38 Weeks and still counting...

Okay, so I had my check up last Saturday and my OB told me that my cervix is still closed and the baby is still floating.  And to be honest, that wasn't good news for me.  I so wanted Kaelin to come out already.  Not because i'm having a hard time this last trimester but because I'm so excited to finally meet her and see her and hold her and just be a mom.  Oh well... I guess I just have to be patient about it.  Kaelin will come out as soon as she's ready...  I hope soon.  =)

By the way, my OB told us that Kaelin is still in cephalic position (not breech).  Yey!  

And also, just want to congratulate two of our couple friends who gave birth last week.  First to Rhyan and Lhen, who welcomed their daughter Reese last August 13, and to Owen and Emily who welcomed their son Nathen last August 21.  Congratulations guys!  Can't wait to see your little angels! =)  And yes, I will claim it, kami na ang next!!! Haha.
 

Just a side kwento:  I have a lot of friends giving birth this coming September and October.  I'm due on Sept. 5, my highs school barkada Roxanne is due 3rd week of Sept and my college buddies Wenny and  Mauee are both due in October.  Baby boom!!! =)

36 Weeks

I'm in my 36 weeks already... 36 weeks and 5 days to be exact.  The time to finally meet and see our bundle of joy, Kaelin, is getting nearer and nearer.  And I couldn't be more excited... and anxious... and scared... 

... excited to see her and hug her and kiss her and smell her and just hold her in my arms

... excited for her to see the wonderful world outside of my tummy 

... excited to finally have my own child and be a mother!

... excited to start a new chapter in my life with her and Kit

... excited for her to finally use those baby things that her dad and I shopped for her, and of course, those given by our dear friends and family  

... anxious of the birthing process... when is real labor going to happen... will i be with Kit that specific time or will i be alone at our condo... how do i/we go about it... how can i tell if its real labor... is it necessary for my water bag to break to say that i'm in labor... is what i'm experiencing braxton hicks or real contractions already... when is the right time to go to the hospital...

... anxious if Kaelin is doing okay inside my tummy... is it still comfortable for her knowing that the space inside is getting smaller and smaller with her constant growth... is her umbilical cord strangling her or does it have knots making it hard for her to get the necessary nutrients from me... am i giving her enough nutrients... is she still in cephalic position (with the head down; not breech; the right position for normal delivery)... am i hurting her with the stuff that i do...

... scared of the actual birthing process... i want a normal delivery and i know it will hurt big time... scared that i might not know how to correctly "push"...

... scared of the daunting task of being a mom, a great mom... can i do it?  i will definitely try my bestest best!

As you see, I have LOT of questions and issues which I think is normal for a first-time mom-to-be.  Of course, its a new experience for me.  And being paranoid, I think, is somewhat okay.  Because there is no formula for pregnancy, child-bearing, and being a parent so I cannot just ask others for tips and hope that it too would work for me.  It's different for everyone.  The only common denominator is that we all want our child/ren to be healthy, normal and safe.   

I will end this post with a prayer by Vienna Cobb Anderson.

Prayer for a Safe Pregnancy

This life you have given us
is so tiny, fragile, and vulnerable,
safe in the womb of flesh and hope,
yet subject to danger and death.
O God of love, creator of life,
hear our prayer.
We want this baby so much.
Please grant this child of ours
a full term of nurture,
the joy and mystery of life,
and the blessing of Your love.
Grant us the fulfillment of our dreams,
a baby to cherish and protect,
a child to teach and guide,
a blessing to our family.
Amen.

Have a happy and healthy pregnancy to all preggy ladies out there.  =)

33 Weeks and counting!

I'm 33 weeks pregnant now.  Meaning on the 3rd week of August, I'm 37 weeks pregnant already... Pwede na lumabas si Kaelin.  Of course, we wanted her to complete the 40 weeks but in case she wants to go out na, she can starting August 14.  At least, full term pa din.  =)

Lately, i've been feeling contractions already.  Feeling ko its what they call Braxton Hicks or false labor since the pain usually goes away when I change position.  But just the same, it still scares me.  Plus, Kaelin is really super likot lately.  I'm afraid she's getting impatient already and wants to go outside soon.  Hubby on the other hand, fears that her umbilical cord might strangle her as she moves around.  But according to my mommy friends and OB friend, being active is actually a good sign and as long as you have no bloody or watery discharge, mild contractions are okay.  But if its coupled with severe abdominal or back pain (and bloody discharge, even if its just a tinge of pink), I should go to the hospital right away.  So now, I'm monitoring my contractions.  Di pa sya madalas so mejo kampante na din ako.          

Baby Kaelin, konting tiis na lang ha.  I know its getting a lot smaller in there, making you feel cramped and uncomfortable.  But believe me, all that will benefit you as you make your grand entrance into this crazy world outside.  Dyan ka muna in the safety confines of mommy's tummy.  But remember, it doesn't mean we are not excited to see you because your daddy and I (and your lolos and lolas and titas and titos and cousins) are dying to finally meet you and hold you in our arms.  In the meantime, just relax, rest and plump yourself up (but not too much ha, mommy wants to give birth to you normally sana).   We love you Kaelin! See you soon. Mwah! =)  

Belly belly BIG

I realized I haven't been posting much of my pregnancy pics.  Just to let you know, my tummy is really BIG now.  I look like I swallowed a whole watermelon, if not bigger. Let the pictures do the talking.  These by the way, are taken during my birthday 2 weeks ago.  I was 28th weeks pregnant then.

semi-front view

side view

Pardon the blurry pics, these are taken using a camera phone.  Again, we forgot to bring our beloved digicam.  Oh well...

Now, my dilemma... How to control my rapid weight gain???  And to think, I'm cutting down on my sweets (huhuhu!) intake...

17 weeks Pregnant

According to Baby Center, 17 weeks of pregnancy will entail:

"You may be gaining weight rapidly at this point, even if you're not eating much. Experts say that the amount of weight you put on during pregnancy is dictated primarily by your genes, so don't necessarily blame yourself if the weight's accumulating faster than you'd like. Your baby's movements are felt as a gentle, fluttering sensation at first, but get stronger and more obvious as time passes. Some babies kick vigorously and often, others are quieter. And many seem most active at night! "

Gain weight rapidly? No!!! I'm freaking out because I've already gained 9 lbs in 2 months!  I'm complaining not because i don't want to look fat or bloated, but because my OB has warned me to take it easy on eating so I can have a normal delivery.  (I really don't want a CS...)  I've always been relatively thin.  I find it hard to gain a lot of pounds, so i was shocked to the core when I found out that I've gained 7 lbs in a month!  I couldn't even gain 7lbs in a year before!  Tsk Tsk Tsk...

But tell me, how can I resist (those oh-so-yummy) food when i'm continually hungry???  When a piece of chocolate seems to stare at me mockingly as if daring me to eat it?  Or when a piece of cake looks at me forlornly begging me to taste it? Or how about an ice cream looking so fine?  Yes, i've always been a dessert person so it's really a struggle to avoid them during my pregnancy.  Every now and then, I ask Kit for a cheat day... Just to satisfy (albeit small) my sweet cravings.  And I've already requested that once I give birth, there should be chocolates, ice cream and ice-cold Coke in my hospital room.  Hahaha. :-)

Anwyay, enough with my OA complaints.  =P I've already felt Baby moving inside of me.  Kit also felt it already.  And it really was exciting.  I really can't wait to feel Baby more often.  *Sige lang Baby, do your thing.  Mommy likes it.*

Preventing Birth Defects

Came across this article from Baby Zone while surfing the net.  Just want to share this to all pregnant (and those planning to get pregnant) women out there.  We've got nothing to lose if we follow this.  After all, we're all praying for the same thing --- a healthy, normal and happy baby. :-)

10 Ways to Help Prevent Birth Defects Before and During Pregnancy

1.  Take Folic Acid Supplements

All women of childbearing age should take folic acid supplements at least three months before becoming pregnant. It's important because insufficient levels of folate have been implicated as the cause of one common class of birth defects, neural tube defects (the most common of these being spina bifida). These defects occur very early in the pregnancy, well before the woman's first prenatal appointment, which is generally scheduled at 10 weeks. However, don't go overboard with the supplements—too much is also not good. A multivitamin with at least 400 micrograms of folic acid is sufficient.

2.  See Your Doctor Before Conceiving

There's a growing movement to make the preconception doctor visit standard for every woman of childbearing age. Dr. John R. Sussman, an OB-GYN and author of The Unofficial Guide to Having a Baby, says his primary interest in encouraging pre-pregnancy visits is so pre-pregnancy care can be individualized for each woman. This is particularly important for women with chronic health conditions.

3.  Don't Drink

One entirely avoidable birth defect is fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). Damage from alcohol can range from mild intellectual and behavioral issues to profound disabilities or premature death. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), there is no safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

4.  Stop Smoking and Avoid Secondhand Smoke

According to the March of Dimes, if all pregnant women avoided smoking, the US would see a 5 percent reduction in miscarriages, a 20 percent reduction in low birth weight births, an 8 percent reduction in premature deliveries, an 11 percent reduction in stillbirths, and a 5 percent reduction in newborn deaths. While smoking has not been proven to cause birth defects, it does deprive the fetus of oxygen and is the most harmful of all environmental toxins.

5.  Avoid Environmental Toxins

Chemicals have long been suspected of causing birth defects. Avoid daily, heavy exposure to chemicals. If you work in a cleaning business, art studio, or factory where there is unavoidable exposure, use gloves, masks, and adequate ventilation. Avoid exposure to lead, important when buying and restoring old furniture or renovating an older home. Those who work in the medical field should take special care to take precautions against radiation.

6.  Eat Healthy

Good nutrition is one of the most crucial factors in a healthy pregnancy outcome, says Elizabeth Somer, a nutritionist and author of Nutrition for a Healthy Pregnancy. Somer says she hates to isolate one particular nutrient, rather, she encourages women to focus on eating a variety of healthy foods, with a particular emphasis on richly colored produce, whole grains, beans and legumes, and lean protein sources. She also recommends taking a supplement fortified with DHA, which is the nutrient provided by foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

7.  Screen for HPV

While the human papillomavirus (HPV) has not been linked to birth defects, it has been linked to an increased risk of preterm labor, which can result in serious brain and lung impairment in children. It's estimated that at least 50 percent of sexually active men and women acquire genital HPV infection at some point in their lives.

8.  Go Drug Free

It goes without saying that illegal drugs are always bad. However, many prescription drugs are not safe to take during pregnancy. Always consult with your OB-GYN so he or she can do a thorough review of any prescription medicine you may be taking, especially for chronic conditions, to determine if they're safe in pregnancy.

9.  Seek Genetic Counseling

The cause of most birth defects isn't known, but couples with a history of birth defects in their family may benefit from genetic screening to analyze their risk of passing on a birth defect to their child. Michele Clemens, a genetic counselor at Magee Women's Hospital in Oakland, Pennsylvania, says a typical session includes a review of the family history and performing a few tests to rule out specific diseases. This is an excellent tool for helping a couple make informed decisions. (Will you do genetic counseling?)

10.  Relax

Research shows that women exposed to severe stress are more likely to give birth to children with birth defects. Stress has also been linked to a higher risk of miscarriage, preterm birth, and infertility. Dr. Alice Domar, director of the Mind/Body center for Women's Health at Boston IVF, says there are a number of ways to manage stress, from counseling to yoga to biofeedback, and that a consultation with a psychologist can help.

 

15 Weeks Pregnant

I'm 15 weeks pregnant! Meaning i'm now in my 2nd trimester.  Good thing for i'm now past my "all-day sickness" episodes!  =)

According to baby center,15 weeks of pregnancy is described as:

"Starting this week, any stomach rumblings you feel may be your baby trying out some acrobatics, since she can now move all her limbs. She's also becoming sensitive to light. If you shine a torch at your tummy, she's likely to move away from the beam. Anxious to know whether she's really a she or actually a he? Your baby's external genitals are probably developed enough by now that an ultrasound technician can make a good guess at the sex.

You may not know it when it happens, but your tiny tenant frequently gets the hiccups, which babies master before breathing. Babies don't make any sound because their trachea is filled with fluid rather than air. 

Although you've probably gained between 5 and 10 pounds / 2.2 - 4.5 kilograms, the fetus weighs in at around only 2.5 ounces / 70 grams. It measures nearly 4 inches / 11 centimeters long, crown to rump. Legs are growing longer than the arms now, fingernails are fully formed and all the joints and limbs can move.

If the idea of having a baby seems so remote, nothing makes it feel more real than feeling your baby move for the first time.  Most moms-to-be discern movement (called quickening) between 16 and 20 weeks. If you've been pregnant before, you'll feel things earlier rather than later. What you may first think is a rumbling stomach may be your baby doing some back flips. Make note of when you first start feeling the baby and tell your doctor at your next visit. This middle stage of pregnancy is a good time to start exercising."

How exciting is that! Sometimes I still can't believe that another life is living inside of me.  I can't wait to feel her/him move for the first time!  I hope I can discern though that she/he is indeed moving, and its not just my tummy rumbling.  Now for sure, I'll be more conscious of what my tummy is feeling.  *Baby, sige lang, paramdam ka lang kay Mommy ha. We love you! =)*