Answered Prayer

This is the first post about the pregnancy of my firstborn. Feeling nostalgic as I sort through the old posts..

1 August 2008

Do you believe in the power of your mind? Someone I know suggested that morning sickness is psychosomatic, meaning the woman’s psychological state triggers her physical discomfort. I believe that it’s a way our bodies tell us: “Dummy, so you want proof?”

Two days after seeing the O & G specialist, I started feeling nauseous, loss of appetite, heightened sense of smell, food aversions and cravings on top of dizziness, fatigue and breast tenderness.

I personally think morning sickness is an understatement as my symptoms were present constantly. After the 8^th week, I started actually vomiting and it normally occurred in the evenings (not to say that I did not vomit in the morning, afternoon and some ungodly hours). Sudden movement, tiredness and low blood sugar level would send me rushing to the porcelain throne. As a result, cookies and raisins were my best friend even though they did not taste the way I remembered. Sometimes I would wake up at 3 am and felt so hungry that I threw up again.

I grew up on nasi lemak, roti canai and fried delicacies. Ah, the good old days. After returning from my Hong Kong trip (around 7^th week pregnant), I found myself with a strange preference towards bland food. I could no longer tolerate my favourite nasi lemak or asam laksa or any fried food (scrambled eggs, pan fried fish included). All I wanted were mee sup, porridge, something tasteless please. Thank you.

On the other hand, my mother’s cooking and my childhood food suddenly filled my mind all the time. The memory of mian fen gao/mi hun keh (面粉糕), ban mian/pan mee (板面), fried kueh tiaw (West Malaysian style), wan tan mee (with black sauce, West Malaysian style) and home made pau’s would fill me with longing. How I missed my primary school’s mee rojak. I am going to cry now.

Ok, back now. Besides that, I had difficulty breathing at home. Not that I had difficulty BREATHING, but I can’t breathe easily because I found my house to smell like cockroach, dust and old books. My good husband sent the curtains for washing and cleaned the house for me but the situation did not improve. I wonder if I smelled the odour from the neighbour’s house. Hmm.

I get it now. I am pregnant, thank you, my physical self. I still don’t have other pregnancy symptoms like constipation and emotional instability. But it’s ok for me, I get your point now. Duly noted. Point taken. Amen.