"Inside News"

Yep, she is still as squirmy as ever. She starts moving when I lie down, sit down at work and even respond whenever I start singing and praising God. She wakes up and starts her move when I chair prayer, or start to speak a little louder (like praying in prayer meetings). She responds when daddy talks to her and does her moves as he talks, massage my tummy and tries to make out her every limb. She seems to squirm and fall asleep after a bedtime story or a bedtime prayer. She weighs about 1.7kg and falls in the 50th percentile (Praise God she is measuring average sized) and her regular position head down with her spine curled along my left belly and her kickings concentrated on my right. She showed us during the scan last week that she is a she :) and was covering her cheeks up, not wanting to expose her full features. Maintain some form of surprise, she must be thinking. (A friend commented how similar she is with me, don't like to be caught on video) Still we caught bits of her chubby cheeks, a lot more baby fats, pouty lips and some hair on her head. Yup that's the "inside news" for now :)

From the Baby-Center - 31 weeks

Your baby's arms, legs and body continue to fill out -- and they are finally proportional in size to her head. She weighs about 1.5 kilograms and looks more like a newborn. She measures about 41 centimetres from crown to toe. You may notice your baby isn't moving around as much. Don't worry; she's just running out of space in your uterus. As long as you can feel her squirming, you'll know she's just fine. Believe it or not, she still has plenty of growing to do. You can expect her to gain at least 900 grams more before delivery. Your baby's organs are continuing to mature and she is passing water from her bladder: good practice for the urinating she'll do after she's born. Soon you can wonder what your baby is wishing for -- brain scans have shown that fetuses have periods of dream sleep around month eight.
You've probably gained around 1.5 kilograms this month. Gaining 450 grams a week is quite normal during the last trimester as your baby has a final growth spurt before birth. Has your sleep pattern changed? Find out why.

G.D.

So the conclusion of the blood tests (Glucose Challenge and Glucose Tolerance Test) I did last week shows that I developed gestational diabetes (GD). A condition fairly common in pregnancy. My GP said she had it for both her pregnancies and I was shocked considering that she is some active runner even throughout her pregnancies, and she only put on 1-2 kg for each of her pregnancies (in case you are wondering, both her kids came out normal sized). Well, putting me into better perspectives, she said having GD was the best time she could ever had because it gave her an opportunity to really learn to watch her diet, and in turn provided healthier living for her kids now, armed with better understanding of what goes into your body.

I took her advice. I never looked into my diet, since young I was blessed with good metabolism (too good) and basically eat whatever I like. I am not an excessive sort and enjoyed most food. So it's that kind, I am hungry, I'll eat whatever. I sort of carried that into pregnancy too, alright besides abstaining from raw, smoked and overly unhealthy stuffs, I ate almost "whatever" too.

But now I am starting to see the goodness of researching (thanks to internet) deeper into what goes into my mouth that will not only benefit me, but the little one too (and of course the father who eats the shares the dinner platter). I am definitely learning. Pregnancy is teaching me a whole great deal! From character, to spiritual disciplines, to practical healthy lifestyle!

Here's an article I read online -

THE SEVEN GUIDELINES TO THE LOW GI DIET

What is the Low GI Diet, how can it assist with fat burning and what Low GI foods should you fill your fridge with?

Low GI foods have two important advantages for people trying to lose weight: they fill you up and keep you satisfied for longer that their high GI counterparts; and they reduce insulin levels and help you burn more body fat and less muscle, so that your metabolic rate is higher.

GI is a measure of how fast carbohydrates hit the blood stream. It compares carbohydrates weight for weight, gram for gram.

Low GI: 55 or less
Medium/Moderate GI: 56-69
High GI: 70 or more

Choosing low GI foods is one of the most important dietary choices you can make. As well as identifying your best GI smart carb choices, these seven dietary guidelines give you a blueprint for eating for life:

1. Eat seven or more servings of fruit and vegetables every day

Why? Being high in fibre and therefore filling, and low in fat (apart from olives and avocados which contain some ‘good’ fats), fruit and vegetables play a central role in the Low GI Diet. In addition to protecting you against diseases (ranging from high blood pressure through to cancer), they are bursting with nutrients that will give you a glow of good health.
Aim to eat at least two serves of fruit and five serves of vegetables every day, preferably of three or more different colours. A serve is about one medium-sized piece of fruit, half a cup cooked vegies, or one cup raw. In addition to fruit, try the following:
sweet corn (GI 46-48)
sweet potato (GI 46)
taro (GI 54)
yam (GI 37)

2. Eat low GI breads and cereals

Why? What affects the GI of your diet the most? The type of bread and cereals you eat. Mixed grain breads, sourdough, traditional rolled oats, cracked wheat, pearl barley, pasta, noodles and certain types of rice are just some examples of low GI cereal foods. The slow digestion and absorption of these foods will fill you up more, trickle fuel into your engine at a more useable rate and keep you satisfied for longer.
Most people need at least four serves of grains each day (very active people need much more), where a serve is two slices of bread or half a cup of rice or small grains.

3. Eat more legumes, including soybeans, chickpeas and lentils

Why? You need to look no further than legumes for a low GI food that is easy on the budget, versatile, filling, nutritious and low in kilojoules. Legumes are high in fibre too – both soluble and insoluble – and are packed with nutrients, providing a valuable source of protein, carbohydrate, B vitamins, folate, iron, zinc and magnesium.
Eat these at least twice a week as a main meal such as bean soup, chickpea curry or lentil patties, or as a light meal such as beans on toast, mixed bean salad or pea and ham soup.
Baked beans: GI 49
Butter beans: GI 31
Cannellini beans: GI 31
Lima beans: GI 32
Mung beans: GI 39
Red kidney beans: GI 36

4. Eat nuts more regularly

Why? Although nuts are high in fat, it is mainly polyunsaturated and monounsaturated so they make a healthy substitute for less nutritious high saturated fat snacks such as potato chips, chocolate and cookies.
Nuts are one of the richest sources of vitamin E, which, with the selenium they contain, works as an anti-oxidant. Selenium helps guard against harmful UV rays to reduce damage caused by sun and premature ageing of skin.
Aim for a small handful of nuts (30g) each day.

5. Eat more fish and seafood

Why? Fish does not have a GI as it is a source of protein, not carbohydrate. Increased fish consumption is linked to a reduced risk or coronary heart disease, improvements in mood, lower rates of depression, better blood fat levels and enhanced immunity. The likely protective components of fish are the very long chain omega-3 fatty acids. Our bodies only make small amounts of these fatty acids and so we rely on dietary sources, especially fish and seafood for them.
Aim to eat one to three meals of fish each week.

6. Eat lean read meats, poultry and eggs

Why? Again, these foods do not have a GI because they are protein food, not a carbohydrate. Red meat is the best source of iron (the nutrient used for carrying oxygen in our blood) you can get.
Good iron status can increase energy levels and improve our exercise tolerance. While adequate iron can be obtained from a vegetarian diet, women particularly must select foods carefully to prevent iron deficiency.

Eat lean meat two to three times a week, and accompany it with a salad or vegetables. One hundred grams of lean edible meat as a part of a balanced diet will meet the daily nutrient needs of an adult, but larger amounts can also be part of a healthy diet. A couple of eggs or 120 grams of skinless chicken provide options for variety once or twice a week.

7. Eat low fat dairy products

Why? Milk, cheese, ice-cream yoghurt, buttermilk and custard are the richest sources of calcium in our diet. Calcium is vital in many body functions so if we don’t get enough in our diet, the body will draw it from our bones, which may lead to osteoporosis.
By replacing full fat dairy foods with reduced fat, low fat or fat-free versions you will reduce your saturated fat intake and actually boost your calcium intake. Plus, new research shows that calcium and other components in diary play a vital role in fat burning.
To meet calcium requirements, eat two to three servings of dairy products every day. Good and low fat dairy choices include skim, no fat or low fat milk, 40 grams of cheese or 200 grams of yoghurt.
Milk: GI 27
Yoghurt: GI 19-50
Low fat ice-cream: GI 37-49

(http://naturalhealth.ninemsn.com.au/News/Detail.aspx?ArticleId=8595)

Thoughts of the last lap

10 weeks to go ....

I have just spent the morning replying and sending out emails. I have flagged so many items on my inbox so that i will remember to look at them that i started i have overlooked so many other emails as well. This is what happens when you've just been through sick leave and public holidays. The throat is still hurting like crazy and coughing at night for a big pregnant belly means aching rib cage and totally disturbed sleep. A great training for sure.

Though a great weekend from the getaway, this week has been a whirlwind with the sickness and finding out a not too good blood test result which I will have to head in for further tests. Please pray for us that everything will turn out fine, especially for the little one! But all this jolted to me the need to be more watchful and disciplined in both my diet and exercise. Past 2 months have just been eating out/taking away alot. My used to be cooking almost everyday after work have been rather slackened to probably cooking once a week and having dinners out most of the time. Even if i cook, it's been just a "get-by" mentality and i think taste of food cooked have been just bleugh ... Swollen feet is an indication of lack of proper structured exercise time and rest. A note to self is to cook more (simple and healthy food) and squeeze in some structured exercise regime. I need the same kind of motivation as I would need to develop spiritual disciplines!

The last lap now, I am almost entering into my 30th Week pregnancy. The well-being of the little one almost is determined by me, my diet, my lifestyle (its been so right from the start). The responsibility that suddenly weighed so much. I felt so overwhelmed and the guilt of not 'trying my best' was so overwhelming as well. When I heard about the blood test, i wished i could have rewound the clock back some weeks rather be those extra cautious mom to be, watching the diet, exercising, rest etc. Thank God that He is still putting me back to His perspective. I got to learn to lean on Him more and not blow things out of proportion. Thank God too for a supportive husband who is unceasingly encouraging me despite His own worries too. He revealed yesterday that this whole pregnancy has been quite frightening and a learning curve for him too by taking up the support role. I can imagine how helpless he must have felt when I am in my panic modes or when I was just throwing up everything I took.

HIS Grace is more than sufficient for US. It is such grace where I can know that in OUR weakness, WE can say we're strong.

Elephant Swell

My feet is swelling and oozing out of my (Size 7!) shoes. Kind of look like elephant feet. Swell out of proportion again after leading prayer on Tuesday. Time to be hung upside down. My brain feels like its swelling too from reviewing the policies and procedures I have on hand. And I think I was over stimulated last night just thinking about the getaway this week, the details, the preparation and doing up the teaching. So stimulated that I think i must have tortured my poor tired (plus down with a cough and cold) husband because he tried so hard to stay awake so that I could unload my fast tracked mind to him in hope I can sleep better. It didn't quite work and made him go to sleep while I ended up waking like what seems a thousand times visiting the loo. I think that explains why I feel so tired today. I think Kel's feeling the same. Poor thing.

The need to encounter and be empowered

It's gonna be a packed week and possibly weeks ahead. This week will be filled with preparation for the weekend Unit getaway, so there will be a few sessions of teaching that I will need to prepare. And also the Sub D prayer tomorrow and a couple of shepherding sessions. Oh this week we'll also be commencing a 6 weeks long antenatal classes at the hospital, plus I will be due for a check up at the hospital this week too. I was just pondering in bed in the wee hours when I couldn't really get to sleep how much the need to daily encounter God and be empowered by Him. It will be so easy to hide behind physical circumstances and busyness and each day just passes us by. It was the mental note to self that I need to really get into the presence of God each day, and find Him in that secret place; not to rely on my own strength but be empowered by Him!