For Our Newborn

When I found out that I was pregnant, I am so excited to buy clothes for my baby. But what was making pigil of me was that I don't know the gender and basically, I dont know what to buy. When I reached 5 months, my sister gave me a list of 'what to buy' for my baby. We got it printed from a website. I forgot though which website we got it from. I had that list brought everytime. I love going to baby sections of SM kasi so in case of emergency na I have spare money, then I'll buy. So just to help you out on the usual question a new mom has, here are the things I bought before I gave birth. You might notice na it wasn't that complete with the crib and everything yet kasi my sisters often tells me na the baby won't use it pa naman. Going back, here are the list :

• 9 pieces of sleeveless tie side - I got them in 2 different sizes, two sets in 3-6 mos and one in 6-9 mos.  Babies grow fast daw kasi so baka makaliitan lang agad if I bought the 0-3 months.
• 3 pieces of short sleeve tie side in 6 - 9 mos size. I had 3 only so that was like one set lang. We dont have ac in our house kasi so I was thinking na i wont need it that much. I didn't buy the long sleeve tie side kasi my sister said na I will barely use it daw.
• 12 pieces "bigkis" (what's the english of that ba? I forgot totally. Binder ata? Hehe). I bought that many kasi I was told na it may get wet if the baby pees, you have to change it.
• 9 pieces mittens. Kasi they often wipe it to their face so it gets dirty agad.
• 6 booties lang kasi you can repeat it naman if not that dirty looking pa unlike mittens.
• 3 bonnets. I seldom used it din kasi it was not that cold pa when I gave birth plus no aircondition at home.
• 4 pieces pajamas. The one I got was for 3-6 mos size. It was too big for him pa until now.
• Frog suits. It's up to you how many you want to buy. It is important na you have this kasi when you will have your first visit to the doctor, better na naka frog suit kasi babies have sensitive skin as you know and they get cold easily.
• 3 pranela or receiving blanket. I also use it as blanket when James sleeps.
• 1 bath towel. You can have the one na may head cover para after they take a bath, you can just put that hood on his head.
• 2 milk bottle (2oz) lang ang binili ko. I was planning to breast feed kasi but there was something happened on me kaya I wasn't able to continue breast feeding.
• Tong, for milk bottles after sterilizing. What I did kasi is that I didn't buy sterilizer. You can simply have boiling water then sterilize it diba? mas cheap pa.
• Bottle brush and nipple brush
• Lampin. I bout the gauze rather than the birds eye kasi mas mahirap daw yun labhan mga mare. Although I seldom wash our clothes ni James, I still wouldnt want any anik anik on lampin kasi, ung mga stains na ayaw matanggal. I bought 6 pieces lang kasi I only used it as a burp cloth eh. I had a separate cloth diaper na binili.
• cloth diaper. You can buy one set (3 pieces) of 3 cotton cloth diaper. I bought a separate cloth that you put inside the diaper cloth.

I bought everything sa SM Southmall and Mall of Asia. The tie sides are for Php180++ then mittens and booties along with binders were about Php 65-80 for every three pieces. I was told by a friend that you can buy baby stuffs in Baclaran and Divisoria. It is a lot cheaper where you can buy 12 pieces for round about Php200 lang. I dind't bother going there kasi ang hirap makipagsiksikan lalo na if your pregnant pa. Although some people will be very sensitive to not to bump on you, just to be extra careful na lang, I preferred SM. Anyhow, if you have SM Advantage card or BDO rewards, you can use it for extra benefits naman like earning points when you buy and those points can be used if you shop the next time. I might have forgotten to add some but these are just the basic among the basic that a newborn baby needs.

Hope it helps future mommies,

Mommy Jen

Changes after Giving Birth

I am being told by mom, sisters and mommy friends that after pregnany, there will be a lot of changes emotionally, financially and physically. So goodbye sexy body na ang peg most of the time. I really adore those who were able to keep their pre-pregnancy body. As I have mentioned before, I was around 54kgs the last time I checked my weight, that's before I knew I was pregnant. I had my weight taken while pregnant, I was 69kgs and even reached 70-74kgs I think. Grabe lang ang pagkataba ko nakakaiyak na lang. haha!

The dilemma I have right now is my bra size. My boobs got bigger duing pregnancy. I breastfed for only around 1 month and I stopped. I will tell you more about it in a different post. So back to my dilemma,

When I was a dalaga pa, I often buy my bras in Boardwalk and Natasha (direct selling) because I like the fit of it on me. However, during and after pregnancy, those bras were no longer my size. I even had scratches around boobs because of the tight fit bras. So then, inarbor ko na lang ang bras ng sister ko.

Now that I am back to work, I am having problems with my undergarments since most of my bra collections were gone. I gave most to my nieces. I am also not sure if I will go back to my old bust size which was 34B or if I have to stick to what I am wearing now which is 36B. I got fat kasi nung buntis ako that’s why I have to adjust to one size bigger. Currently I was thinking na baka I am between 34 and 36b. waaaaa… I no longer want to buy na kasi in direct selling kasi they don’t fit me na eh. Can anyone suggest a store that has great selections yet affordable?

Mommy Jen

My Pregnant State

 I know I have been telling you too much of my stories last year without any pictures or anything to show what exactly happen. So I got guilty naman and grabbed some photos on my facebook account. I update it always kasi compared to this blog. And since I am busy working in the day and take care of James at night, I have not much time to do this except on my free time at work. So pardon those excuses hehe! J

Anyway, I would like to show you how big my tummy was during my pregnancy.

That was when I was about 4-5 months. By the looks you can say I can still wear maong right?! Hehe. Matigas ulo ko oh! But don’t get me wrong, I don’t close the button anymore, just halfway of zipper.

That was about the same month I guess, 4-5 months

This picture was taken in my boyfriends house, I was about 6- 7 months.

Lastly, that was me and my boyfriend. It was his idea talaga. He wants a picture like this daw because he saw it somewhere. Tinatakpan niya yung part where his hands was located kasi there were stretch marks there eh! Hehe.

Does my tummy look really big ba? Just before I gave birth kasi his friend said that I will be for caesarean section kasi my tummy was so big for me daw. And it was true, I had a c-section kasi James doesn’t want to go out.

Mommy Jen

The Story of Our King Dwyane James

I got this idea to my new favorite and must-read blog for mommies out there – Mommy Fleur. I can’t tag her since I am using an intranet while blogging this J and I guess James might come across my blog when he grew up researching for his school projects or thesis. Masyadong advance lang?!

To my lovely James,

I am writing this down for the sake of both of us. I know when you grow up; you won’t remember all the things that I am doing for you now. I had so much of anesthesia na din when I gave birth to you, anak. I have never been hospitalize until the day you are coming so while I can still remember everything, I’ll write it for you so will have an idea of how a woman sacrifices her life just to give way to their baby when giving birth.

Pregnancy Symptoms:

• Before I realized that I was pregnant with you, I was so tamad. I don’t want to go to work because I get asar whenever I see my bosses face. I want to unwind for a while because I felt I worked for so long that I didn’t have time to rest or something.
•  Your titafraulene introduced me to Rufo’s Tapa. It was a restaurant that offers kakaibapero super sarapna tapa. Because of that, I convinced your Daddy to eat dinner there because your lola was in Malaysia back then so instead of cooking our own food, I want to eat there.
• I have been eating double, or maybe triple of what I usually eat before I got pregnant and all I have said to myself was ill go on aerobics after my menstruation. I’m also craving for halo-halo of chowking and kwek-kwek of your daddy’s kapitbahay. I also remembered laughing out loud, literally when I saw a manok on a single kawad ng kuryente trying to balance itself. I thought this manok was so idiot kasi just below that single kawad was a bundle of kawad ng kuryente where he doesn’t have to balance himself.

How We Knew We Were Having You:

• I was being teased by Nanay (my Mom) and tita Grace that I have not have my period yet so they were suspecting that I am already pregnant which I deny to death.
•  I and tita frau was mall hopping that time when I felt my tummy hurts. It’s as if there was something namalalaglageverytime I’m walking. After I went to tita frau’s house, I have decided to buy a pregnancy test that night. I got so kabado when I found out that there were 2 lines on the stick. I have texted your Dad and since he didn’t reply immediately so I decided to call him up and told him what I have discovered. He was just laughing. I went to their house and showed him the stick; he was just smiling anak eh. I don’t know what it meant.

People We Told:

• The first person napinagsabihanko aside from your Daddy was titaKakat (my friend).
•  I asked your Daddy not to tell it yet to anyone because I am so scared and I don’t know what to tell them. Until tita Grace (my sister) said that Nanay was asking why I missed my period. That’s when I told tita Grace and told her not to tell Nanay yet. Your magalingna daddy posted “NalalapitnaangpagdatingniAnghel” on his facebook account which tita frau (my eldest sister read) and asked me the same question if I am pregnant, then that’s the time that I told them including Nanay that you are soon coming. Of course I know she cried but look at her now, she’s happy you came.

Weird Cravings/Symptoms & Pregnancy Problems

•  I was craving for Halo-halo from Chowkinglang James, I don’t want anything else. Same with siomai, I liked siomai house..if not those brand, I get annoyed.
•  When you were 32 weeks in my tummy, I got sick. My temperature went up to 37.8C langnaman baby but it was alarming kasi it is bad dawnamagkasakit while pregnant. I’m so worried kasi if my temp was high, you’re not moving inside my tummy. I was so afraid that my flu will affect you badly, who knows right? So 12 midnight, tita Grace and I along with Daddy went to San Juan De Dios’ emergency room to have me checked. We spent three thousand for 4 to 5 hours stay sa emergency room nila. It was your lola’s expense naman eh. Hehe! I was so happy that you were ok even I got sick.

Names We Wanted For You

• You were just 8 weeks in my tummy when your dad wants you to be named as ‘Dwyane James’. As everyone knows, it came from Dwyane Wade and Lebron James of Miami Heat. He was a huge fan kasianak. I super rejected it because I don’t want Dwyanekasi eh. I researched and found out that ‘Tyrone’ was Dwyane Wade son’s name and suggested it to your Dad but he declined.
• I told your Dad na if you became a boy, he will be the one to decide for your name but if you became a girl, I will be in charge. So when we found out that you will be my prince, then we stick to DwyaneJamees.

What We Did To Prepare For You

• When you were 5 months in my tummy, I started to buy tie-side dress, mittens, boots, bonnets and all your basic needs.
•  I always go to malls to check on baby clothes and stuffs that I want for you. The saleslady recognizes nanga me eh and even told me to buy your clothes on September 2013 because they will have a sale daw on baby stuffs. Prior to that, I bought you nakasi ng mgagamitkahit I don’t know your gender yet eh so I bought them in regular price.

How We Knew Your Gender

•  I had my first checkup with Dra. Bascara at San Juan De Dios and asked her of your gender at 6 months of your gestation and luckily she found out that you were the cutest baby boy. J  I really want a baby boy that’s why I was so happy to announce on my facebook page na you were a baby boy. J

Total Weight Gain

• Hay nakuAnak, Honestly, I didn’t bother looking at my weight because I know I was so fat natalaga. Everyone was saying that I gained so much weight. I was weighing 54kgs before. When I got pregnant with you I weighed 70kgs I think, then now, I wasn’t able to check yet.
•  I got really big anak. I even thought na baka you got so big inside but whenever you’re being checked, your weight was sakto lang daw.

When You Were Born

•  Morning of October 22, 2013 when I noticed a gash of water. Since I was not sure what it was, I’ve waited till 8pm before I and your Daddy went to the hospital. I was confined immediately. Mommy didn’t know I was in labor napala since 11am.
• ·         I was on labor for 18 hours when the doctor said that I am for caesarian na. I was told that you might get an infection, eat your poop or worse, might die if they didn’t take you out of my tummy at 6pm of October 23, 2013. Your water inside has broken nakasi for 18 hours and you were still at 4cm, no progress, so you are very prone to infections na. when I was told I will undergo caesarian section, I didn’t hesitate to say ‘yes’ if it was really needed to get you out of the danger.
•  It was so painful. I was not crying at the time because sabinilola Amy it will hurt more so I was in pain silently until I was brought to the operating room nakulangnalang eh magwalaakosasakit. So please Anak, if you will have a wife, understand her moods, motivate her and love her because it was not easy to bear a child lalo na pagmanganganak. This was how you look when you came out:

See? You look absolutely amazing diba? That face you had made me fall in love easily kahit nakalukot yung muka mo. Hehe!

•  When the doctor woke me up to see you, you were already clean. I saw your crying face but I didn’t get to hear it, or maybe I do but I didn’t realize it. They took picture of us then I fell asleep again. Nilagyankasiako ng pamapatuloganak. When I woke up, I was in the recovery room and though my head aches, I requested to be brought to our room yet I found out that you have to stay in nursery kasi you had mild infection due to prolong delivery with matching bawasna amniotic fluid. I’m so sorry baby. I was so sad leaving you in the hospital alone for 7 days. You don’t know how much I miss you every night that I sleep without you. Im always worried about you; if you are being given attention in the nursery or if they fed you. I want to give you breast milk pero whenever I visit you, you have been fed na. The most awaited day came na I get to bring you home. You were the most poging baby I have seen in my life.

Mommy Jen

The Art of Giving Birth

It was 21^st of October 2013; I went to my boyfriend’s house to spend my usual 3 days staycation with him. He said that he was going to have a drinking session with his college friends na kilala ko rin naman. I was laughing my heart out on their jokes and everything. I even ate chocolates na pasalubong daw nila sa ‘kin. I talked to one of his friend. He said that his wife had a C-section for both of their babies for a reason that I forgot. Lol. He told that me that I will undergo C-section as well since my tummy was too big for me. I replied “che! Manahimik ka, magno-normal delivery ako”.

After his friends’ visit, I felt my tummy acting weird. Naninigas and the feeling that the baby was moving and moving and moving on that evening that he doesn’t normally do. I was not bothered thinking that I might be just tired. We slept around 2am and so I woke up late the next morning.

October 22^nd at 11am, I went to the sink to brush my teeth when I felt a gash of water coming out of me. It’s as if I peed ng konti lang. I felt my boxer shorts a bit wet. I told my boyfriend of the situation and was so nervous. I don’t want to think that I am about to give birth that day since my expected delivery date based on ultrasound will be on November 18, 2013. I have texted my sister and she advised to me to go to hospital’s emergency room to have me checked. I am really having a second thought. I am waiting for my tummy na sumakit man lang kahit konti but until 8pm, I have not felt any pain – at all. That same night, we have decided to go to the hospital. When I was checked, the doctor said kelangan ko ng iconfine dahil since 11am pa daw pala ako nagle labor. Damn! I didn’t realize na nagle labor na pala ako. I thought it has to get painful muna bago mo masabing manganganak ka na!.

I had a skin test, CBC platelet count and everything. I was then brought to the delivery room. We were 3 of us waiting to deliver our babies. There was this 2 devices put on my tummy, one is to monitor the baby’s heartbeat and the other is to determine the contraction. My back aches really bad dahil sa matagal na akong nakahiga until the doctor said “mommy, wag ka malikot hindi natin ma track yung contraction mo”. I have decided to sleep with doctor’s permission din naman. I woke up around 6am on October 23^rd and when I had another IE, the baby was still around 4cm. I slept again, until 9am of the same date, a gash of water came out again and this time, it was too many. I advised the doctor and said it was okay. That afternoon, I am having painful contractions already. I asked the doctor if I can have an epidural since I can no longer bear it. The pain was gone right after and I fell asleep, again! When I woke up, it was around 6pm and the pain went back. I guess the epidural was for 3 hours only. I had my second shot until I was advised that I am for C-section already since there was no progress. The baby was still at 4cm. it saddened me big time. For a second, I thought about me not being able to wear swimsuit or would not be able to on aerobics for exercise at finally ang maging majubis for long. But then, I said to myself, why think about that when I have this wonderful blessing inside that needs me to decide not for myself but for us both. I said “pakisabi na lang po sa mga kasama ko sa labas about it so they will be aware”. I was brought to operating room and was left there for about 10 minutes. It was too painful that I have been shouting and almost crying. When the OB-GYNE came, along with nurses and doctors, I was advised that I’m not having contraction so my tummy should not ache pero sabi ko “eh masakit nga eh!”. Good thing Dra. Lopez (my OB’s replacement since she was on leave) was so patient of me. Sobrang sakit lang talaga kasi!

I was told by Dra. Lopez that she will put me to sleep soon as the baby comes out. I was given another shot of anesthesia to relieve the most painful thing I have felt in my entire life. My body was shaking for a reason I don’t know. I was given another shot para daw mawala yung panginginig ko. I had one last IE and I saw the doctor said I was 5cm. I asked the doctor If I can drink water but she said I can’t. It has been more than 24hours of not being able to eat or drink until the doctor allowed me. She had wet gauze and asked me na sipsipin yun. Thank you doc ha! Na touch naman ako sa pinasipsip mong gasa! Hahaha. The next thing I know was that I can hear noisy people then seems that I shut my eye for 2 seconds and heard the doctor said “mommy eto nap o yung baby mo”. I don’t know if I smiled or what since I felt so numb. They took a picture of us then I fell asleep again. More more sleep! A lovely 3050 grams baby boy was born on October 23, 2013 at 6:47pm.

I woke up as I feel nauseous. I can feel the pain now on my belly due to stitches. Sumuka ako thrice I think. The guy nurse said “ma’am magsabi po kayo pag nasusuka kayo, wag po tayo magkalat dito”. Lol. Sorry kuya nurse, you were so slow kaya when I said so, it took you 3 minutes to go back eh sukang suka na ako! I am feeling dizzy still when I asked the nurse to take me to the room. They have done so, I slept till next morning. I was told that my baby acquired an infection so he has to stay in the nursery for 7 days to complete his antibiotic and I can’t room him in.

The night after the operation, my catheter was removed. That was painful pala grabe. I was told that I have to pee on my own or else, they will put the catheter back! Hell no!! What I did was I drank more and more and more water and ding! Got my bladder working on its own! The next thing I have to work on is to fart and poop to make sure my organs inside were still working. I was asked to walk more to get the wounds heal faster. On the same day, I visited my baby in the nursery and it was the most precious thing I have ever seen. Though I am so sad not to be able to sleep with him for the first time nor hug and kiss him 24/7, I have to... He has to... All I am asking is for him to stay healthy and happy.

xoxo

Our Last Trimester, Together

My tummy is getting bigger and bigger each day that passes by. Did I forget to mention that I gave almost 90% of my clothes to my eldest sister and nieces since they don’t fit me anymore? I was so sad giving them away to the point na sasabihin kong “I’ll get them back as soon as I give birth”. All those clothes I earned every pay day were gone.. I know I will have a hard time getting back on shape because I gained so much of baby weights. I’ve read somewhere that “our body did a great job when we had a baby inside so give it some credits and enough time to get back on its pre-pregnancy figure.” Though I know somehow, my effort is needed to overcome this extra weight. Whew! AJA!

During this time of my journey, I find it hard to ride a jeepneys or buses or even climb in stairs. My back aches too much due to the added weights I am gaining every day. When I reached 6months and 2 weeks I guess, I have been visiting San Juan De Dios for my maternity checkups. My doctor there was Dra. Bascara,who was my sisters OB-GYNE with her second and third pregnancies. She has this portable ultrasound device (I don’t know what it was called). My sister accompanied me on my first visit with her as she was having her urinalysis checked too. I had my ultrasound done by my OB. I asked her if she can figure out the gender of my baby. She asked me, “anu ba ang gusto mo? Babae o lalake?” I replied, “kahit ano po ok lang naman”. Mind you, I was hoping for a baby boy back then. Anyway, I was 70% expecting that it is a baby boy based on how I looked like ( sabi kasi nila if you look odd or ugly during your pregnancy, it’s a boy and if you had this pretty -fresh-happy looking face, it will be a baby girl). So when the doctor said, “lalake ito.. Oo nga lalake.” I was so happy. Now I can buy baby stuffs that have cute designs on it. I often buy those plain ones kasi to be safe. In-IE din ako ni doc since it was our first time to meet just to make sure that everything is perfectly fine inside. It was painful though. It was also my first time to get IE kasi! Ouuch!

It was also my 7^th month when I realized that I had stretch marks. My sister told me that it was scratches daw. I often say that it was not kamot kasi I don’t scratch my tummy. I am so afraid to have scratches but it did happen. Based on research, it can either be genetic, if your mom or sister’s had them, you will most likely to get them too. I don’t know, they said maybe when I am sleeping, I unconsciously scratching my tummy. It saddened me that I can no longer wear two piece or even a bra and a short combination on summer days L .. But to motivate myself, I said “di bale na.. kung gwpo naman ang anak ko eh ayos lang”. I don’t put lotions when I was pregnant kasi ayoko ng feeling na malagkit no! hehe.

Xoxo

Second Trimester – Together

When I officially resigned with my previous employer, my health card was gone along with my salary. That’s where I realized that I have to get back to work yet the luck was too far away. Most of the BPO companies would only accept applicants who were 1 to 2 months pregnant so as to cover at least 6 months of your employment with them before you go on maternity leave. I really don’t know what I was thinking back then when I decided to stop working, maybe because I want to focus on my pregnancy and not give myself too much of a stress talking to upset customers yet I have found out that it was more stressful not having a job to support my growing needs. Lol.. wrong move right there!

On my fourth month, all dizziness, feeling nauseous and all were gone. I can ride a bus without getting headache at all. That’s when I have decided to get back on track and find a new employer yet as I have said, they would only accept those who are 3 months pregnant and below.

What I did then is that I went on a local health center. At first I really didn’t want to risk myself yet what I have said to myself is that I have been paying taxes during those times that I am working plus whenever I buy food so why not get use of the government benefits I somewhat support through my taxes.

There was a huge difference with private clinics/hospitals and public/government out-patient services. When you get to private, you have to line up depending on how many patients waiting, they’ll take your height and weight, one on one consultation with the doctor and all are being attended to yet you have to pay more for the service which of course is understandable. You get what you pay for. When you take advantage of the government services, you have to line up too; you take your own height and weight, they’ll get your blood pressure, you buy your own lubricant (for the Doppler), you will be attended by the nurses while they are chit chatting. Though your consultation was free, and there was this vaccine that I got for free which was the anti-tetanus.

I had my laboratory examination on my fourth month of my pregnancy. I was given a referral by our health center in a semi-private lab to have my ultrasound, urinalysis and CBC count along with HBsag and.. I forgot the other one. Lol.. the result was quite outstanding except with my urinalysis. I had a UTI. I was prescribed with an antibiotic (Cefuroxime) to treat it or to lower the risk of infection. I was so scared of taking the meds as I’m thinking it will be harmful for my baby so I took the traditional way of treating it, which was they said “buko juice”. My plan was to drink buko juice for the entire 7 days and if the result is still the same then I have no choice but to take the antibiotics. When I get back to the health center, the nurse scolded me for not following her order and even scared me of having miscarriage. I was so stunned and sad at the same time as I was treated the way I wasn’t deserved, I guess. I wasn’t explained of who, what, where, when, how this infection would affect me or my baby so why would I follow?.. I am not blaming them, maybe may pinagdadaanan si nurse kaya niya nasabi yun sakin. I might be just pregnant back then and my emotions were not that stable. I ended up drinking the antibiotics twice a day for 7 days, get back to the center and had my urinalysis done again. When it was read, I was told that the infection at least got lower but not treated entirely. I was told that as long as it doesn’t hurt whenever I pee, it’s all fine.

So I guess, you would really have to undergo some stress when you are pregnant. Everything wasn’t stable and you are unsure of everything – that’s what I felt. Maybe I was a first time mom? Though I really want to thank those people who cared about me during those precious times, my family and friends were there and I am so grateful.

Xoxo

First trimester of our Journey - Together

I have not realized I am having morning sickness until I was 6 weeks pregnant. During those times, I have decided to leave the company I was working with since I am no longer happy. I don't want to be rude or anything but whenever I see my bosses, my day is ruined. Haha! Believe me! I even want to hide whenever I see them to avoid their presence and to save my precious day every day. Lol! 

I never get to believe people saying they had morning sickness until I had one. Whenever I wake up in the morning, I have to surely eat heavy meals to avoid myself getting dizzy and nauseous. I read online about 'it' and found out that I have to keep a biscuit anywhere I go, on my bag, on my bedside etc. since morning sickness often occurs when your stomach is empty. I've read that on Babycenter.com. 

I really had trouble on my first trimester as it was not obviously what you usually feel. It was definitely new. I even remembered asking my mom to cook Afritadang Manok for our lunch since I was craving for it big time. She asked me to prepare the carrots and potatoes which I did but right after, I felt so dizzy, as if my head was so heavy. I just wanted to sleep - while eating if I can. Lol.

 It was summer time when I had my first trimester and I really did have a hard time. I don't want to do any chores. I felt so warm all over my body plus the changing mode I had while pregnant. I would say that it was really something new and it wasn't as easy as I thought. All I can say was that, you really have to be careful for the entire 9 months of your pregnancy as things can change so easily without you realizing it. It happens so fast, and once it does, there's no turning back.

 I loved reading things about pregnancy and how my baby grows inside me. I am so amazed whenever I watch videos on Babycenter.com as it was really helpful. You will learn in every aspects of your pregnancy. I remembered playing the song "Samson" by Regina on my phone and placing it on my belly while lying down. I just think that whenever I play the song, he responds to it. I seldom feel it though since I was told that you would feel their kicks when you are on your fifth month but based on Babycenter.com, as early as 8 weeks, your fetus is moving, you don't notice it yet since they are too weak to make you feel it.

 To sum it all up, it was not easy during my first trimester. I know it’s different in each one of us but definitely now that I gave birth, I missed those times that I am pregnant as it made me feel somewhat special and blessed given a chance to carry a wonderful person in the future.

Xoxo :P

1st Month of Changes

Just like other women around, I didn't realize I was pregnant until 5 weeks later. I was not feeling anything different except with food cravings. I spent almost a week in my boyfriend's place where I always look for street food like kwek-kwek and banana con yelo for my afternoon snack. When their neighbor stopped selling them, I turned to Halo-halo since it was very humid back in March 2013. But the twist is that I only want to eat Halo-halo brought from Chowking.. nothing else!

When I went back home after the week stay with my boyfriend, I started asking my mom and my sister to either we'll buy Halo-halo from Chowking or we'll have our home made version of it. And so the last idea won. All of us didn't realize that I was craving for it since the weather was very, I mean seriously hot. It usually hit 35 to almost 40 degrees here in Manila everyday. I don't feel like moving around at all. 

I had cramps and breasts started to ache so I thought that I must be having my period. It passed 3 days from the time I supposed to have it but I missed so then I decided to get an over the counter pregnancy test and realized it was no longer a joke! I tried it twice to make sure and both gave a positive result. 

Due to un-explainable menstrual like cramps, I decided to visit an Ob-gyne here in SM Southmall Las Pinas. I met Doctor Dizon who confirmed that I am pregnant. She said that she would no longer ask me to have another pregnancy test done since both over-the-counter PT were accurate. She said that those requires a very high level of hCG to show a positive result. She mentioned that this hormone is produced if a person is pregnant and would often released in our blood stream. If the hormone was too high, it leaks out on our urine that's why the pregnancy tests that we can buy anywhere are often accurate. 

She prescribed Maxifol 5000 (a folic acid) which according to her, helps on the development of my growing fetus along with Duphaston (pampakapit for my cramps that's not normal). 

After 3 days of continuous medication, the cramps' gone and I was all fine. I felt a little bit secured for my baby. I kept talking to him and asked him to stay strong. As what other says, a pregnant woman is moody, which yeah, I definitely agree. Haha! You get too emotional for nothing. I know I have committed myself for something huge and a lifetime responsibility. I am indeed a grown up that's about to learn new things.

xoxo

A Little Life Inside Me

I know, I know.. I have not been able to put an entry at all for almost the entire year of 2013. Blame it to the changes in life I had. Well, I'll spill it. (Anyway, I've done that on the previous entry). I was actually 26 weeks pregnant. You're right! That was the main reason I failed to post anything in Lookbook nor here due to the fact that I was very very busy feeling every bits of changes that is happening everyday. From morning sickness to backaches and now, sleepless nights. Isn't it obvious I had the time to tell you about it tonight? :)

Well, just to share a short story, I met my boyfriend thru text messages. We had a common friend who introduced me on a group texting of sort. When I am going through the list of names, I have seen a name 'Earl' which caught my attention. I liked that name back then when I accidentally saw my boyfriend's name next to it - 'Daryl'. I found it interesting since I had a gay friend in high school and stupidly thought that it might be him. I sent him a text message and it took him 3 days to respond. We found out that we live in the same city and yeah, I was so familiar on the street where he actually lives. Haha! This is how our story started that lasted up to date. 

And now that we will be having a BABY BOY! You read it right! A boy.. I felt so happy and excited about him. He is definitely active inside me specially at night when I am about to sleep. (Early sleepless nights). He is now responding whenever I talk to him weather loudly or silently. I adore how he understand what I want. I often tell him to stay healthy, strong and be good. I am really into the point where I imagine him with us already. Feeding and talking to him while he smiles back and pretend he understands. I know it will be harder than what I am thinking now but I know I could learn from time to time. 

I need your prayers to make sure my baby will be healthy when I deliver him in 2 and a half months. I'll see you soon baby love! I'll surely share the changes I experienced during my first trimester in the coming days. 

xoxo