Maternity Tour

We attended the maternity tour at the hospital where we will deliver the baby. The reality started to sink in, baby is coming in 5 weeks! We began our tour outside the hospital entrance learning where to drop off the package (me), where to park, and where to go once we enter the hospital. We then toured around the rooms we will be in: observation room, birthing suite, and recovery room. The facility is new and wonderful!

After the baby is born, the mother and baby will be moved to the recovery room. And on the way there, there's a painting of a mother and child on the wall. There's a small button within the painting that mom/dad can press and a lullaby will be played throughout the entire hospital to welcome the baby and spread the awesome news of a newborn! That's so neat and special!! Can't wait to press that button and welcome our little one! 

我們去參觀我們要生產的醫院，才開始真的覺得其實就快要生了，再5個禮拜！我們從醫院的門口開始，有醫生講解，教我們要在哪裏卸貨(就是我這個大肚婆)，在哪裏停車，進了醫院要去哪個樓層。接著我們參觀我們會用到的病房：觀察室、生產室、恢復室。整個醫院設備都非常新非常棒！

Baby出生後，媽媽跟小孩會被轉到恢復室。在被推到恢復室的途中，牆壁上有一幅母親與孩子的畫掛在牆上。在這幅畫裡面有一個小小的按鈕，剛生產完的媽媽爸爸可以按下這個按鈕，整棟醫院就會播放搖籃曲來歡迎這個新出生的寶寶，分享這個新生兒的好消息！我覺得好特別喔！期待按下這個特別的按鈕歡迎我們的小baby！

Pregnancy: Week 33

Entering into week 33 of my pregnancy! Countdown: 7 weeks to go! Really feel like carrying a bowling ball and walking like a penguin.... 

Lack of sleep is still happening due to bathroom runs throughout the night, turning and tossing trying to find the perfect position, plus sweating and leg cramps in the middle of the night... That makes napping in the afternoon necessary. It's like a training and preparation for those sleepless nights to come! Feeding and diaper changing day and night! 

I'm actually a little anxious about giving birth... Sometime weird thoughts would just pop into my head, like when I feel a little pressure on my belly, then I would be thinking if the baby is gonna come out... Or how would I know if my water breaks while taking shower... We often have thoughts that bring fear and stress, so what's on our mind is really important. I have to keep reminding myself to pray constantly, to replace those thoughts with the Word of God and His promises!! 

邁入孕期第33週，倒數7個禮拜。真的有帶著一顆保齡球的感覺⋯ 覺得自己走路有點像企鵝的感覺⋯ 

睡眠不足是真的，半夜凌晨都要爬起來上廁所，翻來覆去找到最好的姿勢，加上每次睡覺都滿身大汗，腳偶爾睡到半夜還會抽筋，吃了香蕉也無法避免～ 所以下午一定一定要睡午覺補眠～ 現在的睡眠不足應該就是為了到時候要日日夜夜餵奶換尿布做準備吧！

對於生產其實還是有點緊張擔心⋯ 常常會有奇怪的想法出現，像是肚子有一點壓力就會想說會不會是要生了，或是在洗澡的時候會想如果水破了我怎麼會知道⋯等等，所以說我們人的心思意念真的很重要，常常會想一些有的沒的嚇自己、給自己增加壓力⋯ 所以要常常提醒自己常常禱告，用神的話語跟神的應許來代替那些會讓我害怕的想法！

Breastfeeding With Success Class

This was our first official class at the hospital. Four hours of class learning about breastfeeding! It shows how important it is to breastfeed!! We practiced with the little doll on how to hold the baby in different positions while feeding and how to help the baby to burp. It was actually very informative. 

這是我們在醫院正式上的第一節課程。四個小時的課，學習有關怎麼餵母奶。可見餵母奶有多重要！！我們用小娃娃練習餵母奶抱baby不同的姿勢，還有怎麼幫baby打嗝。其實還蠻多資訊的，只是老師講話口音好重我們聽得好累喔～

Prenatal Check-Up #6

早上吃了一點麵包跟蘋果汁，早早起來準備去8:30的產檢，例行公事必須量體重跟驗尿。醫生量了baby的心跳，強而有力，蠻快的，大慨一分鐘150幾左右，接下來量了一下肚子的尺寸，也在正常範圍內。後來醫生建議我打流感預防針還有Tdap百日咳疫苗。特別是baby出生是12月，是流行性感冒的季節，所以建議只要會一直接觸baby的人都應該要打預防針。所以產檢完後護士幫我打了兩針我們就離開了。

準備要搭電梯下樓時櫃檯就有護士跟我們打招呼，問我們要不要打流感預防針。後來Will就去詢問ㄧ下，突然我就頭開始有點暈，護士讓我坐下在旁邊的椅子上，還給了我ㄧ瓶水喝，我就不暈了。後來護士就在幫Will打針，我就坐在椅子上等他。等他打針打好，我們就一起搭電梯從二樓到一樓。

沒想到，我ㄧ進電梯頭又開始暈眩，我馬上靠著Will跟他說，我頭好暈～～～～ 接下來我就處於半昏迷的狀態了。我根本張開不了眼睛，Will說我身體開始發抖，但是我耳朵還聽得到聲音，聽到Will請別人堆一台輪椅來，他跟我說我後面有輪椅，我坐下來，但是還是睜不開眼睛，知道有醫護人員來幫忙，知道有機器夾在我的手指頭上量我的脈搏，知道我坐在輪椅上被推.....接著就被推到急救部門去了。

後來張開眼睛，全身冒冷汗，醫護人員幫我量血壓，扶我躺在病床上。我整個覺得很虛弱，但想我眼睛可以張開，應該躺一下就可以走了。結果我的血壓非常低，而且越來越低。醫生護士一定要我打點滴才可以。所以只好乖乖的躺著打點滴，但是每次血管太小都要白白多挨一針才能找到血管。也驗了血糖，80幾在正常範圍內。所以今天總共被針刺了五次。

打了一個多小時的點滴，因為血管小所以要打比較久。其實已經清醒了，就問Will說，護士給我打什麼種點滴？他說：牛肉湯！哈～讓我這個大肚婆快笑死了，可以笑就是應該有體力了～ 最後打完點滴護士要量三次血壓確定正常才肯讓我離開。

這一切都發生的非常快，心裏很感謝主，有Will在旁邊，可以昏倒在他懷裡而不是昏倒在地上，而且還發生在醫院，可以在最短的時間內接受醫療上的幫忙。

This was my 6th prenatal check-up. I ate some bread and apple juice for breakfast and was up early for the 8:30am appointment. The routine includes weight check, blood pressure, and urine test. The doctor measured the baby's heartbeat, which is strong and fast, around 150 a minute. The measurement of my belly is also within the normal range. The doctor then recommended me to get flu shot and Tdap vaccine. Because the due day is December and it's the flu season, people who will be in contact with the baby are recommended to get one. So I got two shots from the nurse after the check-up and left. 

When we were about to take the elevator to go down, some nurses at the counter waved at us and asked if we want to get flu shots. We went over to ask some questions and all of a sudden I felt lightheaded. The nurse had me sit down on the chair and gave me a water bottle. I was fine and waiting for will to get his flu shot. After he was done, we left and took the elevator from second floor to the first. 

Unexpectedly, I felt lightheaded again when we walked into the elevator. I leaned on Will and told him that my head was so dizzy. Then...I was in the state of half unconsciousness. I wasn't able to open my eyes at all, Will said that my body started shaking, but I could still hear. I heard Will asking someone to get a wheelchair and then he told me that the wheelchair was behind me so I could sit. After sitting down on the wheelchair, I still couldn't open my eyes. I knew the medical came to help, the machine was clipped on my finger to get my pulse, and I knew I was pushed to somewhere. Then I was admitted to urgent care. 

Then I was able to open my eyes, cold sweats all over, the medical staff measured my blood pressure and assisted me to move to a bed. I felt so weak but was thinking that if I could open my eyes then maybe I could leave after lying down for a bit. But then my blood pressure was very low, and it was getting lower and lower. The doctor and nurse wanted me to have IV before they can release me. But my veins are so small that the nurse needed to try a least the second time to get the needle in my vein. My blood sugar level was also tested, 80 something within the normal range. So I was poked by needles five times in total today. 

Because of my small vein, it took longer to get the IV done. Actually I was completely awake and conscious. I asked Will what they gave me on the IV, and he said, "BEEF SOUP!" haha... I was laughing and that was a good sign to know that I had the energy to laugh. So I was released from the urgent care after they measured my blood pressure three times to make sure it was back to normal. 

Everything happened so fast. Praise the Lord, I'm so thankful that Will was with me and I could faint in his arms instead of on the floor. And it happened at the hospital so we got the medical help immediately. 

Pregnancy: Week 31

Officially going into my 31 week of pregnancy today, 9 weeks left before the due day. Those who have been journeying along with me through the pregnancy must feel the time has gone by really quickly, waiting and expecting with excitement!

My belly grows bigger in a faster pace this last trimester, especially these few weeks. Baby moves around a lot, it amazes me by watching the movement of my belly and knowing that there's another human being inside! Baby also responds to hubby when he talks to the baby~ I have quite good appetite recently, but once awhile I'd have acid reflux causing the burning sensation on my throat. Eating less bread or carbs definitely improves. I've gained nearly 20 pounds by now, the heaviest I've ever been! Don't know how many more pounds I will get within the next two months.

I rarely sweat before and I was afraid of cold but now my body temperature is high and I sweat all the time. This September was extremely hot. The electricity bill for last month triples.... Because I had to turn on the AC the moment when I wake up in the morning. I sweat so much during sleep and I didn't use a blanket for a long time...Had leg cramps three times during sleep, it was so painful. It's hard to find a comfortable sleeping position. I can only sleep on my side, 45 degree on the left or right. It's not as easy as before to turn. 

But praise the Lord, my heart is full of joy, no serious discomfort at all. A lot going on this month with doctor check-up and some classes, including breastfeeding, basic infant care, and maternity hospital tour.

Thank you all for your care, encouragement, and prayers!

今天正式進入孕期第31週，離預產期還有9個禮拜。陪著我一起懷孕的應該覺得日子過得很快，跟著我ㄧ樣帶著興奮期待的心情！

懷孕後期肚子大得很快，尤其是這幾個禮拜，baby常常在肚子裡面滾來滾去，看著肚皮動來動去的，真的覺得有另外一個生命在肚子裡真的是太奇妙了！而且每次老公跟baby說話的時候他都有反應喔～最近食慾很不錯，只是有時候會胃酸倒流，喉嚨就會很痛，發現少吃麵包澱粉類的就會改善。目前體重增加了將近快20磅，是有始以來體重最重的時候！剩下的兩個月不知道還會重多少。

本來我很少流汗，也很怕冷，現在體溫很高而且超級怕熱。尤其這個九月好熱好熱，上個月的電費是平常的三倍，因為我ㄧ起床就一定要開冷氣，每次睡覺都全身是汗，已經很久沒蓋棉被了⋯小腿曾經在睡覺的時候抽筋過三次吧，超痛的，睡覺姿勢也約來越難"ㄑㄧㄠˊ"，只能測睡左邊或右邊45度，換邊的時候也沒像以前那麼簡單了。

但是感謝主，心情都很好很喜樂，沒什麼很不舒服或受不了的地方。接下來的這個月有產檢，還有要去上一些課程，包括餵母乳、基本嬰兒照顧、還有參觀醫院等等。

謝謝大家的關心、鼓勵、及代禱！