Things I Learned During Pregnancy

Pregnancy, this is when I learned a lot of things instinctively. Realizing that this is not just me now, it's me and the baby. So like I said in my previous posts, I need to have discipline when it comes to things like nutrition, sleeping patterns, drinking medicines and triple plus awareness and alertness against diseases such as Dengue, Rabies etc almost to the point of phobia. :3 *freaky, I know!*

Nevertheless, I'm on my third trisem, exactly seven months and is super-duper excited to see and hold this little bean that's been floating inside me. hehe It's my first time and for sure this won't be my last. Definitely looking forward for our next bean! hihi

So, I list here the general things I learned and experience during my pregnancy...

• when you feel unusually sleepy for the past few days, you might have been carrying a babe all the while.. fortunately for me, i didn't experience exaggerated morning sickness, fainting and headaches, just a few dizziness mood swings, fatigue, food cravings, tender breasts and of course the finale; missed period.
• when you're like me, who have a regular monthly visit, when you missed it, its positive. well, just for the formality of it, even though I positively know I'm positive, we took the PT and its two lines. Didn't need a second PT.
• after confirming via PT, I decided to visit an OB. My first OB visit confirmed I have a single live intrauterine pregnancy with cardiac, normal ovaries with corpus luteum on the right. later on we found out that it's a boy. But the old wives tale, that when its left its a girl and right is a boy, I still don't know... Either way, sperm cell is the one that predicts gender, right?
• yes, that was my first and last visit to my first OB, heck, IDK, I don't feel I belong to her clinic. It is important for me personally to have a GOOD, I-CAN-CONFINED-WITH OB, you know. Pregnancy for me is VERY PERSONAL, so if I have to burst out my secrets it should be to someone I feel comfortable with. And yes, I chose a female doctor too... :)
• for the past 7 months, I collect my laboratory tests which generally consist of Urinalysis for my urinary tract infection, 2D Echo for my follow-up check-up of my PDA heart surgery (yes, and it's been like 4years ago but just to make sure), blood tests for my mild beta-thalassemia (good thing the baby is not affected), several injections like TT(tetanus toxoid), fetal cardiac monitoring, ultrasounds and a lot more. Actually the test depends on each individual according to your health state.
• Sleep is what I used to do and what I usually do during my first trimester, I love eating sour, like tamarind based soup and some serious fruit cravings!
• I gain my strength again during my second trisem, but my OB advice me not to travel much because I had spotting and this time I get down to serious business of fighting stretchmarks. Plus this is when (5months) I first feel my baby's movement, first I was shock  but I realize it was him swimming around, I guess. During my 6months I started experiencing leaky breasts.
• now, I'm in my third trisem, and I can feel the weight sometimes is unbearable especially when I had to walk and stand around for too long. My baby moves stronger, longer and faster. I can feel when he's practicing to breath and his hiccups are cute! When he stretch out, my ribs sometimes hurt, that's why I talk to him saying like 'hey baby, take it easy'. hihi My legs cramps especially in the early morning. I'm bloated, every curve of my body is literally swollen! I easily feel full and easy to get hungry! Leaking boobies continues but I'm becoming more used to it now. Thank goodness.
• I hate smoking. When I was not yet pregnant, I tend to move away to avoid smokers. But this time, especially when I'm commuting, I tell it to their faces! >:D
• This is no time for diet. Eat what you want, just not too much. The key is balance. But during the third sem, my OB advice me to take it slow. hehe Like eat 5 to 6 times a day in small portions rather than exact 3 heavy meals. Makes sense to me. :)
• Exercise is a must to avoid and lessen beriberi and being bloated. Light exercise that is. A walk in the park suits me. And I soak in the sun for about an hour in the early morning to get a good dose of Vitamin D.
• There is no better way than to have the baby in Normal Spontaneous Delivery. But since I have cardiac issues, I talk to my OB and she recommended me the Painless Normal Delivery if I could get my cervix expand to 10cm, but if not, I'll embrace the Ceasarian Section Delivery! We decided to use a private hospital with my personal hematologist and cardiologist ready in action.
• Ooooh, I almost forgot. The baby's name. Well since I'm the one incharge of carrying the baby. I throw this task to my hubby and he is quite serious on his assignment. hehe Since it's a boy, he decided to name him Jerson Clyde. Clyde which means powerful enough to be heard from a distance.
• It's better to buy baby's things slowly, so not to hurt the pocket too much. Also its wise to wait and buy when it's on sale, no need to rush! :) Here is my baby's first shopping haul. Watch out for my second haul, when I turned 9months and it would probably include diapers and baby's personal hygiene essentials, can't wait! :P
• While waiting for my baby, I am happy to search, read and watch on things I should know about newborns, like how to take care, hold, take a bath, put to sleep, etc etc.. I know it'll be much more serious and different when it's the real thing but it's still good to know I have back up on my head. :P

The last things that I'm not yet learning thru experience are the labor, delivery and the real thing with my baby. And I'm definitely looking forward to it! :P