7th March 2010 , Posted by Jaime Teo

Counting Down

It’s week 33 of being pregnant and really, one of the first things I wish I knew (although it wouldn’t change a thing) would be that the entire duration of pregnancy is more 10 months than 9. It is all about expectations, isn’t it?

On that topic, many have asked if we expect to have 2.1 babies after 2 years of dating and 2 years of being married – just so we’re right up there with the statistics we read about. For the record, it is an honest coincidence that we did date for two years and that we are now married for two years…..

Up till Chinese New Year last year, Dan and I were still giving polite smiles when asked when number 1 will be arriving. Fact is, our (brief) conversations about future offsprings always end up with discussions on a long holiday or a new hobby – it’s almost like an unending Things To do check list before we will reach Number 865276 : Being Parents.

To be really honest, we had at some point thought we’d be ok if we didn’t have children at all. We had this mental picture of us being a cute old couple, home with 3 cats, always holding hands and maybe playing ping pong (no, not at the same time).

There wasn’t a specific moment of enlightenment for us. I think several things conspired to make us think. There was my annual checkup with my gynaecologist. I gave her the same polite smile when she asked if we had plans for babies (My suspicious mind is sure of her vested interest when it comes to affairs of the womb). She gave me a clean bill of health and then sat me down to give me a detailed breakdown of the possible complications for both mother and child with every year that we wait to have a baby (no, I also didn’t request for the talk).

I remember paying more and more attention as she told me the direct relation between maternal age and risk of chromosomal abnormalities. That is, my child risks a higher chance of Down Syndrome / other abnormalities as I age.  She also casually included risks to the mother(me!), the increased chances of a miscarriage, recovery from birth, and other complications that could arise.

Ok…. I think that was when the whole replacing “Being Parents” with other more fun activities started looking like it may not work out so well in the long run. And I think that was when I finally heard the ticking clock. The one I’ve heard others talk about but never thought applied to me because living in denial is all a matter of getting used to and I am :p

There is a difference between having the option to have a baby when I want to, and not being able to, or having to worry about a whole lot of tests.

Like I said, the biological clock (and textbook fears) was by no means the total reason for us deciding to be parents. It really is too long to fit in an entry so let me continue with this later.

Back to guzzling milk and feasting on erm.. let’s see, this week’s cravings include ice cream, cookies and cakes. The burgeoning tummy is a great camouflage J Another 7 weeks to go!

Waiting area at my gynae’s. This is what Dan does when he’s bored.- experiment with our camera’s funky functions.

While I take my weight – which is a every visit must do (Dec)

And I’m usually all smiles before any visit cos I’ll be seeing Renee!! J