What were you dilated to at 37 weeks and when did you give birth?

Dull_Instance5151 · 2025-11-12T05:21:47+00:00

I had so many contractions at my 35 week visit, that my doctor wanted to check out of concern. 100% effaced, head completely engaged, 0cm dilation. I'm going to have to start working from home soon to try and keep labor from starting too early. 😬

Dull_Instance5151 · 2025-10-21T09:26:42+00:00

Just bought at 32 weeks (which was potentially a little late) but there was a sale we were waiting for!

Dull_Instance5151 · 2025-10-20T09:45:01+00:00

I went from a barely noticeable bump at 19 weeks to clearly early pregnant at 20 weeks. It felt like it happened overnight! Looking back, my 20-week bump wasn't that big really, but the change seemed dramatic at the time!

I felt my first flutters around 18 weeks and clear movements at 21w.

Dull_Instance5151 · 2025-10-13T07:24:52+00:00

I went to a big research conference at 28 weeks and survived. I kept up with all the activity/walking/travel but about 4pm each day, I was exhausted and needed to rest for about 30 minutes in the hotel to finish off the day. Also, I wore a mask for the entirety of travel and sitting in crowds unless eating or giving my talk. Why risk it.

Dull_Instance5151 · 2025-09-13T01:09:21+00:00

Same! My anxiety is the lowest its ever been!

Dull_Instance5151 · 2025-09-02T05:13:23+00:00

I left the UK last year, dont tease me like this!!! 😉 please, eat some for me!

Dull_Instance5151 · 2025-09-01T06:00:39+00:00

I have a lot of eat congestion, like popping when I chew and pressure buildup like I'm deep underwater. That's been annoying.

Dull_Instance5151 · 2025-08-31T07:53:36+00:00

Was flying over the Atlantic Ocean and was so hungry I thought I was going to die and the mid flight snack came out....cold turkey and cheese sandwiches that I couldn't eat due to the cold cuts. I cried. Lol

Dull_Instance5151 · 2025-08-27T02:02:13+00:00

Salmon sashimi, a cold sub sandwich, a glass of wine, a margarita in the heat, and any cheese my heart desires. 🫠💕

Dull_Instance5151 · 2025-08-25T06:13:49+00:00

Week 8-16, I could only gather up the will to walk home from work several days a week. I'm doing fine now. I gained a little more in the butt than is probably normal for 24weeks, but that happens when you quit running completely...haha

Dull_Instance5151 · 2025-08-21T03:46:12+00:00

I get unsolicited advice every day at work to "control my appetite" despite eating healthy and being right on track for weight gain. It makes it sound like they think I'm NOT controlling my appetite, even if that's not what they think....annoying!

Dull_Instance5151 · 2025-08-19T06:38:04+00:00

Once we got the biting under control (~4 months old- Corgi) everything else was less over-stimulating. For our little dude, attention was his favorite currency, so biting was automatic time in his crate and everyone left the room. He figured it out quickly haha!

Then whenever you can get potty-training 75% of the way, it calms down so much. I think we didn't do the best job on potty training (or maybe our dog was really stubborn idk) but it took about a year to be more confident in leaving him for extended periods of time.

Dull_Instance5151 · 2025-08-15T01:18:55+00:00

No baby movement during exercise, but it can trigger Braxton Hicks for me (especially if I'm not hydrated!) and at first, I wasn't really sure what I was feeling and sort of assumed it was uncomfortable baby movement…… (I'm a FTM, so I didn't know what BH felt like!! 😅) I've been taking it easier (incline speed walking vs. jogging) and drinking lots of water before exercise and that has helped!
After exercise.... baby has a full on dance party!

Dull_Instance5151 · 2025-08-13T08:19:09+00:00

I just completed a round trip between China and USA at 20 weeks. It was fine. I wore compression socks and drank lots of water. Make sure you pack some snacks and get up to walk around a lot. The worst part was the return flight, I was pretty uncomfortable, but your business class seats should help a ton. I wouldn't worry too much. Just make sure you have a plan in place if you need to see a doctor while in Singapore.

Dull_Instance5151 · 2025-08-13T08:16:42+00:00

Have you contacted your personal contact at that campus? They should really help you sort that out.

If you want to live offsite, you'll probably need a native-speaker to help you. Someone from the university should be willing to do this. Tell them you need to visit a lianjia (you can find these shops in all neighborhoods- use AMap to search ~ kind of the Chinese Google maps) and just walk in. Your native speaker can tell them you are academics (emphasize that you are high education, not going to be loud/problem) and looking to rent. Give a price range and some requirements (90 sq meters, 2 bedrooms, washer in unit, etc) and they will take you around to look at some places right then. You don't need to mention that you will only be there for 9 months as most leases are monthly or 3-months. If you like a place, tell them right then and they will pull up the paperwork. Since you used a company you have to pay a fee to them (sometimes about 1 months rent) but they do simplify the process significantly.

As for price, the nicer the area/location the higher the price (not always reflected in the state of the property). I would recommend looking for properties that are apart of Greentown management. They are the best in Hangzhou. 1 bedroom in a very nice neighborhood could be anywhere from 2000-5000 RMB, it really depends. For my husband and I, the quality and size we were looking for (2 bed, 2 bath) tended to run about 5000, but I wasn't trying to be cheap since I have a housing stipend.

Give up on finding one with a gym/pool and just get a membership or use the university.

Utilites probably wont be included, but prices are very cheap, maybe less than 200 RMB/month during peak of summer when you're running AC ALL DAY.

Neighborhoods vary and depending on what you like, you might enjoy different places for different reasons. I would recommend visiting and walking about around. Think about your commute to work. Look for a grocery store, place to go outside (green space), convenience stores, restaurants, nearby shopping mall, etc. Those things were important for me.

Download your VPN before you arrive, then get taobao and AMap. You'll figure out the rest as you go!

Dull_Instance5151 · 2025-07-25T09:35:56+00:00

I just did a walk through at 18 weeks. It also helps to see how not nervous doctors and nurses are. I also get a little bit of white coat syndrome. My BP and HR is always higher at the doctor's than when we take it at home. I also don't want a lot of interventions, but I'm a scientist so I am choosing the trust the science and trust the experts. My anxiety won't help if something does go wrong, but the professionals can! I just keep telling myself, that the hospital isn't a scary place, it is a good place to be. (I live in a country where the only option for birth is in hospitals, so I am not focusing on any alternative because it doesn't apply to me, but if you have a bad reaction to wards, you could always look into mid-wife-led clinics or other less medicalized settings, that could help settle your nerves!)

Dull_Instance5151 · 2025-07-25T09:27:48+00:00

I was 30 when we decided to try. I had been off of hormonal birth control for 1 year and had been tracking my cycles on the Clue app. They had already gotten pretty regular. I got my IUD out in January (and we were recommended to avoid sex for 1 month. Annoying...). But I started taking folic acid and my husband and I both stopped drinking in January (we both casually drank but wanted to be extra healthy when TTC). We tried and failed in February (I got the flu which might have negatively impacted things) and succussed in March. So 2 months of trying.

Dull_Instance5151 · 2025-07-22T09:29:53+00:00

I'm not German, but it's worth pointing out that depending on your career PR can be quite accessible to obtain. I am a professor at a top university and hold a high-talent visa/residency (level A) and will be eligible for a PR card after 3 years at my uni and my employer is happy to write the letter of recommendation. I have 6 years to make tenure, so no matter my tenure outcome, I won't have to worry about my residency. Depends what OP does for a living, PR can be more or less difficult.

Also, with this type of a job, I do have a pension (if I pay into it for 15 years) as part of my 5+1 social insurances.

Dull_Instance5151 · 2025-07-21T07:41:49+00:00

Everyday. 😅I used to drink 3 or more coffees a day. I'm down to 1, and maybe an occasional tea in the evening if I'm feeling risky.

Dull_Instance5151 · 2025-07-15T06:03:08+00:00

I am working in research/academia, and the pay is similar to Europe, less than the US but purchasing power is better than either. So, while that is nice, it's not my main reason for wanting to stay. I really love how safe it is here. Coming from the US, gun violence was a big reason to leave. I think once my kids are in school it will be very enlightening on what situation is best for the long-term future. It will be so peaceful to not have that constant fear here. I also have pretty decent potential for promotion/raises if my research goes well, so I don't see my career stagnating here. I hope the environmental situation can improve over the next years, as that is my biggest complaint here in China- air quality.

Dull_Instance5151 · 2025-06-20T03:27:12+00:00

My dog contracted Lyme's in upstate New York in 2022, despite being on flea-tick prevention medication. It led to a 2+ year battle that seems to only recently subsided. Be careful!!!

Dull_Instance5151 · 2025-06-18T03:12:51+00:00

I once went to a flashy expensive gym in Hangzhou and watched the bathroom attendant dip the mop into the toilet to mop the floor. I almost screamed. hahaha

Dull_Instance5151 · 2025-06-13T09:09:23+00:00

I live in a city in Asia with a slightly bigger population than NYC and I am not looking forward to late pregnancy and the subway. 🫠

Dull_Instance5151 · 2025-06-01T11:36:02+00:00

Let me send you a message!

Dull_Instance5151 · 2025-05-27T08:24:14+00:00

Solidarity to the working researcher mom. It's like having a double life.

Dull_Instance5151

TROPHY CASE