The Case of the Polyp and the Bowling Ball

It's now week 36 Baby Aidan. Mommy's into her 9th month, imagine that. In about roughly 3-4 weeks (give and take 2) you'll be in Mommy's and Daddy's arms.

But what you don't know about the last 3-4 weeks!

Firstly, Mommy had slight bleeding the night Aunt Hsian and Uncle Srihari took us out for dinner. A checkup the next day revealed a minor infection in the cervix so Doctor Guna treated it on the spot. It stung a bit of course, but as far as you were concerned, everything was fine! We saw your cute little chubby face - now filled up with a bit of fat. Your head has been down for the past month and you're also displaying the right "presentation" so far: anterior, which is to say, you're facing inward towards Mommy's spine and will come out looking down at the labour bed, not facing the sunshine.

Daddy was a little startled by your face; for a moment he thought it was too broad and your nose, a little disproportionate. But he was quickly assured that you are normal and it was all due to the camera angle.

Anyway, at the next checkup, all was still fine with you and Doctor said you were about 2-2.2kg in size.

Then two days later, Mommy started bleeding a little again! Sigh. There were no contractions so Mommy knew you weren't in trouble. The doctor simply asked Mommy to go home, relax and observe the "spotting" patterns. Meanwhile, before doing that, he also asked Mommy to drop by the Maternity Ward at the 2nd floor to make sure you were indeed OK, so Mommy was hooked up to the CTG scan again to monitor your heartbeat for 30 minutes.

After three days of experiencing the same "spotting", I couldn't wait any longer. What if it were something more serious, right? So Mommy and Daddy brought forward our appointment with the Doctor and saw him last Friday. As it turned out, there was a polyp growing in Mommy's cervix!

A polyp is a little soft, spongey growth that's mostly harmless, but does occur commonly during pregnancies due to the many hormones that are running around Mommy's body.

The doctor had to take it out with a special instrument and send it to the lab for inspection. He also took a swab of the cells there to send for checking. Just, you know, to make sure all was fine before the delivery. Boy, did it hurt when he did that! Luckily your Daddy was there. And luckily I didn't yank Daddy's hand off either. But I guess it was good practice for the actual day that you arrive :D After that, we did an ultrasound scan on you again and Doc said, "Well, what d'ya know, he's developing just fine!" You were about 2.4-2.5kg at that point. He also mentioned that you were slowly moving downward towards the birth canal.

It might be a coincidence then because since that afternoon, Mommy has been finding it more difficult to walk. In fact, what Mommy has really been doing for the past few days is more appropriately called "waddling". You'll know what I mean when, one day, I point out to you how little ducklings walk. As for the "feeling", it's like having a bowling ball wedged between Mommy's legs and one that feels like falling out. What's a bowling ball? Hmm, Mommy will have to take you bowling one day to show that to you, too!

Meanwhile, for the next few weeks, Mommy's going to be resting a lot more. If you want to get out of Mommy's tummy sooner, do give Mommy some clear signs, ok? No feeble little Braxton Hicks contractions ok? Mommy needs all the cues she can get.

I know you might be a bit nervous too as it's your first time. Don't worry, it's Mommy's first time, too!

Can Baby Speak Dunstan?

Not to long ago, maybe two months or so back, Mommy accidentally caught an episode of Oprah Winfrey on televsion.

Oprah Winfrey is a famous talk-show host who makes a lot of money helping people.

Anyway, a lady called Priscilla Dunstan was the guest on the show. Why? Because she was an acclaimed "Baby Whisperer" who had discovered a way to decode or translate the cries of a baby.

In short, she knows what a baby is trying to say with each different cry!

Her discovery is since called "The Dunstan Language".

To prove that she was not just tricking lots of anxious, clueless first-time mommies the world over, she showed her skill to about 8 women with their babies in a special part of the episode.

To one mommy, she said, "Hear the dry "e" sound to your son's cry? That would be the "eh" that means he needs to be burped. Said mother immediately props her baby against her shoulder and rubs his back. And automatically, the little boy stops!

To another mommy with a little girl, she said, "Oh she's got a "h" at the beginning of her cry. Try changing position so she can get more comfortable."

In the next minute, after the mommy moves her little girl to another position, she's quiet!

Here is the simple guide to the most common cries of a baby:

* Neh=”I’m hungry”
* Owh=”I’m sleepy”
* Heh=”I’m experiencing discomfort”
* Eair=”I have lower gas”
* Eh=”I need to burp”

Aidan, when you're born, I'm hoping that you speak Dunstan. Because every mommy who knows your Mommy tells me that the first 3 months are the most anxious. It's the period of your parents trying to know you better. And this includes trying to understand what you need from us.

Having said that, both your Daddy and Mommy are looking forward to the adventure. I'm sure you'll be spraying pee all over us. And you'll be giving us a few scares here and there.

Whatever you choose to do, don't give Mommy the biggest scare: fall in love with Manchester United. Now, that's two words you don't have to say. Ever.

(Heh heh).

A Big New Year to Change

At last visit, the good doctor said you were 'advanced' by a week. That's just a big word for 'big for week 32'. But Mommy's not complaining. Aunty Murni's baby, Lucas, was 3.2kg 4 weeks before her due date! He ended up tipping the scales at 3.7kg on 12 December.

That's why she had to deliver through her tummy in a simple operation.

Total weight gained since beginning of Mommy's pregnancy: 12kg.

I don't know how much of that came from the pizza, chicken rice and hokkien noodles I ate in the earlier part of the pregnancy. But I'm glad I managed to squeeze in some good stuff, too. Orange juice. Almonds. Prunes. Vegies. All sorts of fresh fruits from papayas, mangoes, bananas and honeydew to watermelon, apples, grapes and strawberries.

No wonder Dr. Guna said you were about 1.8kg two weeks ago and estimates you to round up at 3 -3.2kg at birth. Apparently that's still okay for a natural delivery. So we'll see if that's how you're meant to arrive.

Mommy's friends and colleagues don't think I look 'big'. They don't think I'm having a harder time walking these days - except for maybe Aunty Hsian who's ever mindful of my step whenever we are together. But I am catching my breath even on slow walks these days so you're not exactly an apple pip in the universe that is Mommy's womb.

Do you know, at this point, you're about 4-6weeks away from meeting your Daddy and I? While Mommy is anxious and a little nervous about the whole procedure, we are really excited about your birthday.

Everyone's trying to guess what you'll look like, of course. The bet is that you have Daddy's curly hair and big eyes and Mommy's quirky, introverted nature. But Mommy's secretly contemplating a lot about how our lives will change. When I think deep enough and have the courage of the saints, I realise my life was made for the gift of you.

John the Baptist (no, you're Aidan John of St.John the Evangelist and author of the Gospel of John), proclaimed to the Pharisees and Jewish leaders about Jesus that "He must increase, and I, decrease." He said this to underscore the importance of Jesus' teachings, life and glory over his own, even though he was himself a powerful prophet.

In the same way, your little life will become the centre of Daddy's and Mommy's own.

Our work ethic, our dreams, our decisions will all have a new purpose: You.

Many personal pleasures will be denied or compromised to accommodate your wellbeing - physical, mental and spiritual.

Many old habits will be replaced by new ones.

It will be a big change for both of us as we have been independent for so long. Even if the last few years have partly been dedicated to the lives and comfort of others.

But you are our calling. The fruit of the Marriage vocation which is itself a service to God. If we can impart all the love and teachings we have ever known from God, the family and friends He has placed in our lives, you will grow up to be the person He has called you into existence to become.

And like Simeon in the Temple when Joseph and Mary presented baby Jesus for santification, I would then say, "You can release me now, Lord for I have seen the salvation you promised the world."

Okay, okay, maybe not as dramatic but I think Mommy and Daddy would be able to pack our fake Louis Vuitton bags and go for that 2-month Amalfi Coast vacation then, wrinkles and saggy skin and all. :)