My 2nd birthing experience

I thought  giving birth to Kulay was the greatest of my life but then I had a repeat performance. Here's what happened.

March 10

10:30 am
I went to my OB for my weekly check up. I am at 38 weeks 3 days. She conducted an IE for the first time and found my cervix still closed. She then told me she would insert three Evening Primrose Oil Capsule to soften my cervix and let me lie down for 20 minutes. She then prepared my admission for labor papers just in case.

7:30 pm
I noticed blood and mucus on my undies and urine when I was peeing at Gmall. I didn't feel any pain or strong contractions so we had dinner at KFC with hubby and son and had our grocery and went home.

10:00 pm 
Still no labor but I decided to go to the hospital for a check up. Car won't start so we waited for a taxi.

11:00 pm 
Arrived at Davao Doctor's, the OB at the Delivery room conducted an IE and found my cervix to be opened at 1-2cm she then inserted more EPrim caps. As per my OBs instruction I was advised for admission since labor might start at an unholy hour. And so I spent the night at the Labor Room while Mike slept at the OB ward. 

March 11

5:00 am 
Still no labor and they conducted another IE and cervix is at 3cm. She also performed a membrane sweep.

10:30 am 
My OB arrived and conducted another IE and cervix is opened at 4-5cm. My OB joked that I should give birth before 4pm because she have classes.

2:30 pm 
My contractions are becoming stronger and is starting to be painful, I told the midwife. The resident OB conducted an IE and cervix is opened at 7cm and it is fully effaced. They then prepped me for delivery and brought me to the Delivery room. We waited for my OB and during the wait, I heard a pop and my water bag broke and then the pain intensified. I feel the urge to push but they told me to wait. I tried to fight the pain by breathing.
My OB arrived and so I started to push...after 3 push...Liwanag came out at 3:07pm..wailing loudly and was placed on my chest.

Thank you Lord for a safe delivery and a healthy baby.

A pregnancy Scare

A couple of weeks ago, well January 30 to be quite exact I had a pregnancy scare. My officemates and I were on our way to Compostela because we have a meeting there. We stopped by Gaisano Mall Tagum for lunch and when I went to the bathroom to pee, I noticed blood on my undies and urine. I didn’t feel any pain or contractions so I didn’t panic but I was really worried. I was still 32 weeks pregnant then. I told my officemates that I won’t go with them to Comval and contacted  some of my officemates who were fortunately at Mawab (30 mins away from Tagum) to accompany me back to Davao.  I waited at Gaisano Mall in Tagum and became really paranoid when I felt abdominal pains. Thankfully my officemates from Mawab came quickly to my rescue and the abdominal pain subsided. ...maybe it was just the nerves...being alone in a place far from home and bleeding.

The driver then brought me directly to Davao Doctors and we arrived at around 2pm. I went directly to my OB and husband and son met me there. She conducted a pap smear and confirmed there was indeed bleeding and cleaned me up. She also requested for an Abdominal and Transvaginal ultrasound. Her initial diagnosis was placenta previa, meaning the placenta is low lying and might be causing the bleeding.

Luckily I was still accommodated by the Ultrasound Section even if it was already past 4pm. I was the last patient and was quite surprised to see a male OB/SOnologist doing the test. He conducted the ultrasound and found my placenta to be in place, the baby to be fine and everything is fine and that my cervix haven’t opened or dilated yet, Thank God! He also showed us the baby’s face and he was very kind to give us a 4D print out even if we only paid for the normal ultrasound. He didn’t check the gender though as my OB specified “NO Gender” in the request but it was enough for me to see the baby’s face who looked like his Kuya Kulay. It was a really scary day but turned out to be quite rewarding at the end.

Keeping the Baby's Gender a Surprise

Photo Source: www.popsugar.com

I am now 30 weeks pregnant or at my 7 month of pregnancy and we do not know yet the gender our baby...by choice. We wanted to keep it a surprise to make it more thrilling. We both wanted a girl since we already had a boy that's why we don't want to know until the last minute. We figured that in our parent's time they don't know the gender and highly anticipates the actual day of birth for the gender. I want to experience the "It's a boy or girl moment" when the baby eventually comes out. I wanted the gender to be an extra motivation during labor. 

I had a trans-vaginal ultrasound at 8 weeks and at that time the gender can't be determined yet. After that I haven't had any ultrasound. My OB also encourages me to keep the gender a surprise and promised not to tell me the gender even when I will undergo an ultrasound as she is also a Sonologist and will conduct my ultrasound.

During my pregnancy with my first born there was no surprise about the gender because at my trans-vaginal ultrasound at 13 weeks the testicles can be clearly seen so we know early on that it is a Boy.

I honestly question the wisdom of our decision to keep the gender a surprise. I often have dreams (sometimes nightmare) about the gender of the baby. It is difficult to look for unisex clothing. I don't enjoy shopping as much as I long to buy cute boy or girl outfits. Every people I meet would immediately ask me whether I'm having a boy or a girl and of course they have their own predictions. Most of them thinks that it's a girl judging from my appearance and shape of belly. 
What's more important right now is to be fit and prepare myself for the big day. And of course what I pray most in the world is a healthy and normal baby and a safe  and normal delivery irregardless of the gender.Wish me luck! :-)

Another Pregnant Pause

In my previous post I mentioned that I was envious of friends who are pregnant. Little did I know that a few days later I would also get pregnant. My husband and I are planning to have a second baby but in my mind I was thinking that next year would be a good time. That is why when I learned I was pregnant I had mixed emotions. Let me share the series of events:

June 16-20- My menstrual period

July 8-12  - I was feeling nauseous and lethargic and thought it was just fatigue or my poor eyesight got poorer so I had my eyes checked. Turned out, the grade of my eyesight was just maintained.

July 28    - My Period, a period tracker App on my cellphone told me I was  delayed. I then had a gut feeling that I was pregnant.

July 30    - I bought a pregnancy test and I tested positive! Husband got excited!

Aug 3      - My first OB check-up where she give me loads of freebies

Aug 14    - Transvaginal ultrasound where it was truly confirmed that I have a baby growing inside my womb and he/she is in the right place and have a steady heartbeat.

When I learned that I was pregnant, I cried. I hate to admit it but they weren't tears of joy but rather guilt. I felt guilty for my son Kulay  because he is only 2 years and 7 months and I am afraid that I can no longer give him my 100% attention. Kulay is my first love and I feel like I am betraying him by having another baby. I talked about it with my husband and he told me that I should keep in my mind that I am not the only parent around and that WE will give both child our love and attention. I got reassured by that and my OB also told me that the age gap is good. The baby will come out in March 22, 2014 and Kulay will be turning Three this December so "Kuya" Kulay will be 3 years and 3 months when the baby comes out. 

I am no longer feeling guilty now and feel really excited for the baby. Kuya Kulay is also excited. I hope that it's a girl this time but no matter what gender the baby will have I just hope and pray that it will be a normal and healthy baby and that I will have a safe pregnancy and delivery.

The greatest performance of my life

December 2, 2010

Michael and I finally bought a crib for the baby at NCCC Mall. I even joked that the baby will come out now because he's excited to use the crib.

December 3,2010

9:30 am- I woke up and went to the bathroom to pee and noticed blood on my underwear and in my urine. I woke up Michael and we called up our OB. The secretary told us to go to the clinic for check up. I did not feel any contractions yet and know that sometimes even if blood appears it's not yet a clear sign of labor but to be on the safe side we hurriedly bathed , skipped breakfast and went to the doctor bringing with us the baby bag we prepared for birthing. On the way to the hospital, I started to feel slight contractions.

10:45 am-We arrived at Davao Doctor's Hospital and proceeded to my OB, Dra. Salvador. She then conducted an IE and told me that my cervix is already opened at 3-4cm. She then released my admission order for labor. I then ate some crackers and water and called up my parents.

11:30 am- I was admitted to the Labor room where I changed to the hospital gown, got interviewed and they gave me enema so I can poo. Michael was left outside the labor room to wait and wait and wait :) After pooing I was made to lie in bed and they monitored the baby's heartbeat and my contractions.

1:00 pm- Another OB conducted an IE and told me that I'm already at 5-6cm. The resident doctors monitored my contractions  which is getting stronger every hour.

5:30 pm- The contractions are almost unbearable and I really feel this huge urge to poo which the Doctors say is a sign that I'm almost there. Dra. Salvador conducted an IE and said that I'm already at 8cm and ready for Delivery. They then brought me to the Delivery room.

6:00pm- The contractions got more painful and I'm really nervous but was assured by the doctors and midwives that things will be okay. They then prepared me, removed my pedicure(Note to self: Do not have a pedi when you're about to deliver) and they broke my water bag. Then they told me to start PUSH-ing! The pattern was like this, inhale exhale, inhale hold breath and push. After the first push nothing happened haha! I mean I was expecting for the baby to immediately come out but I was told to push some more. After a few more pushes we had a 15 minute break, I am getting frustrated because it seems that I don't know how to push. Then we resumed pushing and they told me they can already see the baby's head and after one final push at 6:59 PM Kulay finally entered this world with a loud wail.They then brought Kulay to me for feeding and then the put me to sleep and stitched me.

Belly Mama Week 37

Finally I'm on my 9th month of pregnancy and according to my OB, the baby is now fully baked and I could give birth anytime. I feel more heavy now, my feet are swollen as well as my nose, my skin seems to be more darker and I walk like a penguin. Good thing that I only have 2 to 3 more weeks to go. If I can choose the date of birth I plan to have my baby on December...I want it to be a December baby same as me :) My bags for the hospital are almost ready. I've finished washing and ironing the baby clothes..all by myself .I'm really excited to have the baby yet quite nervous at the same time. I don't know what kind of pain I should expect and how i'll be able to cope with it in actual. I just hope and pray to have a safe and normal delivery and to have a normal and healthy baby.Wish me luck everybody.YDJF6AUY5SCU

Belly Mama Week 33

I am now on my 33rd Week or 8th month of pregnancy. I'm getting huge! I already weigh 133 lbs with a waistline of 40 inches. My feet are beginning to swell. I am peeing non-stop! I wake up 3 times every night just to pee. My prenatal check up now will be every 2 weeks and my OB changed my vitamins to Iberet.
I had my latest ultrasound at Week 30 and the baby already weighs 2.14 lbs and the gender is confirmed 100% boy, now I can also go 100% on my shopping :) Weeeh! Speaking of shopping I think I'm going crazy and getting quite obsessed. I have a list of baby essentials and I keep on changing it every day. I'm trying to limit my shopping and wait for donations or gifts during the baby shower. I don't want to have excess items that I won't be using. But the self control doesn't stop me from window shopping online. I almost spend all my office hours browsing ebay, multiply and reading forums on what are the best items/brands and methods for the baby. I have come up with the ff:

1.We plan to breastfeed until i'll run out of milk :)

2.Feeding Bottles- Avent because it is BPA Free and the nipples are designed to feel like the real ones

3.Breast Pump-Medela Ameda Manual...the explanation was quite long :)

4.Electronic Sterilizer- Farlin because it's cheap and can accommodate all types/shapes of bottle

5.Crib-Wood instead of plastic because it's cheaper and more durable

6. Diapers- Cloth diapers (lampin or pocket diapers) instead of disposable. Wish us luck with the laundry!

7.Soap- Cetaphil or Oilatum

Belly Mama Week 29

I am now 29 weeks pregnant or at my 7^th month. I’m still not used to being pregnant, it seems like the fact that I am pregnant hasn’t sink in yet. I feel like a stranger to my own body that sometimes when I look at the mirror I feel like seeing another person. It’s not that I don’t want to be pregnant or I’m not ready yet…it’s more of a feeling of disbelief. Disbelief that a life is indeed growing inside me and it's such an overwhelming feeling to be part of creation of another life..to be part of a miracle....whew!

I'm now gaining weight (127 lbs) and my belly and even my back is getting bigger! I look like a pear when i  turn sideways. Baby seems to be moving and kicking all the time now and responds to voices, Mike tried talking to him and he moved :D I'm still constantly hungry and getting up from bed has become bothersome and sometimes my head spins but apart from that I'm feeling good.Thank God! I'm so excited to reach 9 months, I've already bought a diaper bag and started to complete the items i'll be bringing to the hospital.

Belly Mama Week 23

I am now 23 weeks or 6 months pregnant. I am now at my second trimester and I'm quite getting the hang of being pregnant. The morning sickness has completely gone...thank God! I used to vomit during meals esp after lunch and whenever I enter the Comfort Room (I don't seem to like the smell). I also get nauseous when I smell perfume or air freshener and vomit when I brush my teeth and drink milk or any form of dairy such as cheese, yogurt, ice cream and etc.  but luckily these episodes started to disappear by my 4th month. I used to get tired easily too but now I feel that I'm back to my old self. The only pregnant symptoms that haven't disappeared apart from my growing belly is being constantly hungry :( It seems that every food that goes into my mouth instantly disappears. But good thing coz I'm not growing fat...the baby is...he has quite an appetite :) I really can't wait for the baby to come out so I can finally see what he looks like (if he looks like me or his dad) and stare at his eyes and touch and feel him. In the meantime I'm making him listen to classical music and try to talk to him as if he's there and read him books.