level 2 ultrasound

we just had our level 2 ultra sound this morning.. the image in the ultrasound was more detailed and clear.. it also has color coding for showing the flow of blood..

according to the doctor, the baby's heart is doing great.. our little peanut does not have the atrial septal defect that i had.. yey! but we're still having a fetal echo in 2 weeks just to be really sure =)

in addition to that, the baby's growth is just about right.. we're at 22 weeks and 2 days and the baby's weight is at 22 weeks and 5 days.. he has gained 3 days worth of weight in advance.. i wouldnt be surprised since i gained 4+ lbs from last week..

we saw his complete anatomy.. 2 open hands, five fingers in each.. the doctor said that babies with defects will, most of the time, have their hands closed..

2 legs, 2 feet, nasal bone which is a good indicator that the baby does not have down syndrome..

skull, eye sockets, skull, spine, stomach, bladder, kidney, heart and other parts i cannot remember right now.. =p

all in all the baby is healthy! and he's definitely a boy! =D nagpapakitang gilas pa nga.. in one of the last images, he was touching his feet with his hands! =D

kegel exercises

ive read that i should be doing kegel exercises (pelvic floor exercises to reduce the risk of developing incontinence).. and then when i do so, make sure that i am contracting the right muscles..

right muscles???

it's the ones that we use to stop our urine flow.. and the aim should be to contract slowly and hold it for 10 counts..

that's easy! ;)

wait.. 1, 2, 3.. uhmpf! again.. 1, 2, 3.. uhmpf!

i guess it's not that easy.. =S hahahahaha!

how do i prevent my thighs and buttocks from contracting as well? can i even do that? this requires further reading and practice.. =p

matanong nga si gewi.. hehehe..

expanding

for the past few days, my tummy felt like it was trying to expand beyond its capacity.. you know that feeling when you've eaten waaay too much? that's how i felt.. breathing and eating was hard.. and it was very uncomfortable.. my poor hubby didnt know what he can do for us..

then yesterday, i woke up feeling a lot better.. i guess the stretching thing is over ,at least for the time being..

when i saw myself in the mirror before taking my bath, i noticed that my tummy did get bigger.. =D syempre proud si mister, saying 'that's my boy!'

baby poop visual guide

first time parents will probably freak out at every new thing they see in their newborn.. or it could be just me.. =p

 

i have read about exploding poop and projectile vomitting.. so i guess im kinda ready for that.. then i found this article about baby poop.. i didnt expect that there were so many kinds to look out for..

 

it's a bit gross because it comes with pictures.. but hey, that's the easiest way to get it.. it may or may not save my doctor some calls from me come september.. but well see..

 

here's the link to the article.. and again, you've been warned.. hehe.. ;)

things that remind me im pregnant

aside from my growing baby bump.. =)

- people looking at my face, then my tummy, before saying 'good morning' or not saying anything at all for fear of being rude (maybe)
- not being able to roll over in bed
- people rubbing my belly
- eating a cup of food then feeling sooo full but still hungry (gulo!)
- reaching for things in the upper cabinet sideways (tumatama na yung tyan sa counter)
- not being able to fully hug my pangga (maiipit si baby)
- trying to stand quickly after slouching in the sofa, but not being able to (hahaha! bumabagsak ako ulit)
- trying to pick up something on the ground and realizing i have to open my legs to do so
- catching my breath after going up just a flight of stairs =S
- cramps in the early morning! (this freakin hurts!)
- mood swings (tawa, iyak, tawa ulit!)
- fluttering in my tummy (awwww)

 

i cant think of any else right now.. but im pretty sure ill discover more in the coming weeks as i make modifications on the way i do regular chores =D

 

second trimester ultrasound

"this is it! we'll get to see our baby again and know if it's a boy or a girl!"

those were our thoughts while waiting for our doctor last wednesday when we came in for our second trimester ultrasound.. it was quite a bit of a wait.. not sure why..

when she finally came, she was explaning that i was suppose to be scheduled for a level 2 ultrasound but she forgot so im getting the regular ultrasound..

the level 2 ultrasound is more detailed or high-tech (?) where they can tell if our baby's heart is a-ok.. if my congenital heart problem was not passed down.. *praying it's not*

i wasnt really asking too many questions or even thought of 'how the heck can she not read my chart about the level 2 thing' until after the ultrasound.. i was just focused on the thought of seeing our baby again.. ive been too paranoid the last few weeks that i really needed reassurance that our baby was healthy and doing fine..

and then there it was.. kicking.. waving.. it was moving a lot! legs, hands, head, bones.. it was the most amazing thing!

by this time i was already in tears! i think i was crying the whole 10 minutes of the ultrasound =p

then we probed a bit more.. the baby had his legs crossed.. his hands were opening and closing.. then on an even closer view, we saw that he was tugging on the umbilical cord.. the doctor said that that's the only toy he has for now.. lol! =)

we cant get a good look of his genitals because the baby chose to hide it.. so the doctor was shaking my belly lightly to get the baby to move.. after about four or five shakes.. he finally opened his legs for the world (well, us) to see! hahaha!

i really couldnt tell what i was seeing.. i just know that the baby's legs are wide open and that i should be able to see something in between those kicking legs..

the doctor points on something in the screen.. but i still couldnt see.. =( then she said 'it's a boy!'.. then i said 'uhmmm, how can you tell?' not thinking that she's done this a hundred times and she should be an expert by now.. the doctor said 'im pretty sure, a baby girl wouldnt have that'.. mwahahaha! (e sa di ko talaga makita, bakit ba.. =p)

good thing the doctor was patient with me.. ="> after a couple more screenshots, we finally got a good look of the baby's penis! boy nga! =D

it's a..

BOY!!!

check out the part of the image that was marked by our doctor ;)

smart moves

a friend of ours just shared this article from kiplinger.. it has a lot of information worth reading for soon to be parents.. =)

Write a will. You need this document to divvy up your possessions as you see fit (within the limits of state property law) and, more important, to name a guardian for your child. Without that provision in a legally executed will, you leave it to the courts to decide who will raise your child. A lawyer will charge $300 or so to draw up a simple will; if your situation is straightforward, you can do it yourself for as little as $50 at www.nolo.com or $69 at www.legalzoom.com.

Give your child an identity. We're talking about a Social Security number, the legal moniker by which the federal government, banks and other entities recognize your child's existence. You can apply for a number at the hospital when you fill out the birth-certificate paperwork or in person at a local Social Security office. If you apply in person, you must bring original or certified copies documenting your child's citizenship, age and identity, as well as proof of your identity.

Sign up for health insurance. As an expectant family, you probably already have health coverage, in which case you have a window -- typically within 30 days of your child's birth -- in which to add him or her to the policy. If you are eligible for employer coverage but haven't signed up for it, you can enroll yourself, your spouse and the baby within the first 30 days under the provision for "special enrollment." Either way, the coverage is retroactive to the date of birth. Miss that 30-day deadline and you will have to wait until the next open-enrollment period or submit to underwriting to get the baby on board. As of September 23, if you have individual coverage, you may add the baby at any time. But if you sign up more than 30 days after the baby is born, there will be a gap in coverage.

Bump up your life insurance. By some estimates it costs $220,000 to raise a kid -- and that's before paying for college. Make sure the money will be there in case you die before your child is self-sufficient. (To get a better estimate of how much you need, use the calculator at kiplinger.com/tools.) Your employer may already provide some coverage; for the rest, pick up term life insurance, which provides the most bang for the fewest bucks. A 35-year-old man with no health problems would spend about $450 a year for a 30-year policy with a $500,000 death benefit. Find quotes for your circumstances at www.accuquote.com.

Take a tax break. Uncle Sam may not be attending the baby shower, but he does have a nifty gift for you: an additional personal exemption, worth $3,650 for 2010. You can claim the full exemption if your adjusted gross income is $250,200 or less (for married couples filing jointly). If your joint income is $110,000 or less, you also qualify for a $1,000 child tax credit. The credit phases out at higher incomes.

Set up a college-savings plan. To make that date with a degree possible, start the college fund now. Find out how much you need to save each month by using the calculator at www.savingforcollege.com. Then put that monthly amount to best use by starting a 529 college-savings plan. These state-sponsored accounts let you accumulate college savings tax-free. You avoid taxes altogether if you withdraw the money for qualified education expenses, such as tuition and room and board (to find out which 529 plan is best for you, see The Top College Savings Plans).

inee or outee?

ive noticed that as my tummy gets bigger, my uhmmm.. "pusod".. wait.. nuninuninuninu.. bellybutton! (i was trying to remember the english word for it.. hehe..) is getting shallower.. ive always been an 'inee' so seeing my new almost 'outee' is making me curious.. i wonder if my uterus will expand enough for my navel to make a noticeable mark when im wearing form fitting clothes?

on the plus side though, i was able to clean it pretty well since i can see the inside better.. =D

labor and delivery fears

as i reach the midpoint week of my pregnancy, im getting more and more paranoid of all the scary things that may happen during delivery.. the epidural, episiotomy, c-section, the pain etc.. i even had mightmares about some of them.. *sigh*

i guess ive to stay on the positive side of things.. like creating our baby registry, which we did last sunday (yey!) and finally seeing our little peanut! =)

staying positive is great but having a reality check doesn't hurt as well (i think).. here's a list of labor and delivery fears and if they're worth being scared of - thebump.com

1. Making it to the hospital in time

Real mom fear: "I was scheduled to deliver at a hospital that was already 45 minutes away from my home, so that certainly added to my anxiety about 'making it there' on time in the midst of terrible pain." - Heather, of ThetaMom.com

Reality check: The good news is, the average span of active labor lasts about eight hours. And while technically that may not sound like good news, statistically that means your chances of delivering baby on the side of a highway somewhere are pretty slim. That's because well before baby starts to make his way down the birth canal, there will be plenty of warning signs that it's time to head to the hospital - like intense cramping, back pain, steady contractions, and/or your water breaking. And even if you're having a particularly speedy labor, timing your contractions will help you gauge roughly how long you have until baby arrives. (Once they get down to five-minute intervals or less, it could be game time.) But there's nothing wrong with being prepared for the unexpected, so if you want to ease your fears, make sure to ask your doc questions or read up on what you can do in the event baby comes sooner than expected.


2. Not being able to handle the pain!

Real mom fear: "I'm not a fan of pain and the idea of actually giving birth terrified me. When I was pregnant with my first child I remember whimpering to my husband 'I can't go through with this!' But of course there was no turning back!" - Melisa, of ProjectNursery.com

Reality check: We know - imagining all that pain is definitely pretty scary. But remember: Your body was made to do this, pain and all. Once labor is in full-swing, your endorphins will kick into high gear and for the most part, your body will take over like you've probably never seen before. (Yep, kind of awesome.) Of course, in the event the pain does get to be too much and labor drags on for hours longer than expected, by all means scream for that epidural if you need to. But even if you want to skip the meds altogether and go natural, there are alternative pain management techniques you can practice to help make delivery more bearable - like meditation and even hypnosis. Some hospitals and most birthing centers even have hot water tubs for laboring and/or giving birth, which can also help ease the pain intensity. No matter what birthing method you choose, just make sure you explore all of your options first.


3. Having a c-section

Real mom fear: "I was terrified at the thought of a c-section and was determined that I would not have one. I didn't even pay attention to the c-section videos in birthing class. I was so certain I had taken all of the precautions to avoid any medical reasons for a c-section. I soon found out there are circumstances that you can't avoid or take precautions for." -- Kim, of MomTriedIt.net

Reality check:Whether or not it's in your birth plan to begin with, you should brace yourself that a c-section is always a possibility. And while there are some downsides you can't ignore - like the longer recovery time, abdominal pain and soreness, and even a higher hospital bill -- having a c-section isn't the end of the world. In fact, recent studies have shown that up to 32% of American births are done this way. So even if you've got your heart set on delivering vaginally, don't keep yourself in the dark about the realities of c-sections, just in case. After all, you'll want to know what to expect from the procedure and your recovery if you do end up having to go for one. Just be clear that you're on the same page with your doc if you want a c-section to be the absolute last-resort.


4. Dying

Real mom fear: "I was deathly afraid of dying. I know how crazy that sounds but I really, really was. During my pregnancy I read two books, saw one TV show, and one movie that all included a woman dying in childbirth. It was only mentioned in passing, but I became " - Edna, of OurLifeUpstate.com

Reality check: While it may seem like dying during childbirth is something that no longer happens nowadays, it sadly does - even right here in the U.S. But to calm your fears you should keep in mind that it's still relatively rare in most developed countries. Even if you've read the recent studies citing the national maternal death rate is on the rise in America, don't let yourself be too freaked out - this number still hangs out at a low rate of 11 deaths per 100,000 births - and all of these are usually tied to specific prenatal complications and/or poor medical care. Fortunately, though, recent changes in health care reform aim to grant women without medical coverage (or very poor coverage) better prenatal care, which should significantly decrease these rates in the future.


5. Pooping on the floor

Real mom fear: "I'm so scared to poop on the table. I don't care how many times I'm told 'doctors see it all the time and don't care'... I CARE!" - mopsie

Reality check: Yep, pooping on the floor while you have about five different people looking between your legs pretty much sounds like a complete and total nightmare. But it definitely happens. On the bright side, there's going to be so much going on down there, a little poop will be the least of your worries. If you don't believe us, you don't have to - we polled your fellow Bumpies and 33% claim that not only did they poop mid-push, but guess what? They totally didn't care. (See what other Bumpies said.) The truth is, between the pain, the pressure, the cheering squad of doctors and nurses, and, oh, the fact that you're passing a baby through your vagina, delivering a little more than just your bundle o' joy won't really be at the forefront of your mind. So prep your partner early for what they may or may not see down there and arm yourself with a good sense of humor. The rest will take care of itself.


6. The epidural

Real mom fear: "I was so afraid of having an epidural. I wasn't afraid of the meds but the actual needle going into my back. I wanted to avoid it at all costs, but after 20 hours of back labor, I decided to go ahead and do it. Luckily I had the best doctor, he was very comforting and the epidural worked great." -- storybooklove

Reality check: You can probably take all those stories about the epidural being some giant, terrifying, and painful needle with a grain of salt. While some mamas recall it as being huge and menacing, others claim it's not that crazy big after all. The good news: Since it goes in your back, you probably won't see it anyway. So just make sure your partner doesn't catch a glimpse and describe it in detail and you should be A-okay. As for it hurting - most moms agree that you'll barely feel it going in. Not only will the feeling of it going in pale in comparison to any labor pains you may be having, but your doc will also apply some antiseptic to your skin first before it's administered, which will help numb the area.


7. Tearing like crazy.

Real mom fear: "I'm scared of tearing and getting an episiotomy. I am horrified to think of my lady parts being all mangled." - carole&clark

Reality check: Some tearing is bound to happen if you deliver vaginally (sorry), but as for everything getting mangled down there? Not likely. If anything, you'll probably wind up with one of the two more common kinds of tears: first-degree or second-degree. First-degree tears (or superficial tears) are considered pretty small and only require a few stitches, if any at all; whereas second-degree tears tend to go a little deeper, reaching the muscle beneath the skin. As for more intense third- and fourth-degree tearing, you can probably rest easy: they only happen in about 4% of all deliveries and are often the result of an episiotomy gone awry. If you're trying to steer clear of an episiotomy too, though, voice your concerns early with your doc. Our best advice in the meantime: Try practicing perineal massage.


8. My birth plan going out the window.

Real mom fear: “I didn't have a written birth plan and was delivering at a large hospital, so my biggest fear was that a doctor or nurse would give me an intervention I didn't want without asking.” -- elizabe

Reality check: Written birth plan or not, chances are, it probably will go out the window. Birth plans are just that – plans. But since there’s an infinite number of scenarios that could arise on delivery day, you should pretty much prep yourself from the get-go that it probably won’t all go how you want it to (and if it does, consider yourself extremely lucky). If you may not be delivered by your own OB and are scared of others making hasty calls against your birth plan, then it's time to put pen to paper now. Even if nothing goes as planned, you won't kick yourself later that you didn't fight for what you wanted first. Just remember that in many cases, circumstances may take over that are completely out of your hands – like whether or not there’s an unforeseen complication with baby. No matter what, though, don’t beat yourself up if it all goes a bit haywire. If you've done your best to inform your doc and the nursing staff of your wishes, you'll have to trust their advice if they suggest a new course of action. In the end, all that matters is that you got a healthy baby out of the deal.


9. Being in labor FOREVER.

Real mom fear: “I was so afraid of being in labor forever! I would hear these horror stories of women laboring for hours upon hours... and some for almost a day! I just didn't know how I could have handled that.” -- krs15

Reality check: While it could definitely feel like forever, we can safely assure you that your labor won't actually take forever. Like we said, the average length of active labor for most mamas is eight hours, so the chances of you going beyond that point are already less likely. And remember: the pain will most likely not be fully constant. Barring any extreme circumstances, your pain will become a little less intense in between contractions, allowing you to get relief in intervals. Plus, techniques like Lamaze and the Bradley method could really help make the pain more bearable, so make sure you study up on each well before you deliver, if you're interested in trying them.


10. Delivery complications

Real mom fear: “My biggest fear is that something will go wrong. I had a horrible labor and delivery with my first and my baby wound up in the NICU. My only fear is having another NICU baby.” – tarebear9891

Reality check: The fear of unforeseen delivery complications happening is definitely very real and definitely warranted. Tons of different variables could come into play and cause something to go wrong or even just off-course -- like baby moving into a breech position or maybe your contractions not coming on strong enough to move baby along in the canal. But many of these factors may just result in a necessary c-section -- not all of them will mean that baby (or you) is in grave danger. And most of these scenarios will also probably be detected while you're still pregnant, so there will be less room for surprise (and panicking). For example, your doctor will be able to detect baby's positioning in the weeks leading up to labor, so any sudden shifts in movement are far less likely. So while it's pretty easy to keep batting around all the what-ifs in your mind when you're pregnant, do baby a favor and try to at least ease your worries for now. After all, baby feels a lot of the stress that you do; so quit your worrying (as much as possible, anyway).

-- Kaitlin Stanford