The Seven Wonders of Pregnancy

There are obviously more than seven wonders of pregnancy but if I were to place them all in this blog, I might not be able to finish this at all.  So I'd be just listing the seven biggest wonders I lived during my entire pregnancy period.

Finding out we're pregnant.

It was definitely a moment I'd never forget.   A moment that brought hubby and I to tears upon learning the greatest news of all.  Our prayers have been answered.  Here's a link to the blog I wrote about this.

Sharing the good news to people close to our hearts.

The joy of sharing this wonderful news to all the people close to our hearts is definitely something wonderful.  Hearing the excitement and happiness from the voices of these people made us even happier and ecstatic about the new phase my hubby and I are about to enter. 

Hearing our baby's heartbeat for the first time.

Magical.  Hubby and I were brought back to tears.  The moment we heard our little angel's fast heartbeat is simply magical.  There's a life inside my womb... we will become parents soon.

Seeing our baby via ultrasound for the first time.

Ultra magical.   There she was so tiny yet already almost complete.  She seemed to be happily moving her arms and feet like a champion swimmer.  We were just overwhelmed by this wonderful site.  I didn't want it to end and I wanted to bring home the machine to do the ultrasound at home everyday and just stare at my baby....  Here's a link to the blog I wrote about it.

Feeling baby's first kick (just me)

This moment sent my heart to palpitate like I've had 5 cups of espresso in one go.  I was sent to plain euphoria.  My baby's communicating with me.  She's telling me she's there and she's doing good.  How can this not be one of the top 7 wonders of pregnancy...  Here's a link to the blog I wrote about it.

Hubby feeling the baby's kick for the first time.

This might be just the same as the previous one but for me it's another wonderful moment in my pregnancy.   Hubby was not able to feel baby's kick until after a month I started feeling our baby's movement.  So when he finally did, it was definitely a moment I'd never forget.  It's something that has bonded the three of us even more as a family.  It was a very beautiful moment.  Hubby's reaction is so classic, sent me to laugh my heart out.  Here's a link to the blog I wrote about it.

Holding her in my arms for the first time.

What can I say.  This tops everything else.  After 41 weeks, she's finally here with us.  I can already touch her, smell her, talk to her, see her smile after each satisfying breastfeeding session, sing to her, spend late nights with her, hear her cry in different decibels... she's simply wonderful.  Heaven sent.  Our very own star.

40 Weeks and Still Preggy!

She's a late bloomer, alright.  We're still pregnant and apart from very rare strong contractions, we are still very intact.  I am more anxious now than ever.  I am actually just a bit worried about little Spanish Pinay getting too big that she won't fit in my pelvis and we'd have to undergo CS.  I shouldn't be thinking about that... no worrying thoughts.. just happy thoughts of a beautiful birth.  Little Spanish Pinay and I had a serious talk last night.  She was moving so much giving me head butts on my cervix and bladder that kept me from catching up on sleep.  So I decided for us to have a serious talk.  Told her she should really consider going out really soon and that she'd have to perform well for our natural birth.  She answered me with even stronger head butts and louder elbow jabs and karate kicks.  What a character.

So now, I am trying to walk some more  even if it is just around the house.  I'd stop a moment whenever I feel my back cannot support the weight anymore and then try to walk again.  I also tried to eat pineapple as they said it helps for the dilation - there is actually no scientific tests or study performed about this but they said pineapple contains the enzyme bromelain which is thought to soften the cervix and so can bring on labor.  Whether there is truth about it or not, I love pineapple so there's no harm in trying :)

My midwife has warned me though that pregnancy can reach up to 42weeks and there is nothing wrong about that.  She said it would be better if we just allow the birthing process to start naturally.   There is nothing to worry as long as we can see that the placenta is getting old and that water is still intact.   Our hospital here supports for natural birth as possible as can be.  Medical intervention is only considered either or both the mom and the baby is facing some danger.   That works for me.

So I guess, I'll just try to relax some more for now and wait for little Spanish Pinay to finally decide she's ready.  Mami will keep persuading her though not to take longer :)

waiting...

The World is Ready

Spring has come with a promise in her hand.
The cherry and almond trees have delicately blossomed.
The sun has awakened with its might and strength.
The doves are back and hungrier than ever.
The earth has sprung to life in warmer colors.
Kids are back in the park, running and screaming with joy.
Longer days are winning over the dark and cold nights.
The sands are getting filled with towels and footsteps.

You see, Little Spanish Pinay,  The whole world is now prepared for your arrival.   Your parents, even more.  So, don't wait too long... there's a bunch of wonderful things waiting for you out here :)

She's a Big Bundle of Joy

She's a bundle of joy, alright.. but she's gonna be a big one!  We had our pre-labor check up today and our OB/Gyne told us that her size is normal but is more of gearing towards "big".  She's 3kg and 800g now (300g +/- margin).  I bit my lips.

We'll have 39weeks tomorrow and looks like I am nowhere near going into labor just yet.  Our little one is enjoying her last moments in the warmth of my belly - that's for sure.   She'd come out whenever she's ready and whenever she feels like it.   An attitude innate to her mom.  Would she inherit most of my character?  If so, her papi would better get ready :-D

She did wonderful though during our pre-labor check up.  We were being monitored for her movements and cardio frequency.  At the beginning though, she was very inactive and didn't want to cooperate.  The nurse gave me an orange juice to drink to poke little Spanish Pinay to move but it didn't work that much.  I sat down and told my husband to talk to her and see if she can be stimulated.  Hubby tried but nothing.  He told me that I should talk to her because what happens when he talks to her is that she calms down but when she hears my voice, she gets excited and happy.  So I started talking to her gently in my native language.  What do you know, just after a few seconds, she started moving... gently.   As if she just woke up.  I felt her stretches.   I continued talking to her and she responded every time.  Her monitor showed a lot of activities.  Hubby and I were so thrilled.  I was so elated.  I felt connected to my little Spanish Pinay more than ever.  I kept telling her she's being a good girl and mami is very proud of her.  She seemed to really like that.

I had to be in this position as I just couldn't keep a lying position.  It pains me.  Main reason why I sleep in the couch at nights and not in bed.... 

So we finished our monitoring session shortly after.  The we were off have our ultrasound.  The OB/Gyne told us more details about our pre-labor term.  Everything's good and normal so far.  Placenta level is good;  I haven't dilated at all, which is stil normal; little Spanish Pinay is on an anterior position - not ideal but she still has time to turn around.  

We'll have to have some serious talk about her assuming the perfect position, about not gaining more weight and about coming out sooner than later!

No to No-Pain?

From the beginning of our pregnancy, I had it clear.  I don't want this popular epidural for our delivery.  No, I'm not aiming for a martyr-award nor wanting to prove I'm a strong and invisible woman.   It's just that I have a great fear over this drug and the way it is administered.  I've heard unfortunate stories about epidural and some side effects of it (though percentage is really low).  Some friends also swore by it and expressed that without it, they could have probably died with pain during labor.  Probably due to ignorance, I am just not comfortable about it.

I am not saying either that whatever happens, I won't take epidural.  After all, this is our first pregnancy.  I don't have an idea how low or high my threshold is about labor pain.  I am trying to keep an open mind.  In fact, I just went through some tests to know if I can be administered with epidural just in case I ask for it.  I also had a talk with the anesthesiologist about epidural, how it is administered and for her to answer my questions and doubts.  She had been accommodating with all my questions hence but still in the end, I am on the side of hopefully not wanting epidural for the delivery. 

My mom gave birth to 6 children, one even came out with her butt first, all natural child-brith and no epidural or whatsoever.   That IS amazing.   Though it is not necessary that if she was able to do that, I too can do that.  But at least I'd like to think of that as something out there in the world of possibilities that can very well happen to me.  Sort of inspiration.

Then again, who can tell how the delivery is going to be.  Each childbirth is unique to every woman... the experience, the pain management, the physical and emotional status, etc., and these things can't just be used as a reference to one's own delivery.

Maybe I am going to dilate fast and would be at 7cm already at the time we arrive in the hospital... maybe the anesthesiologist is not available to administer epidural and so they can't give it to me even if I gave in and ask for it... just maybe there will be certain circumstances that epidural is just not an option for me, then I don't really have no choice but to go through childbirth without the help of this drug... then probably that's easier for me to take the decision, ehrm, that's not actually taking any decision.   Maybe that's better.

Right now, what I am trying to do is imagine a beautiful birth for our little Spanish Pinay.   I know too that hubby will be there in every step of the way and that he will be my natural pain reliever (that is, if he doesn't faint in the delivery room :-D).  As part of this birthing orchestra, Little Spanish Pinay will be as wonderful as a bright star early in the morning.  I have no doubt about that.  She has been a very good girl this whole pregnancy.  Good girl but fierce!!  (Her nightly head butting, punching, kicking and most especially stretching is still on going).  

So, little one, whenever you want, mami and papi are ready for you! (Hey, give me enough warning though, OK?  Thanks, baby!)

The Waiting Game

We're on our 38 weeks! I am going stir crazy with so much anticipation.  When will the big day gonna be?  I know it's very very soon but it just seems like I've been waiting for like forever.  Only one week has gone by since our full term has passed but I feel like it has been a month!

My tummy has grown too heavy for my scoliosis-afflicted lower back - making almost every movement very difficult.  Walking up a plight of stairs is a big calvary.  I would end up running out of breath after a short shower.  My doctor has given me temporary disability due to my back problems and other difficulties.  I just can't continue working anymore.  In spite of physical exhaustion I feel everyday, my mind is always up and about.  I have so many thoughts going on in my head, different emotions filling up my chest - adds up to the reasons why sleep evades me at night.

38 weeks, 66kg, 104 cm

This waiting game is becoming a fountain of anxieties for me and hubby.  But it's all very exciting.  I am trying to enjoy the end of my pregnancy now in spite of all the physical pains I am experiencing.  I'm pretty sure I will miss this.  My hubby and I have been on the look out for the signs that labor is on its way.  As a first-time-mom-to-be, I am so unsure whether I am already getting some early signs of labor or not... obviously, as of this moment, I haven't had any signs of labor yet but I'd always think(imagine) some signs are already manifesting.

I still have some schedule for check ups with the midwife and OB\Gyne - not to mention one more day of preparatory class.  Sometimes I just want everything to be done and over with so I can focus on my waiting game.  I just want to sit in the sofa, stare at my belly and wait till I start to notice the signs of labor (what a cuckoo).  Good thing I have people around me that distracts me and make me think of something else.

I really miss my family back in Manila more than ever.  They are all very excited about little Spanish Pinay.  They are also astounded by my enormous tummy.  This size wasn't expected at all.  All my family and relatives keep telling me that during my mom's and older sister's pregnancies, their tummy was just half the size of mine.  I'd often tell them, blame it on the genes of hubby... he was a whopping 5kg-baby when he was born.  Oh God help me that little Spanish Pinay won't be as big as he was.

So the waiting game is on.... and I do, do, do hope it won't be for long.  

Barely a Month Before the Big Deployment!

Yes, it's barely a month and the wait is getting more difficult by the second. My tummy is now too heavy for me that I am suffering from a round ligament syndrome. There are times that the pain is just excruciating that I can't lift a leg to walk. Little Spanish Pinay is still as active as ever...maybe even more. Sometimes I feel like she's crawling her way out of me and the sensation down there is just terrible. Continuous sleep at night has become a rare gem. It's difficult to find sleep many times due to difficulty in breathing and when I finally fall in the abyss of dream, I'd be awaken with either my back pain or cervical pain because of the sudden movement I made.

There seems to be no comfortable chair for me anymore... not the dining chair in our house, not the one at my in-law's house, not any chair from any cafeteria... they're all like a big pressure to my cervix. I only have my one and only refuge... our sofa in the living room. Thank God at least I have one place I can rest. This is where I sleep every night too. Although I still wake up from time to time due to back pain or cervical pain, I still prefer our sofa over the bed a hundred times. I also have this birth ball that helps me calm down my cervical pain while I do some pelvic exercise on it. I recently discovered that I do better with it instead of the dining chair. It sounds ridiculous but hey, works for me. No more additional cervical pain after each meal.

It does sound like this last trimester of pregnancy is becoming a nightmare but then again, everytime I am just lying down the couch watching my tummy wave with our little one's movements (the gentle ones and not the Pacman's jabs and pompyangs), it just feels so magical. She even seems to respond with our calls and touches especially the ones from her papi. It's becoming more and more evident that she'd be daddy's girl. Whenever she goes crazy and I couldn't stand the pain from her kicks and punches, I'd ask my hubby to touch my tummy and talk to Little Spanish Pinay. She would seem to calm down after a few seconds and would do some gentle movements. Hubby will remove his hands, back to what he's doing but then after a few minutes, Little Spanish Pinay's back on her big show. It's as if she's has learned that if she does that, she'd get papi's attention. What a little spoiled bruiser!

Happy Baby

So she's a happy baby. That's what my midwife has confirmed me today when I asked her about what I think is an excessive activities inside my womb. She also added that active movements from baby the whole day means that the baby has full of vitality. You've got some strong heart there, little Spanish Pinay, huh!

I told my midwife that sometimes I worry because it doesn't seem like she takes some rest as her activities last to me like for the whole day... even during wee ours of the night. With a knowing look she said "Ah, descansa, descansa... es mas lista que hambre, ya veras" - "Oh, she does rest... she's smarter than hunger, you'll see" (Some Spanish saying).

I left the prenatal clinic with a big smile.

Baby, my bladder is not a trampoline

8 months and little Spanish Pinay is becoming even more active. Articles I've read mentioned that by this time, baby's movement may be lessened as they grow and the space they move around gets smaller. Apparently, not the case for my little one.

I enjoy watching my big tummy dance to little Spanish Pinay's rhythm. I am always amazed how my tummy moves like something is boiling inside or when it takes a very funny shape because little Spanish Pinay seems to be stretching or just practicing her vogue pose. I tried to capture it through a video many times but it's just not the same seeing it with my own eyes and feeling the movement at the same time. I would often talk to her and would sometimes get responses of sharp kicks. Makes me burst out laughing.

That is the joyous part. On the other hand, she also seems to love jumping up and down on my bladder. Gives me sharp pains and the feeling of an emergency nature's call. It's not only my bladder that she enjoys jumping around but she also loves to do some Jacky Chan moves that make me jump with a sudden sharp pain on the sides or the area where my lungs are at. Sometimes, I also feel like I can feel her kicks on my rectum.... oops, no intention of grossing out anyone.

In general I do enjoy the baby movements and wouldn't change it for anything in the world... but boy, they do hurt sometimes.

It did came to me one time that this tremendous amount of baby movements might not be normal. So, as what I usually do, I scouted the online world for an answer. As expected, I am not the only one having the same question in mind. Every article I've read says this is completely normal and is actually a very good thing, because healthy and happy babies love to move (that is when they are not napping...). I smiled about the thought. My little Spanish Pinay is a happy baby. I'm dying to see her smile and hear her giggle.

I shared this happy baby article to hubby and he laughed with contentment. More so, he kind of stopped calling our little one as rasculina (little rascal). He now knows better ;-). Little Spanish Pinay is not being rasculina... she's just happy. She's a happy baby and we are her happy papis :)

Tomorrow, during my scheduled prenatal checkup, I will confirm more with my midwife. She'll probably laugh at my question but it doesn't matter. I prefer to look ignorant by asking silly questions than getting eaten by paranoia.

And The Single-Number Countdown Begins

9 weeks to go!! I feel like the time has passed by sooo quickly. From the time that hubby and I were monthly hoping that I'd have my delay soon, the time when we finally confirmed we're pregnant, my tormented first trimester, the first ultrasound, so on and so forth. Although I am already excited to finally have our little one in our arms, I do believe I am going to miss the feeling of being pregnant :-D. The look of my big tummy and little Spanish Pinay's movement inside my belly are one of those that I will definitely miss. I'd laugh when my tummy moves in a ridiculous way. I'd often wonder how little Spanish Pinay actually does her movements inside as she gives me funny feeling with her movements. Well, sometimes not so funny as they hurt.

As the single-number countdown begins, I started to feel a much better with the cervix pain I mentioned from the previous blogs. With the help of 2 things:

Maternity belt

and

Kegel exercise

Right now, I am feeling much better with the cervical pains. I walk better now and feel better overall. So, the gynecologist was right after all... there's nothing to be worried about the pains I was having... they're really one of the joys of pregnancy :)

I've read about Kegel exercise that it does wonders. It's basically a pelvic-floor strengthening exercise. It helps you give better support for the growing uterus, bladder and bowels. It also can ease pregnancy and postpartum symptoms such as hemorrhoids and urinary incontinence. Another really good benefit of Kegel exercise is that it can help you avoid episiotomy during delivery. I do have to be faithful with my Kegel exercise especially that it seems like my pelvic cannot support my growing uterus that much as I had those pains that sent me running like mad pregnant to the emergency section of the hospital. So wish me luck with keeping the discipline on doing Kegel exercise.

So there, 9 weeks to go... let the countdown begin!

30 Weeks, 10 To Go

At 63.5kgs, my midwife has cleared me off the diet!! Wooohooo! I can now eat normally... uhm, normally like a normal person and not the normal me who gulps a whole bag of cheetos in say, 3 gulps? Thanks to my mother-in-law, my midwife found out about my nasty little a addiction to junk food. So my midwife was so adamant about me staying away from those. According to her, If I really do crave for them, I'd have to limit myself to just an amount fit on my palm and ONLY once a week... on a Saturday, for instance! I never had problems with weight gain due eating to too much junk food before I got pregnant... but I guess pregnancy does change one's metabolism... and apart from that, I have a little one inside me to think about... so I must be more responsible now and try to stay away from my junk foods.

30 weeks... just 10 more to go. We're really getting nearer to our due date. I'm excited and nervous at the same time... but really, more on excited. I can't wait to see my little Spanish Pinay and held her in my arms and smell her baby scent.

I've been a little bit better from the pains I've been having around the cervix area for the past 2 weeks. I still have the pains especially when I am on foot for a long time.. but it is not as unbearable anymore as before. I guess my efforts to do Kegel exercise is paying off as well as being able to walk more over the weekend. Looks like the pain was caused by little Spanish Pinay's pressure on the certain part of my cervix and being seated for too much time in a day due to work. The doctor also told me that as time goes by, the baby's head will decend more and will avoid that part of the cervix that might be giving me more pain so things will get a little bit better. Although, as the baby grows, I can feel more pressure down there that may give me some other uncomfortable sensations. I just need to avoid to be on foot for too much time. Walking is good but I should pace properly so I won't be carrying the weight for more than the required time.

I'm also getting ready for my preparatory class for the DDay. The class will be every Friday at 9:30am to 11am. It'll be nice to meet other pregnant women in town and listen to their own unique stories about the joys of pregnancy :-D

with 97cm waist line!

Bummers on Third Trimester

At the beginning of my 28th week, I have started feeling some pains on my cervix area. Not a big of a deal pain, but it has called my attention. Very similar to the pains a woman would normally feel during her period. Like gravity is focusing right there to pull it down. I thought I was just tired, so I tried to rest as much as I can. But comes the 29th week, the pain has worsen. It's realy difficult to stand up from a sitting or lying down position. First few steps are just unbearable. Rolling over while in bed has turned out to be a nightmare. I do not walk like a normal pregnant woman anymore... I have converted into a human penguin. My paranoia has even bloated more when I started to consult the internet and found different cases and variety of opinions. I wanted to think this is just normal... afterall, I'm already almost in my 30th week. But pain this strong... this couldn't be just normal.

Good thing that may scheduled prenatal check up was already nearby so I waited till the day. My midwife, upon seeing me walking slowly with difficulty, immediately asked me, "What happened to you?" I just said, I am in so much pain.

She started checking up on me, asking questions but couldn't really find out what's wrong. She asked me to take urine analysis just to eliminate the possibility that it could be UTI... but it is very unlikely. I don't have the symptoms of someone who has a UTI. She also asked me to go to the emergency later today so they can check up on me more. She is worried about what could be causing me this too much pain. And I am triple worried.

So in the afternoon, my mother-in-law and my sister-in-law brought me to the emergency. I was attended at once and they had me submit a urine sample and then later on was asked to lay down the bed to they can monitor the baby's heartbeat and to see if there's any contraction. I spent about 30mins in the bed hearing my little Spanish Pinay's heartbeat and kicks at the same time. As usual, she's really active and seems to be very curious about what was connected in my tummy. She kept on moving and poking the area where I had a stethoscope-like aparatus connected to my tummy.

Then the time for the gynecologist to check on me has come. I was asked to go to another room to see the gynecologist. After checking the result of the urine, the heartbeat and contraction monitor, he was utterly convinced everything is normal. I told him I don't know up to what intensity of pain is considered normal. He also briefly checked the baby via ultrasound. Measured the head and the tummy and then told me everything is perfectly fine. After giving me a book-length explanation of anatomy and pregnancy, I just gave up and told him ok.

Honestly, one part of me is really happy that everything seems to be really good for my little one... but I am still left with the same question in my mind. Is this kind of intense pain really is still normal for a pregnant woman like me at this time of gestational period? Some women I know who had been pregnant didn't have this kind of pain... some women I know and heard of also had even the worst kind of pain and some other worst experiences. Each pregnant woman is really a whole new different world. Oh the joys of pregnancy.

Right now, I just have to take my doctors' words, try not to worry and bear the seemingly unbearable. Most of all, I just have to trust God with all this. He's been taking care of this little angel in my belly and I do know He has already assigned a guardian angel to protect her 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I too am will be fine, as little Spanish Pinay needs the orginal Spanish Pinay to be healthy and strong. There's more to come so I better gather more guts until the big day.

A Day for 3Ds

Thursday - Jan 28, 2010, last day of our 28th week, we had another sneak peak of Little Spanish Pinay in 3D-4D. She graced us with a very nice smile and different gestures during the ultrasound. My heart was aflutter while I watch her over the monitor doing her little antics. I looked at my hubby while he was holding my hand and I can see his glowing smile... kept on claiming that Little Spanish Pinay just looks like him. He's simply very proud of the miracle before his eyes. And I am simply elated and warmth by the love around me.

At the beginning, little Spanish Pinay's face was being covered by her arms... the moment the gynecologist applied the cream for the ultrasound on my tummy, I felt her kicked. She probably felt the cold cream so she tried to cross her arms in front of her face as a form of self defense.

After a few more minutes, she started to become more cooperative and showed us her face.

I was so happy I saw her pronounced nose, I exclaimed "Tiene nariz!" (She has a nose!). The gynecologist and the nurse laughed so I kind of explained that since I have such a flat nose, I am glad my baby has one... and for sure she got it from her papi :)

We also caught her practicing her sucking ability. She's oh so ready for her yummy milk :)

And then she suddenly had her mouth wide opened that caused a big awww sound inside the ultrasound room.

Here's our little Spanish Pinay's precious smile. It wa very brief but just a few split of seconds is all I needed to understand her message. She's ok, everything will be ok and she couldn't wait to finally greet the world while cuddled in the arms of her mami and papi.

Outside the clinic, we just had to take a picture of the happy, excited and proud parents-to-be.

We celebrated the day by watching Avatar. It was a nice movie though the plot may already be too used. It reminded me a lot of the cartoon FernGully, The Last Rainforest (which is one of my fave, by the way) Still, we enjoyed it especially the 3D effect and the food we ate inside the theater. We pigged out!

There goes my diet! With the big popcorn and the big soda (plus hotdog and nachos), I've gone waaaaaay past my 1500-calorie diet plan.

But a day is a day... we've got plenty to celebrate and it just had been a wonderful day for all three of us :-D

Where Are My Toes?

From a standing position, I can't see my toes anymore. That's how large my tummy is now. All I can see is my little Spanish Pinay - literally and figuratively. The desire to finally hold her in my arms, see her open and close her eyes, hear her make little noises, feel her soft breath while she sleeps and so on, just keeps growing and growing in me.

My toes, I'll be seeing them soon... but right now, I am not missing them at all. Looking down and seeing my belly with my baby inside, is for me, a sight to behold... there, in its warmth, little Spanish Pinay is safely being cradled and prepared for its grand reveal.

27 Weeks Today

We're 27 weeks today and little Spanish Pinay has been really active. I swear, sometimes the kicks and the jabs make me twitch. I can already imagine how it's gonna be as we go nearer to our DDay. I learned though that my little one can already start having hiccups. Now, how cute that can be? I didn't realize it until I've read something about it. There are times that I'd feel some rythmic movements in my tummy... I'd thought my baby's doing some rythmic exercise not realizing that, that could very well be her, having some hiccups. They said these hiccups are normal and that they don't hurt my baby so there's nothing to worry and there's nothing that needs to be done either.

On the other hand, I am bigger than ever. I feel so heavy and just feels tired many times. I do try to walk around from time to time to get me some exercise but was really never a big fan of doing exercise. Good thing is that so far, I'm doing good controlling my weight gain through the dieatary plan my midwife has given me. Blood pressure is also ok and I am not having water retention.

As we enter our third trimester, hubby and I are really getting more and more excited. We've started visualizing how we'd want our nursery room but we've still got a long long way to go. It's just so nice to start looking around for cribs, changer, strollers, and other cute baby stuffs. There's so many to choose from, they get my head spinning. It's also amazing how these stuffs are so expensive so we really gotta do a good planning so things can fit in our budget. We'll see how we'd do with budgeting... something tells me I'm up for a good challenge :-D

We're Counting Kicks!

Pregnancy is a very mysterious process but at the same time with much paranoia around the pregnant woman. I for one, have been a paranoid preggo. I often wonder how's my baby doing inside and when should I start to feel her movements and just can't stop worrying. Perhaps my little one has felt all these and pitied her mami so she made me physically feel her presence quite early.

I have started her slight movement since week 16. I must say that's too early for a first time pregnant women like me... but there's no doubt about it, it was her, telling me she's so alive and kicking.

As early as week 20, she has let her papi feel her activeness already. It was such a precious moment for the three of us.

Now that we are on our 26th week, we say it's time to count kicks. Although Little Spanish Pinay is a very active baby, we thought it's still a good idea to start counting kicks. This way, we'd notice right away if we are having less and less kick as the days pass and be notified at once if we need to go to the doctor to get an expert's opinion.

As early as now, she never stops to amuse me with her antics inside my belly. It feels like she's doing a lot of summersaults in there. When my belly touches the cold sink, I would suddenly feel a loud kick as if trying to push me away from the cold sink. Also, when she hears a rough loud voice, she'd start kicking and jabbing. At night, before going to bed, I would giggle with her actively doing her acrobats. Sometimes it takes a while that I would plea her to sleep already. One night while my husband is already sleeping, and me, half-asleep, Little Spanish Pinay started punching and jabbing and kicking. It was too strong that I can't sleep so I caressed my tummy and told her to go and sleep already. My husband heard me talking and started murmuring thinking I was talking to him.

One afternoon, as I was trying to rest from all the work of the day, I had my palm resting on my tummy. I was already sleeping when suddenly I was awaken by a very distinct and special movement in my tummy. I felt a bump suddenly growing in one area of my tummy and it slowly goes down like it's caressing my hand. I was so moved and could just utter "Hi baby. yes, mami knows you're there and she loves you too"

This feeling is simply synonymous to absolute bliss.

Because Babies Don't Come With a Set of Instructions

Hubby and I walked around downtown yesterday. We dropped by a bookstore and saw this really cute book.

The Baby: Instructions for Use

The title sounds funny and cute at the same time. It has very useful information and really nice colorful pages inside. What's also nice is that it comes with the baby's diary.

Right book: The Diary of My Baby

It's a diary with full of useful tips and tricks to plan the day to day activities/things to do and to take note of the best moments with the baby (or any moment for that matter.. as any moment with the baby is for sure something really really special).

Totatlly Busted

25 weeks and 3 days. I had my 4th prenatal check up with my midwife. As usual, she asked me to lay down on the bed to check for the baby's size and heartbeat. Everything's perfect. My blood pressure is also good... a little lower than normal but she said that may even be better. So, she was all happy I'm being a good girl. Little did she know.

Then she asked me to step on the weighing scale. 64 kg and 800 g. Note taken. She was still calm and doesn't have a clue on what she was about to discover. Then she asked for my pregnancy booklet and started writing down the data. I saw it coming. Her face turned red and she almost had a heart attack while exploding angrily... "What is this??? You gained 5 kgs in a months' time!! Do you realize that? This can't be! This can't be! This can't be! You are putting your baby in a big risk. This can't be! Only you can take care of your baby! Only you! Not even your husband so, you better watch out and be more responsible. You perfectly know why people get fat, so you perfectly know what to do, well, absolutely no bread, no potatoes... " and so on and so forth. She just wouldn't stop.

I just kept quiet, scratching my head with a guilty smile on my face. She encircled my latest weight with red ink and wrote in all caps "DIETA" with two underlines on my pregnancy booklet. She also gave me a sheet of paper with a dietary plan. My mother in law who was with me sat quiet too while my midwife exhaled her fumes. When she calmed down a bit, my poor mother-in-law asked her... "Are dried fruits like peanuts and walnuts good for her to eat?... it's just that she likes them a lot... " and she was cut off right there and then by my midwife. With more frustration this time, my midwife fired back... "Señora, you do know very well the answer to that question. Everybody knows. You know as much as I do... " and my mother-in-law replied with apologetic voice... "No, I'm sorry, I am not very informed about these things... "... So my midwife exhaled and ranted some more and in the end said, dried fruits can cause weight gain too... so no to dried fruits or just a very minimal amount.

Oh boy, this is going to be a big challenge. With my growing appetite, and slower metabolism, it'll be a whole lot of struggle. But for my little Spanish Pinay, I will do my very very best, so help me God.

waist line 96cms

25 weeks and 3 days

Good News, Bad News

Check up with the head doctor today due to my persistent dry cough. My doctor gave some homemade solution for the dry cough. Good news is that, it's only some irritation within my throat and no infection or whatsoever so no medication necessary. A teaspoon of bicarbonate and some lemon drops on a lukewarm water, gargle with it 3 times a day and that should do it in 3 or 4 days... if not, I should call him.

Another good news is that my O'Sullivan test checked out. Glucose level is normal after the test. Bad news, is that I have low Iron, hemoglobin, etc. Looks like my little Spanish Pinay is needing more iron than my body can produce now. I had plenty of iron during the previous 5months but now, either because my little one is demanding more iron for her growth or, something is not sufficient in my diet. Either way, my doctor gave me an iron supplement. Tardyferon. It's a ferrous sulfate supplement. I was warned that this may give me some acidity so I better take it before lunch time so tummy won't be empty.

Funny that my hubby keeps on saying that our little one is sucking up too much of my iron so he'll take care of talking to her and of putting her to diet so I won't lack iron for myself too. My poor little Spanish Pinay. Papi's being silly, isn't he?

6 months and 3 days

waist line: 95cm weight: 62kg

Approximately 13.6kg More Until Due Date!

Wow... I am approximately going to weigh 13.6kgs more until my due date! So, if I was 56kg before getting pregnant, I'll be around 70kg before until I give birth! It can even be more if I don't mind my diet... :-O

I'm gonna get big, big, big! :)