zenmama

The third trimester zoomed by like a rollercoaster, leaving me with a cocktail of excitement and anxiety about meeting our little one. Buckle up as I share the wild ride of my third trimester, and our baby prep adventures.

Symptoms: the pregnancy plot thickens

My pregnancy symptoms decided to go for an encore in the third act. My aversion to eggs and prawns stubbornly stuck around, but that was just the appetiser. I turned into a human furnace, unable to brave our tropical weather without air conditioning. When I did, I’d transform into a sweaty mess and break out in ‘pregnancy-induced’ eczema. It got so bad I had to see a skin doctor, who armed me with a tub of pregnancy-safe steroid cream for those pesky rashes.

As my belly ballooned, it felt like I was lugging around a watermelon 24/7. My movements became a penguin-like waddle, complete with backaches. I was constantly famished but my stomach had shrunk to the size of a pea! My feet decided to join the party too, swelling up and banishing my beloved ballet flats to the back of the shoe cabinet. Sneakers became my new best friends, and I discovered the magic of elevating my legs to keep the swelling and eczema at bay.

Operation Baby Prep: the great shopping adventure

We went on a baby gear hunting spree, with Carousell as our trusty sidekick to save some cash. Here’s our haul of essentials:

• UV Steriliser: We scored a second-hand Haenim 4G+, which turned out to be a real MVP. We chose it over the steamer to avoid any sleep-deprived scalding incidents during night feeds.
• Philips Avent bottle warmer: This little gem became our secret weapon for defrosting and heating up breast milk. Sure, a mug of warm water might do the trick, but ain’t nobody got time for that when you’re a busy parent!
• Imani i2 Plus breast pumps: These pumps were the star of the show – portable and powerful. The ‘handsfree’ claim was a bit of a stretch, though. I still needed to channel my inner octopus to support them.
• IKEA SNIGLAR changing table: This budget-friendly hero was just the right height for me, with a handy bottom shelf to stash all the baby essentials.
• Beblum Lavo 5 Baby cot: We fell in love with this sturdy, mobile crib. We resisted the siren call of the dropside crib (despite my petite stature) after reading some safety concerns.
• Baby clothes (bought new): We stocked up on ten sets each of newborn outfits, including sleeping jumpers, rompers, booties, and mittens. Our top tip? Water-resistant mats are lifesavers for those inevitable blowouts and leaks!

Packing for the big day: hospital bag edition

After wading through conflicting advice, we decided to pack for comfort. Our four-day hospital stay duffel bag (C-section edition) included:

• Comfy clothes, a cozy jacket, maternity pads, and toiletries
• My trusty Imani breast pumps for some hands-on lessons with the lactation consultants
• Entertainment arsenal: my iPad was my trusty companion with the Kindle app loaded with books and Netflix full of downloaded movies

The one thing we wished we’d packed? An abdominal binder. We ended up buying one from the hospital at triple the cost – ouch!

The emotional rollercoaster: countdown to baby

The third trimester wasn’t just about setting up the baby’s room and shopping sprees. It was an emotional bootcamp preparing us for our new family member. The anxiety of being properly equipped to care for a child loomed large, making me wonder if my two years of therapy had done the trick. But excitement bubbled up too, at the thought of starting this new chapter with my loving husband.

As we waved goodbye to our days as a twosome, we couldn’t help but feel a mix of nerves and thrill. The nursery was ready, the hospital bag was packed, and we were as prepared as we could be. All that was left was to embrace the chaos and joy that was about to enter our lives. Ready or not, here comes baby!

* This article is my personal account on the third trimester of pregnancy. *