this is actually a continuation of the previous blog. i realised that i left out quite a number of things (all courtesy of the famous "pregnancy brains"):

• CHANGES IN BREASTS - very sensitive and sore at the beginning, the areola darkens and gets bigger, the tiny glands around the nipples are elevated and veins under the skin around the breasts begin to show. all in all, the breasts and nipples are not a very sexy or should i say welcoming sight, if you know what i mean. besides, they hurt like hell and i would have probably punched b in the face if he ever came near them!
• LEG CRAMPS - this comes and goes for me. usually in the evenings and nights.
• GAS - this i have plenty of! but thankfully, mine all comes out as burps and not from the other end! this also could be one of the reason why i'm so bloated, puffy and swollen.
• BLEEDING GUMS - not a big issue for me. it's only sometimes and then also it's not as if i'm spitting out mouthfuls of blood, just a trickle here and there. only happens when i'm brushing my teeth.
• PREGNANCY BRAINS - this i suffer from. i've noticed that i have trouble sometimes using the right words. the word is in my mind but it simply won't come out. a lot of times now when i talk to b, i find myself stopping midway through a sentence only to have him finish it for me. i guess it's a good sign that he knows me well enough to know what i want to say!
• VAGINAL DISCHARGE - there's certainly been an increase in vaginal discharge. it's just that wet feeling and nothing a panty liner can't solve.
• FREQUENT URINATION - i can't believe how much pee i've got! i go to the loo like 6/7 times in an hour! you'd think that with all this pee-ing going on, i would not retain so much water still!
• CONSTIPATION - i guess my non-pregnant routine of moving my bowels 2/3 times after breakfast daily works well for me here. i am still a regular gal in this department.
• CRAMPS - not unlike period cramps. these are mild achiness akin to a pulling sensation on one or both sides of the abdomen because of the stretching of ligaments that support the uterus as it grows. mine comes and goes and it's never at any set times. it's just a sudden pulling sensation that appears and disappears just as quickly.
• DIZZINESS - i've only had this a couple of times. i usually sit down or lean on b when this happens. it passes pretty quickly for me.
• BREAKOUTS - this happens on a regular basis for me. it's just like before i get my period and it's not more than usual.

so there you go. the good, bad and ugly of being pregnant. i'm sure there are more changes that come with being pregnant but these are the ones that have affected me (which is quite a list so far!). so please don't use this as the complete guide.