18 Weeks - Big Bad Belly Shots

Finally, I have been feeling all those dance and kicks of baby Pumpkin. The very first time I felt it was when I was lying (half sleeping) down, while listening to my husband's Mozart's collection. The kick was so strong that it hurts, and woke me up. Aside from hearing the heartbeat, it was the first physical sign of the existence of my precious little baby inside of me.
I'm 112 lbs at the moment. My heaviest weight in my entire life. I'm still not used of seeing myself so big, what more if I gained another 10-15 lbs.

Anyway, I'll be having my first Ultrasound soon, and maybe, I will be able to answer every one's question... BOY or GIRL.

PS. Never mind my HUGE nose.

Belly Itching and Stretch Marks

The skin on my belly has stretched tremendously to what I can only describe as miraculous length.

Most pregnant women will develop pinky or reddish itching streaks on their skins sometime during pregnancy. As their name implies, stretch marks are caused by skin stretching, generally due to a large and/or rapid increase in weight. There are some gifted women though that are born (genetic plays an important role here) with super elastic skin tone that seldom have stretch marks during pregnancy. And as for me, I wouldn't take the chance and wait for the D-Day if I am one of those gifted or not.

Nowadays, there lots and lots of products in the market that can minimize, if not prevent, stretch marks. It keeps the skin moisturize and to prevents it from itching and dryness. There are a number products in the market available and I came across three interesting products: Palmer's Stretch Mark cream, Tummy Honey Butter and Oil Tonic.

Palmer's is usually the default cream, available anywhere and affordable. But I have discovered something about it that made me NOT want to use it. It contains mineral oil and petroleum- stuff linked to cancer.. and these ingredients that just sit on top of your skin, not even penetrating in your belly. Scary right?? My OB says that I should use products that do not contain mineral oil, parabens and petroleum.

Through constant research, I discovered Tummy Honey Butter by Bella B. Their products are mostly organic and free from parabens mineral oil and synthetic fragrances. It gained a lot of good reviews in Amazon. Some pregnant women claimed though that after using the product, their belly still itches. It might be that some of them are allergic to the ingredients. Take note that we all have different skin types, so each of our skin react differently. So to test it, I bought one set and I applied it last night. I woke up today with no maddening itching and true to what women say that it has a very mild scent (I love it!). It's not that greasy, so I feel comfortable wearing it the whole day and doesn't seem to leave a stain. My only concern with Tummy Honey is that one 113g can only last for a 3-4 weeks, so you would probably be consuming around 8-10 during the course of your pregnancy. This product is only available at Rustan's.

Clarin's Oil Tonic, so far the most expensive of the three. This is my FIRST choice actually, because it has an excellent review. Made from organic materials, Clarins is oil based unlike Tummy Honey that's sort of "balm" like. On the minus side, the scent is VERY strong (smells like ginger) and the instruction says you have to apply it twice a day, morning at night. Since I am still working, it's very uncomfortable smelling like ginger the whole day. I opted for Tummy Honey for now. After I consumed it and stop working, I'll start with . Again, only available at Rustan's.

So when you are pregnant you cant take any chances. I do agree that hereditary can play a part in getting stretch marks. However, they can be prevented by drinking plenty of water, not gaining weight rapidly, taking omega-3 oils (safe for moms-to-be) and applying a lotion/creme/butter that actually penetrates your skin. Many over the counter cheap stuff is filled with cheap ingredients.. it's worth the price to spend more because of the life growing inside you.... and you will not be pregnant forever so you want to preserve your beautiful skin!!!

Be careful, MOST over the counter products contain a chemical called Phthalates, which on the ingredient label companies list as 'FRAGRANCE'. This is so the scent will last longer on your skin. Phthalates, have been proven to go directly into your bloodstream and urine.. very dangerous for pregnant moms and their babies.

Sigh!

My urinalysis' report came out today and sad to say I still have UTI. It's very frustrating, after drinking 10-12 glasses of water a day, and religiously taking my antibiotics for 7 days I still got UTI. I have to back to hospital for another checkup. When I learned that we didn't get rid of the infection, I got all teary eyed. Why is my body betraying me?? I felt pity not for myself but for the little one inside me who'll be affected when the infection is not treated. Yes, UTI can cause pre-term labor and worst, birth defects (according to some studies).

Pregnant women are more susceptible to UTI because of the changes in the urinary tract. The uterus sits directly on top of the bladder so as it grows and increase in size, the weight can block the drainage of urine from the bladder causing an infection.

If you are experiencing any of these, you might have a UTI. Visit your doctor as early as possible.

• Pain or burning sensation when urinating
• The need to urinate more often than usual
• A feeling of urgency when you urinate
• Blood or mucus in the urine (invisible to the die, have your urine tested for this)
• Cramps or pain in the lower abdomen
• Chills, fever, sweats, leaking of urine
• Waking up from sleep to urinate
• Change in amount of urine, either more or less
• Urine looks clouding
• Pain or pressure in the area of the bladder
• When bacteria spreads to the kidney, you may experience back pain, fever, nausea and vomiting

I'm angry for not taking good care of myself and my health, I have to wait for the pregnancy to happen to know this. And yet, I did realize quickly enough that with all the abuse I heap on my body--late nights, high stress, no water intake, too much coffee, fast foods, all-meat diet--it's amazing my body is still this strong. I mean, I've never looked this good and felt this good in my life. Now, despite all my sickly concerns stated above, this is ironically the healthiest I've been... during my pregnancy. It's just that some parts of me had begun to break down.

But according to my OB, nothing will happen to my baby as long as I get rid of the infection. The only possibility of anything happening to my baby is if I let the infection get SO bad that it spreads to my kidneys and I become close to being "septic" which means that the infection takes over my whole body, then I could go into pre-term labor, but that only happens if I let the infection go for weeks even months and neglect it.

Don't wait till you're pregnant to know that you are infected or better yet, as early as possible PREVENT of having an infection. Aside from antibiotics, here's some helpful tips to reduce the likelihood or minimize UTI:

• Drink 10-12 glasses of water a day
• Eliminate refined goods, fruit juices, caffeine, alcohol and sugar
• Develop a habit of urinating as soon as possible and empty your bladder completely when you urinate
• After urinating, blot dry (do not rub) and keep your genitals clean
• Avoid strong soaps, douches, antiseptic creams, feminine hygiene sprays and powders
• Change underwear everyday
• Wear all cotton or cotton-crotch underwear
• Don't soak in the bathtub longer than 30minutes or more than twice a day
  

There's much more said about UTI in the web, just Google it.

5 Prenatal Tips to Shape Your Child’s Future Today

Come across this site the gives some pointers on how to influence the Little Pumpkin while still in my womb. I'm a little too excited to welcome my baby into my world even if Pumpkin is still on Momma's womb.

* Converse with your unborn baby

One of the simplest ways for you to do that is to start communicating with your baby as if he or she is already present with you. Treat your baby as a conscious being. Begin talking, singing or even humming to your baby. This will help them get used to your voice and begin to recognize language formations.

* Think about your baby

Although your baby is not physically present with you at this moment, you can still think about him now and about the time when you would meet soon. Your baby will be able to sense your loving thoughts and this will provide him with a sense of comfort, love and stability.

* Use daily experiences to prepare your baby for life after birth

The prenatal experience is all about preparing your baby for life after birth. So it is only fitting that you use normal, everyday experiences to share with your baby. It is all about showing your baby your lifestyle and the world that he will be born into. Make an experience out of the little activities in your daily life. Talk about your experiences to your baby no matter how mundane or ordinary it may seem to you. Remember, what seems ordinary to you is certainly not ordinary for your baby!

* Reach out touch your baby

You may have noticed that you frequently rub, pat or touch your tummy throughout the day. Perhaps it is because we unconsciously know that this is one way of physically reaching out and communicating with the unborn baby. You can touch your belly in different ways and explain the difference of each touch to your baby as you do that i.e. patting, stroking, rubbing and so on. You can make tummy-rubbing a frequent daily exercise as you shower, while you are using an anti-stretch mark cream on your tummy and even patting your tummy in time to the music you are listening to!

* Keep stress at bay or under control

Maternal stress has a direct and negative impact on the formation of your baby’s personality even as early as in the womb. You see, your baby is totally dependant on you for all of his or her needs, including physical, psychological and emotional content. You have to remember that your baby is still at an extremely fragile and fertile state of development, so you have to be careful about the kind of environment and influences that you are creating for him or her.


Source: Bouncing New Baby

Maternity Clothes = BROKE

I've been trying to fit in into my "singles" clothes for the past months, but 4days shy of 17 weeks; I was bursting at the seams . Finally, I had to bite to the bullet and fork over some dough of maternity clothes. Putting on my jeans felt like I was trying to stuff myself on a sausage (but my shirts still fits).

Part of me was looking forward to the experience of shopping for clothes that would flatter my preggy figure, and the other part of me was certainly NOT looking forward to the cost of adding pieces to my wardrobe that would only work for a few months. And the fact that it will add a tremendous amount of excess baggage once I move back to BCD.

So I decided quite early on, that I will not be buying most of my clothes from the maternity department. I wanted to buy something that I can still wear when I regain back my old figure hehehe. It's kind of hard to balance the cost of looking good and at the same time feeling comfortable, and working with my clothing budget.

I bought some of my maternity clothes from Gingersnaps, but I was not really happy with their designs and sizes. At size 1, the clothes were still too big for me and as for the designs, well, they're more mature and the colors were kind of dull. Great Expectations another maternity shop has lots of very interesting designs and the colors are more happy and playful. I wanted to visit the store around May when I already have the time. While searching for more clothes that will fit me, I luckily discovered this random boutique at Power Plant Mall. There were many different styles that flatter my figure, a lot of color selections and trendy styles. I tried every dresses and colors and much to my surprise I can still fit on the XS and S department. I was so happy because this would mean that these dresses can still fit me after giving birth! Recycling!

Note, there are lots and lots of maternity clothes in some department stores, but I'm just a little bit picky. Those in the department stores are affordable ones, and on the average one can really buy them at random selection. But it is my choice to refuse to wear something that was that will make me look 10 years older and ten sized too big for the sake of saving a couple of bucks.

Searching for maternity clothes is something new to me, hard and at the same time exciting. But live and learn right? Ces la vie!

You-Tee-Ai

I started to take my medicine last Friday for my UTI. Of course, I wasn't surprise at all when my OB gave me the news that I have an infection. Prior to my pregnancy, I used to have an unhealthy lifestyle, so I guess, this is just a slap-on-the face for not taking good care of my health.

Having a UTI is such a nightmare. I used to go to the bathroom every 10 minutes, and at night, I have to wake up every 3 hours because of the frequent urge to urinate. It's even worst when I could feel that pressure or sharp pain in my lower abdomen. It is important that pregnant women suffering with UTI should be treated immediately as to avoid infection to your baby and risk of miscarriage.

Some things that I have been doing ever since I found out I have one (aside from taking antibiotics):

* 10-12 glasses of water a day
* Intake of "buko" or coconut juice
* Cleaning the area 3 times a day to avoid infection
* Avoiding wearing tight jeans (wear something made of 100% cotton)

So it's been three days, I have never slept so soundly. I hope this infection is just a simple bladder infection. I told myself that from now on, I have a much greater responsibility now for myself and for my baby... so I really have to life a healthy life.

16 Weeks

Here I am at 16 Weeks and my belly is getting bigger and bigger!!

I've never felt more relaxed and happy. I regained my overall sense of well-being. Since I have passed the first trimester, I'm less anxious now of a miscarriage. Though I've been loosing appetite to eat, I'm enjoying much of myself now, feeling more energetic and comfortable with my pregnant look. Nausea has eased up, but I still have those occasional migraine attacks.

How agonizing it is to count the days to meet Pumpkin! I'm looking forward for next month where Pumpkin's dance and kicks are strong enough for Momma to feel.

14 Weeks

Today, I am not as tired and as sick as I had been for the past weeks. I met with my OB today. Upon arrival, the secretary weighted me, 108lbs! Yay! And then waited in the queue until it was finally my turn.

Dr. Perona checked my blood pressure and checked my weight again. I asked her if I'm gaining too much or too little but she says that it's ideal since I've gained 4 lbs for the last 4 weeks (ideally, one should gain 1 lb a week). Next she checked my baby's heartbeat. This time around, she didn't have any difficulty looking for the right spot. Right away, we can hear the baby's heartbeat. It was louder this time. I was very very happy, it seems that baby is doing well and have a very strong heartbeat. Praise be to God for this!

Dr. gave me OB Smart and Ferrous Sulfate for supplements and iron. Another month of pampering myself and taking each vitamins religiously.

I can't wait for my next checkup, by then I'll be 18 Weeks and the gender of the baby can be determined by an expert sonographer. Though I have no preference really, but it's nice to know if you're going to have a boy or girl right ahead so you can look for baby names and be able to find the right stuff for him or her when she's finally out on the world to meet me and B.