Not many weeks left till Baby #2 comes. So, we decided to make good use of whatever time we have left to go for day-trips. So yesterday we headed up north. Initially the plan was to go to breacon beacon, the largest national park in Wales, but the weather was not really on our side. It was raining the whole day, so hiking and picnic were not an option. So we decided to head further up to this small town called Hye-on-Wye.

Hye-on-wye (which is pronounced High on Why) is a very special town famous for their book collection. It is even called the 'the book town'. Unsurprisingly, the majority of shops here are book shops, selling first and second hand books for very2 cheap price! These book shops houses a gazzilion of books from fiction novels, to poetry, to academic books. We really enjoyed shop-hopping and spending time looking around the books.

There was this one open air bookshop housed in a ruined castle - i thnk it was the first 'bookshop' in Hye-on-Wye and nobody actually jaga this shop.There was only a box (macam mailbox) for you to put in money for the books that you want to buy. All the books here are second hand books and all are sold for 50p (for paperback) and 1quid (for hardback) 

The bookshops are not the typical bookshop you'll find in the city. Its very oldish-like, with wooden floors that creaked whenever someone walks on it. I really found it to be very facinating! Each shop has so many books that fills up to at least 3 floors and they even have books up in the attic and down in the basement. They have low ceilings with feelings of rusty and dusty, which reminded me of those old libraries in old films. You just have to come and experience it for yourself to really appreciate it. Definitely a must visit place if you are really into books.  

So anyways, we did bought some books, mostly for Diya. But I definitely want to come back there some day and spend more. :)

So here are some of the pictures from our trip.

In one of he bookshops

The whole strech of this road is filled with book shops

Some books that we bought

Don't you think that this is the biggest, most hideous pimple you'd ever seen?

Gambar besar bagak! Sangat vain! (just so you can see my hideous zit!)

Bencinya! Unnessessary hormones, pls go away will you? Kan best if  have smooth skin like Diya's?

oh anyways, I've successfully downloaded some hypno birth affirmations and calming musics from youtube into my hard drive (thanks to your sugestions). Now to transfer them into ubie's handphone so I can start hearing them daily.

I've also start packing my hospy bag tapi tak siap lagi sebab i think i need a bigger bag! Or maybe I should seperate all the stuff into 3 bags. One for labour, one for baby #2, and one for Checking Out of the hospy. The problem is, do I even have enough bags? Aci tak pakai plastik bag aja?

My overflowing hospital bag

Oh, this is a sneak peak baby#2's cot. Actually the nursery corner dah 90% done, I'm just waiting for my nursing chair (sofa 1 seater yg landlord nak bagi) to complete the whole area.

Baby #2's cot

Baby D excitedly posing for a picture with her baby sis' cot.
My nursing chair will be placed at the right corner, next to the baby cot.

Okei, itu saja untuk kali ini. Jumpa esok!

After having long braxton hicks last nite (lasted till 3.30am) and having one now as I'm typing this, I am beginning to feel slightly panicky if pre-term labour would happen with baby #2. I know I've always been a bit impatient when it comes to waiting the whole 40 weeks of pregnancy, but I really dont want my bun to come out before its properly 'cooked'. After all, I am nowhere near ready. My hospital bags are not packed yet, I havent finish washing baby's clothes, I havent had a tour of the hospy that i'll be delivering, let alone having a dry run to get there (mind you we have to drop off diya to a friend's house before going to the hospy, if I were to deliver before my mom + sis comes). I hope I'll be at least 36 weeks before baby #2 decides to pop out. That's another 4 weeks BTW. :)

Anyways, did i ever told you how excited diya is to become a big sister? She always talks about baby #2 to other people (even to strangers), she talks and kisses my tummy everyday, she always said she will teach her baby sister to ballet (although dia sendiri pun tak pandai ballet LOL), she is the most excited person to buy stuff for baby #2, she helps me decorate baby's nursery area dan banyak lagi. Its so sweet actually when you think of it. Everytime she blows a candle (my scented candle) she would wish for a pink horsie for herself and a baby horsie for her sister. :) I have no doubt that she will be the sweetest big sister anyone could ever wish for. Or am i speaking too soon now? :p

Ps: I'm charging my Nikon tonight so I can start taking pictures again. Boring kan baca entries yg takde visuals? 

ps2: I'm thinking of downloading birth affirmations from youtube, so I can listen every night till labour nanti. Boleh ke download ek? 

I'm having braxton hicks as i'm typing this. And this has been going on for the past  hour now. Its not the most pleasant feeling in the world but I try enjoy it while it last. After all, its only 7 weeks more for me to enjoy being pregnant.

Anyways, kerana makk tak siap lagi assignments, I bravely emailed J saying that I wont need any supervision meeting this month. Selamba tak? Now I'm afraid to open my uni email and dreading to read her reply. Agagaga..

Truthfully, I've written more than 5,000 words essay about my FG method but I'm nowhere near finish. Ini baru FG method.I have 3 more methods to write about for my method chapter and somehow i feel macam I ter-over tulis plak pasal FG. Do you reckon that PhD method chapter would take more than 10,000 words? I'm thinking i might have more than 15,000 words. Aiyo. Anyways, i dont want to think about it now. Sampai masa nanti akan ku edit dan cantas mana yang patut. Lagipun the whole thesis is 80,000-90,000 words kan..

Anyways, I am currently researching about hypnobirthing techniques. I have not much time before my EDD so I'm thinking that I should prolly start practice the techniques soon. Anyone knows any good links about hypnobirthing, or have experienced a stress-free hypnobirth, sila bagitahu ye.. thanks.

Oh, I'm also thinking of throwing myself a baby shower. Boleh ke macam ni? LOL. BBQ baby shower would be the best, but looking at the recent weather in Cardiff and future forecast, I dont think it would be possible to have an outdoor party. Maybe suffice to have a baby shower at some coffee shop with a few friends instead.. haha..

Oh, also my dad's trip got postponed so he's not coming this month. Bummer..  

Anyways, guess what? I just opened my uni email and there it was.. a reply from J.. Thank god she said its fine. Phew! Oh, plus she wants me to meet her new PhD student for a cuppa. And I quote "its nice if she could meet up with a more established PhD student" (iaitu saya!). Makk terus kembang sekejap. Mentang2 dah third year, makk terus rasa macam mentor gittew.. kahkahkah.. Anyways, i've emailed this new student so we might meet sometime next week kot.

 ps: I have a mountain of laundry to do and this rainy season is not helping at all!

In the UK, its very common for every pregnant woman to prepare a birth plan so that all the midviwes and care takers are aware of your wishes during the labour and birth. I think it is a very smart idea because you cant really 'think and decide' rationally in the pain, so having everything planned before hand is quite useful. Anyways, I've prepared mine. If you guys think I've missed anything please bagitahu ye.. thanks! 

MY BIRTH PLAN

This is my second pregnancy. My first child was born by caesarean section at 40 weeks, due to odema and was advised by my O&G at the time. However, I am very keen to have a VBAC this time around and I believe that I would have a better chance of a natural birth considering that I have been very healthy in this pregnancy. Therefore, I would very much appreciate all the support that I can get to help me throughout labour and hopefully achieve a successful vaginal birth. 

I would like to know what is happening to me throughout labour. I would like to understand and know what the midwives and doctors are doing, and if I am unsure of anything, I would like to be told/reassured as to what is happening.

My husband Nik will be my birth partner.

I do not want to be parted from him at any stage. This includes during any intervention, I understand that if I need a general anaesthetic, he will not be able to be with me.

I would like things to be kept as natural as possible, and to keep lighting low and atmosphere soothing.

I appreciate that there may be the need for more than one midwife during Labour and Delivery. Please can all personnel make themselves known to Nik and I. I am happy for a student to attend the birth, but please no more people than are necessary. I want my birth to be a private as possible.

Ideally i will be staying at home for as long as possible. Also to be as active as possible.

As long as I am well and baby is well, I would prefer to be monitored intermittently rather than constantly.

My husband may want to take pictures or video of the birth.

I would like to be encouraged to stay as upright as possible, and to use different positions to speed up first stage. If there is a birth ball around that would be great. I would appreciate any suggestions on positions.

As much as possible, I would like to try for a water birth. But if I can't, I would still like to use the birth pool for pain relief, while also using relaxation and breathing techniques for as long as possible.

I do not wish to have artificial rupture of membrane and would like to avoid membrane sweep. I would also like to keep the number of vaginal exams to a minimum, no more than necessary please.

I would like to try to have the birth without any drugs but if I find that this is not possible, I'd like to be offered entonox as my first option during the labour. I would prefer to try and get by with these alone.

I would prefer to ask for any further pain relief, but I am not objectionable to being offered it.

I would like to avoid an intervention; if it is necessary then I will take your advice on pain relief.

I appreciate that at this stage I will need to be monitored. I still feel that if it is appropriate I would rather this is intermittent than constant so I am able to stay mobile.

I would like to remain as active as possible if I have to have a dry birth.     

I would prefer to see if I tear naturally than have an episiotomy.

If things do not go well, I am aware of the cycle of events that may be necessary to get baby out. If there is anything that we can do to avoid surgery/intervention then please let us try and do it.

I am sure that you will do everything you can for the good of myself and my baby and I trust that there will not be intervention unless it is absolutely necessary.

My husband can answer for me if I cannot, he is aware of my wishes and may be more rational than me in the heat of things.

I want my baby delivered straight to my breasts or to be able to deliver my baby myself, if in the water.

I wish to wait until the cord ceases pulsing before clamping and cutting it. It would be nice if my husband can cut the cord.

I would also like to bring home the placenta, please can you wrap it and give it to my husband.

I will attempt to breastfeed my baby and would like help from the midwife with this.

A vitamin K injection may be given to the baby.

This is simply a summary of my feelings and wishes for this birth. I realise that it can't be 'set in stone' and that changes can happen on the day. I will welcome helpful suggestions and any changes if necessary.

As long as we are kept fully informed, my wishes are respected and care givers are honest I feel I will get the best birth experience possible.

Thank you very much for all your help and support. It really means a lot to me.