My Baby @ 32 Weeks

This will be the second time that I am giving some updates about my baby’s development. My first update was when I had my 2^nd prenatal checkup.

Curious as to how the little creature inside my womb looks and is developing right now (at 32 weeks), I decided to browse online some 3D videos or images of a baby at 32 weeks. And here’s an image I  found at BabyCenter website. 

Based from the above image, my baby would have either a full head of hair at this moment or peached fuzz. The toenails and fingernails have grown in. And bearing a baby with an average length of 16.7 inches, there is also a significant change in my uterus. According to the image, my uterus is pushing up near the diaphragm and it is creating pressure on the abdomen, which results to either heartburn or shortness of breath. In my case, I often experience shortness of breath.

Why Pregnant Women Often Suffer from Pelvic Pain and Pressure

With my busy schedule in the past few weeks, this post has been long overdue. But then, I still decided to share this article to you.

I can simply describe my 25^th week of pregnancy as a horrible week. It has been a constant complain of mine to my hubby the recurring pain along my pelvic area. I am not sure if it is caused by prolong sitting while at work or the stress brought by regularly traveling from home to the office (and that is about 60 kilometers away).

When I consulted it to my obgyne about the said discomfort, she simply uttered that it is just normal and provided me two reasons why pregnant women often suffer from pelvic pain and pressure.

First reason, according to her, is the uterus expands during pregnancy. Since it is expanding, the pelvis is being pressed resulting to pain and pressure on that area.

Second reason could be due to thinning and stretching of ligaments. According to my obgyne, the uterus has its own ligaments that support it. During pregnancy, these ligaments have a tendency to thin and stretch as the uterus expands. And because of these changes, it brings pain on the side of the pelvis and might extend down through the thigh.

Aside from the ligaments that support the uterus, the sciatic nerve might be crowded too resulting to discomfort or numb feeling on said areas.

Guess what I did to stop or at least lessen the discomfort I am feeling on my pelvic area. The secret is simply to have a massage wellness (hilot) from an expert. It is just normal in our family for pregnant women to have a massage wellness (hilot) especially when she is already in the third trimester. This does not only help lessen the discomfort that pregnant women feel within the pelvic area. It also put the baby in head-first, face-down position to ensure normal delivery.

When to Have Tetanus Toxoid Vaccine for Pregnant Women

I just had my monthly prenatal checkup yesterday. It was also the same day when I received my first shot for tetanus toxoid. And for this post, I have nothing better to share than giving you some insights about this immunization against tetanus that every pregnant women must have.

What is tetanus toxoid? Well, according to Baby Center, it is a vaccine that protects pregnant woman as well as the developing fetus against a life-threatening disease caused by the toxin of Clostridium tetani or simply called as tetanus.

This bacterium, which enters the body through an open wound, could damage the nervous system. And when left untreated, it could lead to death. But through immunization, such circumstances could be prevented. Another good reason why tetanus toxoid vaccine is very important because it helps in preventing premature delivery.

Probably you would like to know when to receive this TT vaccine shots.

First dose is given in the first trimester as soon as the pregnancy test yielded a positive result. This will provide around 80% protection to the mother against tetanus for the first delivery.  For the second dose, an interval of 4-8 weeks after the first dose is required before it will be given. Some experts suggest that it would be  best if the second shot will be given 4 weeks before the expected delivery date. With TT2, the mother can ensure of a 3-year protection against tetanus and the infant born to the mother is safeguarded against neonatal tetanus. And the percentage of protection guaranteed is about 80%.

In my case, since I have a history of miscarriage, my obgyne decided to give me the first dose of tetanus toxoid on my 6th month of pregnancy and that already falls on my second trimester. For my second dose, it is scheduled next month, which is my 7th month of pregnancy.

The third dose of tetanus toxoid vaccine is given at least 6 months after. The infants born to the mother can expect for as high a 95% protection against neonatal tetanus. Meanwhile, for the mother, she can guarantee for a 5-year protection.

The fourth dose is given at least 1 year later and the mother can expect for a 10-year protection against tetanus while the infants born can guarantee of a 99% protection against neonatal tetanus.

Meanwhile, for the last dose of tetanus toxoid vaccine, it is given at least after 1 year and all infants born to that mother can expect for a 99% protection against neonatal tetanus. In the part of the mother, TT5 assures her of a lifetime protection.

*TT ImmunizationSchedule Source: Wikipedia

On the Half Way

I’m already on my 20^th weeks of pregnancy! And that is half-way of my journey. I only have about twenty weeks more to wait for that big day! So far, my condition is good and I hope that it will last until the big day comes.  

I must say that my pregnancy experience is becoming more and more excited each day. I can now feel those small kicks of my baby inside. And it is becoming more often than those past weeks. It then makes me wonder sometimes what my baby feels the moment he/she made those little kicks. How’s his/her mood at the moment? Well, only no one can exactly tell unless there is a handy ultrasound-like device that can safely monitor the day-to-day activity of a developing child inside the womb.

Since that equipment is not yet available in any store right now, feeling those little movements of my baby as well as hearing his/her heartbeat each time I have my prenatal check up with my obgyne is enough for me. At least with those simple signs, I am sure that my precious little one is doing well inside. 

Changes in My List of Prenatal Vitamins

Previously, I have problems with my bowel movement. I have a strong hint that it has something to do with one of the prenatal vitamins that I am taking. So when I had my recent prenatal check-up with my obgyne, I told her about my problem and she concluded that it could be due to iron. She then decided to change my prenatal vitamins including the calcium supplement. From Eurroferon, I am now taking Terraferron and from Calciday, I am now taking Calciumade.

It’s been a week now since I started taking these newly prescribed prenatal vitamins and noticed that there is a little improvement in my bowel movement. I don’t need to wait for about three days for my next trip to the comfort room and no need to stay there for long hours waiting for the poop to come out. Of course, I still continue drinking a lot of water everyday as well as including fibrous foods in my diet for these are already guaranteed to help prevent constipation. 

How I Resolved My Constipation Issues

By the time I post this blog, I am already on my 17^th week of pregnancy. So what’s new with me? Well, I am happy to share that I am starting to live a more normal life now. Little by little, some of my pregnancy symptoms are vanishing. I am no longer picky when it comes to foods. I can now eat pork in sparing amount, no longer sensitive when it comes to scents, I can now also cook food, and no longer feel lazy all day. These are just some of the weird symptoms I used to experience in the first trimester of my pregnancy.

image source: altincekodhima.com

But aside from that, there is one more changes on my 17^th week of pregnancy that I want to share. It is how I am able to find a solution regarding my constipation issues. Being constipated is one the big problems I encountered in my pregnancy period. And whenever I feel the so called “call of nature” (and that is usually about 3 days after my last bowel movement), I always have a hard time discharging those body wastes and often spend more than half an hour inside the comfort room. Despite my effort of increasing my fluid intake and avoiding those hard-to-digest foods, still I have difficulties in my bowel movement. Then just 4 days ago, I start to crave for pili pulp. Ever since, boiled pili pulp has been my favorite appetizer. This food has been known to be rich in fiber, which is definitely beneficial for constipated persons like me. However, for those who are hypertensive, pili are one of the foods to avoid for it is very high in fats.

When I started including boiled pili pulp in my meals (I ate at least 5 pieces in every meal), I noticed that my constipation issues were resolved. My bowel movement now becomes regular again and I don’t need to spend long hours inside the comfort room while waiting for that poop to pop up.

Essential Nutrients in Pregnancy Diet: Calcium

In my previous post, I mentioned there about the new sets of vitamins and minerals that my obgyn prescribed to me and calcium is one of them. So, as a continuation of my post regarding essential nutrients in pregnancy diet, I will give you some insights about calcium.   

image source: eatrundoyoga.com

Why is calcium so important during pregnancy? This is probably the same question that runs in your mind. Well, it is known to many that this particular mineral aids in building strong bones and teeth. As early as the developing period of the baby, it is very essential that he or she is able to get the right amount of calcium. This can only be achieved if the mother is taking calcium supplements during her pregnancy.

Calcium also has other important roles played. It keeps the heart, nerves, and muscles grow healthy. It helps develop a normal heart rhythm and prevents blood clotting. A pregnant woman with sufficient amount of calcium in the body does not only help in the development of the baby inside her womb. She too can avoid that bone loss or osteoporosis, which is a common disorder experienced by women as they get older.

How much calcium does a pregnant women need? Well, this will depend on her age. According to BabyCenter.com, women who are above 18 years old are recommended to have 1,000 milligrams of calcium every day while women below 18 years of age need a much higher dose – 1,300 milligrams a day. This amount of calcium is needed before, during, and after pregnancy.

There are so many sources of calcium however; among its top sources are milk and dairy products. Supplemental forms of calcium are also available in the market these days and one of them is Calciday, which my obgyn prescribed to me.

Good News on My 2nd Prenatal Checkup

Yesterday, I just had my 2^nd prenatal check-up. As usual, my obgyn had a hard time searching for the heart beat of the developing baby inside my womb using her Doppler. But after so many re-try, still she was able to find it. On my 13th week of gestation, the heart seems to be working normal and beating 140-150 beats per minute. Of course I am very glad with this current result and hoping that these signs of good gestation will last until delivery.

Another reason why I am so glad with my yesterday’s prenatal checkup is that my blood pressure is getting normal too. Compared to my previous BP which is 140/80 mmHg, it is now 120/70 mmHg. I am hoping that I will be able to maintain my BP at normal level to prevent possible complications. Though I have a normal BP reading, one thing that makes me worry a little is that my current weight is just the same as the previous – 52 kilos. Maybe  it is because I did some dieting when I learned that I have a little bit higher BP in the previous month.  Aside from that, I also vomit once in a while.

Since my body weight didn’t change, my obgyn recommends me to drink milk “Mom & Me” in particular. This is one of the milks specially formulated for pregnant women as it contains enough amount of vitamins and mineral needed during pregnancy. But aside from the milk, she also prescribed me other essential nutrients which come in a form of food supplement. These vitamins and minerals include folic acid, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and iron; which all come in a capsule of Eurroferon. And for calcium, she prescribed Calciday, which is also compact with vitamin D3. She too added Obimin in  my daily medicines.

Essential Nutrients in Pregnancy Diet: Folate and Folic Acid

For expectant moms, eating the most nutritious foods is very important to promote your baby’s overall growth and development. The foods that soon-to-be-mom eats during her pregnancy do not only affect the baby’s health while inside your womb but also for the years to come.

There are essential vitamins and minerals that deserve more attention during pregnancy. And this is what I will be featuring in this blog – the essential nutrients that expectant mom should intake more while in her pregnancy stage. For the meantime, I will be giving some insights about folate and folic acid, its importance, and what are the possible effects to the baby when pregnant women is unable to have enough amount of folate during pregnancy.

Folate is a vitamin B, B9 in particular, that is found naturally in certain foods like leafy green vegetables. This essential vitamin helps prevents defects in the neural tube. This neural tube that develops 4-6 weeks after her last period becomes the spine and brain of the baby. Any defect in the formation of neural tube, due to lack of folate, could lead to serious abnormalities of the brain and spinal cord. Aside from that, a woman with insufficient amount of folate in her pregnancy is very at risk to preterm delivery or give birth to babies who are under normal weight or weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces. This is exactly the reason why it is very important for a woman to immediately consult to the obgyn the moment she missed her period so as to be able to have the right vitamins and minerals needed during pregnancy.

Before conception and throughout pregnancy, it is recommended for a pregnant woman to have 800 micrograms of folate or folic acid a day.  And to ensure that she has an enough amount of folate in the body, the synthetic form of folate – known as folic acid – is often prescribed by most obgyn. This synthetic form of folate is usually available in supplements and fortified foods.

By the way, for my folic acid supplement, my obgyn prescribed me to take folart. 

Pregnancy Symptoms Varies

After 28 years, I am now experiencing the biggest changes in my life and that is – pregnancy. In 7 months time, I will be a mother and (I’m keeping my fingers crossed).

This isn’t the first time for me to become pregnant. This is actually my second time. The first one was perhaps not yet meant for us. I was on my early 2nd trimester then when I lost our supposed-to-be first child. I was at the office by the time when I had spotting. So I decided to go home early. Since I am working in Legazpi City, which is 60 kms away from our real house, I dropped by in my boarding house and tried to call and inform my obgyn for this unusual incident. At first she said, I just need a bed rest. But 2 hours after, the bleeding continues. I am so worried and started crying for I would never want to lose that little creature currently developing in my womb. I asked my bother to accompany me to the nearest hospital in our area with my hopes that I will still save my "baby". Unfortunately, after thorough examination, the obgyn in that hospital (where I am admitted) told me that it’s a threatened abortion and I have to undergo D&C. Though it is very painful in my part, I have to accept the fact that it will always be impossible to cuddle the fruit of my very first pregnancy.

Just 2 months after my D&C, I am pregnant again. 

image from www.realsavvymoms.com

Compared to my first pregnancy, I am having difficulties this time. I am already experiencing that weird symptoms of pregnancy, which I am lucky enough not to encounter them before. Morning sickness, vomiting, picky to foods, sensitive to strong smell, mood swing – I am experiencing right now all of these weird common symptoms of pregnant women. During my first pregnancy, it is still fresh in my mind that I only crave for food that  that is white like somai, buko  pie,  buko salad, fresh buko, and the likes. And guess what's my favorite drink? None other than but buko juice - either pure  or in shake form.  So, I can positively say that it is really true that pregnancy symptoms are not the same all the time. 

What is Just a Minute Update for?

For my first post, there's nothing better to share than the prime reason why I created this blog.

This is not my first time in blogging world. I have been into blogging for several years already. However, most of my posts were work-related so I seldom share something that is more personal. This is the reason why I decided to create this just a minute update blog where I can post or share anything about my personal life.

Hopefully, you will always have a time to read whenever I post some updates in this blog. :)