... They discovered the abdominal pain I had was actually a contraction and that my cervix was only 1 cm dilated.  While the doctors were talking and the nurses were preparing some stuff I was listening but couldn't understand a word of medical.  Shit.  They were still discussing and took me for an ultrasound.  In the ultrasound room, then the doctor explained what was going on.  

Here's what happened,

• The pain I had was actually a contraction. It was regular, I had 5 contractions in 10 minutes as per the nurses examination.  Preterm labour pain. 
• My baby was only 34 weeks, and is at a premature stage.  My cervix opening was only 1cm.  Therefore the doctor concluded that they should try to stop the contraction.  However at the same time they were to prepare for the baby to come anyway should the contraction didn't stop.   

It was decided that I am in good health, with a steady blood pressure and no other complications therefore they were to perform two procedures, (i) 'locolize' me which apparently means that they try to stop the contraction and (ii) inject some substances to mature the baby's lung to prepare her for birth.  Doctor explained that if they succeeded in stopping the contraction, I can go home after 2 days and baby stays in the womb.  However if I go home and the pain comes back, I should immediately come back and they will not stop the labour.  

So that night I stayed in labour before being transferred to the ward for further monitoring the next day.  They prescribed two yellow pills which I took every 10 minutes, monitored my blood pressure every half an hour, and a nurse was with me to monitor baby's heartbeat and the contraction every 10 minutes as well.  Hubby patiently waited next to my bed, and was with me the whole time.  

The injection for the baby's lung were given twice, one at 9 pm that same night and another one at 9 am the next morning.   It was owh so numbingly painful, especially the second shots because it was tripled dose due to my lower blood pressure in the next morning.  The doctors and nurses at Hospital Selayang had been so helpful and friendly.  The pain went away with much encouragement from them and hubby.  

Other than my own 'little case', I overheard some two or three women in labour that same night giving birth to beautiful babies.  I wasn't emotionally ready so this particular episode had totally frightened me and brought tears to my eyes several time.  

After being transferred to the ward the next morning and further monitoring was done, the contraction finally stopped.  I was so relieved that baby had another chance to be in mummy's womb and grow healthy and well until the time really comes.  Allah is great, He saved my baby from any risk of preterm labour and I was so grateful!

The experience was priceless.  I will never forget the feelings, the pain and everything else that happened.  I am now 36 going on 37 weeks and baby is still here in my tummy.  I hope only for the best, and when the time really comes, and baby and my body is ready, birth will take place.   

Hikmah berpuasa sewaktu mengandung...

Sambung sikit, hehehe sebab tadi ada terbaca satu post ni tentang berpuasa sewaktu mengandung.  Quite helpful lah tips dia.  Yang ni kita sebagai ibu mengandung can relate more sebab ini kan cara pemakanan orang melayu, cara hidup orang melayu. 

Jadi cukup sekadar peringatan (sebab Mummy segar lagi OK konon- konon), yang kalau dah rasa semacam tu seeloknya dibatal kan puasa.  Kalau korang anemia macam aku, pagi- pagi buta dah terasa effectnye, tapi korang akan cuba ignore.  Yang penting sekarang aku focus kat fetal movement, dok kira dari pagi berapa kali anak gerak :-)

So here's the article, untuk tujuan tak kena cop copyright jap lagik ni link original dia.

Panduan Kehamilan Semasa Puasa

Share"Bertuahnya puan saat ini," kata seorang doktor kepada pesakit wanita yang diperiksanya.

"Kenapa doktor?" balasnya menyoal dengan penuh rasa ingin tahu.

"Sekarang Ramadan. Puan pula hamil pada bulan yang banyak kelebihannya ini. Ia kesempatan yang amat baik mendidik anak puan dari dalam kandungan untuk mengenal penciptanya," jelas doktor.

Maka, tidak hairanlah, meski sedang hamil atau menyusui bayi mereka, tidak kurang ibu-ibu yang tetap ingin melaksanakan kewajipan berpuasa.

Mereka ingin meraih keistimewaan Ramadan untuk membanyakkan ibadah seperti membaca al-Quran, solat tarawih, iktikaf dan memburu malam lailatulqadar yang lebih baik daripada seribu bulan.

Justeru, pelbagai alasan diberikan sekalipun mereka diberikan ruksah (keringanan), diperboleh meninggalkan puasa sekiranya keadaan tidak mengizinkan sekarang.

Menurut mazhab Syafie, wanita hamil dan menyusui bayi apabila khuatir mengalami bahaya maka mereka wajib berbuka, tidak payah berpuasa. Dan dalam keadaan ini mereka hendaklah mengqada puasanya kelak.

Antara alasan yang diberikan ibu-ibu, mereka berupaya untuk melaksanakan tuntutan itu. Ada juga yang menyatakan, mereka enggan menggantikan puasa pada waktu lain, kerana tiada kawan.

Pendek kata, mereka ingin mengambil peluang berpuasa penuh tanpa adanya halangan haid jika di luar kehamilan.

Namun, ada juga ibu-ibu yang berdegil untuk tetap berpuasa dan nekad untuk tidak berbuka sekalipun sudah menunjukkan gejala hipoglisemia/kekurangan gula dalam darah seperti pening, loya, gementar dan pitam atau pengsan.

Mereka menangguhkan masa untuk berbuka "Tunggulah setengah jam lagi." Betapa besarnya berpuasa sebulan penuh bagi mereka.

Pakar Perbidanan dan Sakit Puan, Hospital Pakar Puteri, Johor Bahru, Johor, Dr. Noor Aini Saari berkata:

"Ibu-ibu yang terus memaksa diri untuk berpuasa tanpa menimbangkan keadaan kehamilan itu sebenarnya sedang membahayakan fetus/janin sendiri.

Malah, janin juga boleh terkena hipoglisemia, kekurangan zat gula, kalori dan zat makanan/nutrisi yang berguna untuk pertumbuhannya," katanya.

Tambah beliau: "Kasihanilah anak-anak yang di dalam kandungan. Segala keberkatan tidak bermakna apabila zuriat kita tidak sihat."

Menurutnya, kehamilan bukanlah sejenis penyakit tetapi keadaan fiziologi yang boleh dialami oleh mana-mana wanita.

Jadi, apabila tidak ada masalah kesihatan pada si ibu mahupun janin dan berada di bawah pengawasan doktor, mereka dibolehkan berpuasa seperti biasa. Sebaliknya, bagi kehamilan bermasalah sebaiknya tidak berpuasa.

Untuk memutuskan sama ada seseorang ibu itu perlu berpuasa atau tidak sangat bergantung kepada keadaan nutrien ibu, sekali gus memenuhi gizi/zat makanan janinnya.

Dalam kata lain, soal nutrien harus mendapat perhatian yang serius di kalangan ibu-ibu hamil. Perlu juga diingat ketika hamil seorang ibu selain harus memikirkan keperluan dirinya sendiri, juga janin yang sedang dikandungnya.

Apabila diajukan kebimbangan ibu-ibu yang bayi mereka lapar jika terus berpuasa, terutamanya bagi yang melalui pengalaman sulung mengandung, Dr. Noor Aini menjelaskan:

"Ibu hamil yang menjalani ibadah berpuasa tidak perlu bimbang kalau-kalau janinnya kelaparan.

Ini kerana, jika janin memerlukan makanan, ia secara automatik akan mengambil gizi dari tubuh ibunya yang dibekalkan sepenuhnya melalui plasenta/uri", ujar beliau.

Beliau turut menarik perhatian bahawa, proses nutrisi yang optimum sebenarnya bermula sejak seseorang ibu itu berada di zaman kanak-kanak lagi.

Seseorang yang mempunyai tabiat pemakanan yang sihat sejak dari awal, akan mempunyai status pemakanan yang amat bagus dan mempunyai bekalan yang cukup sehingga ke awal kandungan.

Dengan meneruskan tabiat ini, beliau bukan sahaja dapat mengelakkan kekurangan nutrien, malah beliau juga akan memastikan anak di dalam kandungannya sentiasa sihat.

Pada masa yang sama, kata Dr. Noor Aini, ibu-ibu yang mengalami kekurangan nutrien di dalam pemakanan, akan menyebabkan tumbesaran bayi di dalam kandungan bermasalah.

"Semua bekalan yang ada di dalam tubuh badan ibu akan diambil sepenuhnya oleh janin yang sedang membesar. Ini akan menyebabkan ibu-ibu ini semakin tidak sihat.

Jika beliau tidak mengubah tabiat pemakanannya, anak yang di dalam kandungan juga akan turut terjejas," katanya sambil menambah, kekurangan makanan berzat walau sedikit pun akan menjejaskan kesihatan mereka berdua.

"Pada masa yang sama, kita tidak perlu makan untuk dua orang. Terlalu banyak makan dan nutrien juga akan mengundang musibah," tambahnya.

Perkembangan janin

Janin akan mengalami berbagai-bagai fasa pertumbuhan seperti hiperplasia (pertumbuhan sel), hypertrofi (pembesaran sel) dan juga pengkhususan sel sehingga minggu kelapan.

Janin ini juga bergantung sepenuhnya kepada nutrien ibu. Nutrien juga amat penting untuk memastikan pertumbuhan plasenta yang sihat.

Setiap organ mempunyai masa pertumbuhan kritikalnya yang tersendiri. Contohnya, otak mempunyai pertumbuhan kritikal semasa minggu ke-18 kandungan.

Kekurangan nutrien akan menyebabkan kekurangan sel otak, merencatkan pertumbuhan serta perkembangan otak.

Pertumbuhan dan pembesaran bayi akan berkembang dengan pesat pada minggu ke-12 hinggalah ke minggu ke-36 dengan pertumbuhan maksimum pada fasa trimester ketiga.

Puasa mengikut trimester

Sepanjang tempoh kehamilan normal 40 minggu dibahagikan kepada tiga trimester, setiap trimester mempunyai lebih kurang 13 minggu.

Semasa di awal kandungan iaitu bulan pertama hingga ketiga, ibu hamil sentiasa mengalami gejala mual, pening dan muntah yang kerap, sebaiknya tidak berpuasa.

Pada masa ini, bayi amat memerlukan nutrien dan kalori yang amat tinggi daripada ibu. Sekiranya anda tidak mengalami masalah di atas, anda bolehlah berpuasa.

Semasa usia kandungan trimester kedua dan ketiga, keperluan protein, kolesterol, lemak, vitamin dan mineral meningkat dengan mendadak.

Makanan yang seimbang dan mencukupi akan juga membekalkan tenaga yang cukup bagi memenuhi keperluan janin dan plasenta.

Sepanjang tempoh ini, sebahagian besar tenaga disimpan di dalam bentuk glikogen dan lemak.

Jadi tidak hairanlah, mengapa ibu yang kurang pemakanan biasanya mempunyai bayi yang kurus manakala fetus daripada ibu yang obes dan berlebihan nutrien, lazimnya gemuk.

Ketika kandungan berusia enam hingga sembilan bulan, janin mula menghasilkan insulin untuk mengubah glukos ke bentuk glikogen dan lemak yang menyumbang kepada berat badannya.

Ketika berpuasa, ibu mengalami keadaan hipoglisemia selama beberapa jam terakhir berpuasa. Keadaan ini juga menyebabkan bayi tersebut mengalami keadaan yang sama dan akan menggunakan semula bekalan yang telah disimpan.

Seelok-eloknya, jika ibu ingin berpuasa, masa yang paling sesuai adalah semasa kandungan berusia empat hingga enam bulan. Ibu-ibu dinasihatkan agar sentiasa mendapat pengawasan daripada doktor.

Ibu-ibu yang mempunyai penyakit seperti di bawah disarankan agar tidak berpuasa:

•Morning sickness yang teruk; ibu-ibu ini sentiasa lemah, mual dan mengalami dehidrasi/kekurangan air dalam badan. Semasa peringkat ini, ibu-ibu lazimnya kurang mengambil makanan atau minuman, apatah lagi yang berzat tinggi

•Penyakit kronik seperti diabetes mellitus, darah tinggi, penyakit buah pinggang dan sebagainya. Pesakit-pesakit ini biasanya memerlukan rawatan seperti insulin atau ubat-ubatan lain. Tanpa ubat-ubatan, tumbesaran dan perkembangan bayi di dalam kandungan, serta kesihatan ibu akan turut terjejas

•Anemia/kekurangan darah semasa mengandung

•Oligohidramnios (air ketuban/mentuban yang sedikit/kering)

•Pesakit jantung

•Tumbesaran bayi yang terencat

•Mengalami perdarahan semasa mengandung.

Panduan pemakanan ibu hamil sepanjang Ramadan

Seseorang itu tidak seharusnya menjadikan kehamilan sebagai alasan untuk makan secara berlebihan terutamanya semasa bulan Ramadan. Piramid makanan boleh dijadikan panduan bagi mendapatkan pemakanan yang berzat dan seimbang.

Pengambilan makanan dari pelbagai jenis makanan dan juga kuantitinya amat penting. Agar ketahanan tubuh cukup kuat, ibu harus mengutamakan makanan yang mempunyai nilai kalori dan protein yang tinggi seperti daging. Ia juga menyebabkan perut lambat berasa lapar.

Bagaimanapun, tuntutan pertambahan kalori tidaklah setinggi tuntutan nutrien lain. Elakkan pengambilan karbohidrat dan gula kerana ia hanya menambah kalori. Serat dan sayur-sayuran jangan pula dilupakan.

Banyakkan minum air dan susu untuk memenuhi tuntutan harian sebanyak dua hingga tiga liter sehari. Jika tidak mampu, minum air kosong sahaja, bolehlah dicampur jus, sirap dan sebagainya.

Minumlah air sepanjang malam dan sekiranya ibu-ibu hamil kerap membuang air kecil, ia petanda baik yang menunjukkan bahawa, seseorang itu tidak mengalami dehidrasi.

Air amat diperlukan oleh bayi dalam membentuk air mentuban. Biasanya seseorang wanita hamil memerlukan lebih kurang dua liter air sehari.

Oleh itu, bagi memastikan bekalan air yang mencukupi untuk tubuh, anda seharusnya meminum air dengan kerap selepas waktu berbuka puasa. Minumlah segelas susu setiap kali bersahur.

Pilihan yang baik untuk berbuka dan bersahur

Semasa berbuka puasa, anda digalakkan untuk mengambil makanan dalam kuantiti yang kecil. Jangan makan dalam kuantiti yang banyak kerana ini boleh menyebabkan ketidakselesaan.

Antaranya buah-buahan segar, kurma, jus buah-buahan segar, kuih-muih yang kurang manis dan kurang lemak (apam beras, popia basah), yogurt rendah lemak yang ditambah dengan buah-buahan segar, telur rebus/ayam yang dipanggang, kacang panggang yang dimakan bersama roti bijirin.

Selepas beberapa jam kemudian, anda boleh menikmati hidangan yang lain seperti roti bijirin yang berintikan telur dan tomato, ayam rebus atau panggang dengan salad, keju dengan salad, atau tuna dengan timun dan tomato.

Atau, pasta dengan kuah yang berasaskan tomato, bebola daging dan salad, mihun sup dengan ayam dan sayur-sayuran, nasi putih dengan ikan kukus dan sayur-sayuran.

Atau, laksa Penang dan sayur-sayuran, mihun goreng kurang minyak yang lengkap dengan ayam atau daging dan sayur-sayuran.

Begitu juga dengan waktu bersahur, anda digalakkan mengambil makanan yang seimbang dan amalkan pengambilan makanan yang rendah lemak. Makanan yang dimakan semasa sahur akan dapat bertahan selama lapan jam ataupun lebih awal.

Tip agar sentiasa segar semasa mengandung di bulan Ramadan

1.Jangan lupa selalu makan makanan berzat baik pada saat sahur atau berbuka puasa. Walau menu sederhana, yang penting mengandungi lima unsur zat lengkap seperti protein, lemak, karbohidrat, vitamin dan mineral

2.Usahakan untuk mencegah dehidrasi tubuh dengan banyakkan meminum air putih pada malam hari. Hal ini penting dilakukan, kerana pada siang hari, aktiviti kita cenderung banyak mengeluarkan keringat baik di ruangan terbuka atau berhawa dingin

3.Pada saat berbuka, mulakan dengan makanan atau minuman hangat dan manis seperti Milo, susu atau minuman manis lainnya. Tapi ingat, jangan mengambil minuman yang mengandungi soda, kerana dapat menimbulkan akibat buruk bagi perut anda

4.Jangan minum air dingin atau ais. Biasakanlah berbuka dengan minuman yang hangat. Perut yang kosong kerap menjadi kembung, bila anda terus berbuka puasa dengan air dingin

5.Kemudian berehatlah lebih kurang sejam sebelum menyantap hidangan berbuka. Tujuannya untuk memberikan keseimbangan terlebih dahulu terhadap sistem pencernaan kita. Ingat, jangan mengambil makanan berlebihan dan makanan yang mempunyai kandungan garam yang tinggi seperti telur dan ikan masin

6.Berbuka puasa hendaknya dilakukan secara perlahan-lahan dan tidak terburu-buru agar perut tidak terkejut. Untuk meringankan kerja penghadaman, kunyah makanan dengan baik

7.Supaya anda mampu menahan rasa lapar, perbanyakkanlah mengambil jenis makanan berserat yang banyak terdapat dalam sayur dan buah. Tubuh memerlukan waktu lebih lama untuk menghadamkan makanan yang banyak serat

8.Selain memperbanyakkan makanan berserat dan berprotein, sebaiknya anda juga menyediakan jenis makanan yang mengandungi vitamin dan mineral serta makanan tambahan agar tubuh tetap segar-bugar sepanjang hari

9.Vitamin yang penting diambil setiap hari adalah vitamin A, B dan C. Tetapi, kalau anda sudah makan buah berwarna kuning atau merah, sayur berwarna hijau tua dan kekacang, maka tidak perlu khuatir kekurangan vitamin tersebut.

Ibu menyusu

Bagi ibu yang sedang menyusui bayi sepenuhnya, seeloknya jangan berpuasa dahulu kerana bayi perlu menyusu susu ibu setiap tiga jam.

Sekiranya ibu tidak makan dan minum, bagaimanakah ibu dapat menentukan susunya yang paling berkualiti? Sekiranya bayi sudah mula makan makanan lain selepas berumur empat bulan, ibu ini bolehlah berpuasa.

Apabila berbuka, pastikanlah makanan anda cukup berzat dan seimbang dan minum air secukupnya. Semasa sahur, amalkan minum segelas susu.