13 weeks today...

So I hit the 13 weeks mark today!! Yaaaaaay!!

I have to say, I feel loads better. Just a little more tired in the evenings, but my eating patterns are back to normal (actually seems like I have increased appetite) nausea is gone (hopefully forever), my upset stomach seems to have gone to the extreme opposite (from going up to 5-6 times a day, I now go once a day, or once every second day). Which is fine by me.

I've started getting some cramps in my abdomen, which is probably round ligament pain and stretching of the uterus, use to have it around week 6-8 but nothing since then up until now. As long as there's no bleeding, I just take it as growth happening.

I have my Nuchal Transluncency Scan appointment next week at Panorama's Prenatal Genetic and Fetal Medicine Centre (we'll just call it the fetal centre). I've included a summary of what this scan entails below:

The ultrasound performed at 13 weeks is the Nuchal translucency (NT) scan. The scan examines the area at the back of the fetal neck for increased fluid. During the scan the fetal nasal bone and heart will also be examined to determine the risk of Down syndrome, other common chromosomal defects as well as certain major structural defects.

At the time of the NT scan at 13 weeks, all the information is entered into a computer programme, and the risk of Down syndrome of the fetus scanned, determined.
Ref: http://www.fetalmedicine.co.za/index.php/prenatal-ultrasound/trimester-scans/prenatal-screen-test

For some reason, I'm not too worried about the scan, the risks of downes' normally associated with it, is not in my family, nor the hubby's. For my gynae, this is just a routine check that all her expecting clients go through. I'm just really excited to find out what it is, and I'm hoping they'll tell me there.

What will it be?

As I'm gearing up for the second tri, I'm starting to become anxious and excited about what we're having.

For a long while, I was convinced that it will be a boy, but now, I'm not so sure. There's a 50/50 chance of either, right? Also, with everyone around me suddenly becoming gender predictors, nearly everyone with the exception of 1 or 2 people says it's going to be a boy. The gender predictors (family and friends) have been basing it on the symptoms I'm having, charts, where I'm showing the most, etc. Boy or girl, I'll love either just as much :x.

I've been reading about gender predictions and am surprised to find that there is such a thing as "Gender Disappointment." When hoping for a certain sex, only to find you'll be having the other. I think at some point we all hoped or are hoping for a certain gender, but I'm sure we'll love the other just as much. You can read more about gender disappointment here.

Well, hopefully, we'll know for sure in a couple of weeks when we do the Nuchal Scan. I'll ask the doc just to take a look down there as well.

You can see the TOP 10 Old Wives Tales to predict baby's gender here.

Mamamagic is here...31 October - 2 November 2014 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre

One of two big baby conventions in South Africa is the Mamamagic Baby Expo, which returns to our city very soon. I plan on going to this year's event, as I just missed the Baba Indaba (it was before we found out about the pregnancy).

www.mamamagic.co.za/

Here are some essential info as listed on the official MamaMagic website:

Date:
31 October - 2 November 2014

Time:
9am – 6pm daily

Venue:
Cape Town International Convention Centre

Price:
R50pp, children under 10 are free

Barney show times:
10h30, 13h00 and 15h30 daily

Don’t forget that purchasing a ticket into the expo allows you FREE entry into one of the Stage Shows. Just remember to tell the Computicket assistant that you would like to see Barney and which show, as Entrance and Stage Show tickets are separate.

Tickets sold at the door and at Computicket outlets.

Directions:
CTICC
Walter Sisulu Avenue
Cape Town
8000

Getting out of the first trimester slump...

I have to admit, I was not the glowing goddess in my first trimester. I felt tired, sick and frumpy and I didn't have any energy even to do the littlest things for myself. I loved doing at home facials and masks, my nails etc. But all that was forgotten as I tried to fight through fatigue, nausea and no appetite.

Now, slowly moving into my second trimester, I feel like I have more energy, nausea has subsided dramatically and my upset stomach is slowly getting under control. I lost about 4-5 kgs in my first tri and am looking decent in clothes that previously didn't fit, apart from the blossoming tummy. I found myself doing a facial yesterday (Yaaaaaaay), as my skin has been breaking out, it was fulfilling, doing something for myself. I'm hearing from moms that the second trimester is the best and I'm really looking forward to it.

Therefore, I included 5 tips for surviving the first trimester blahs:

1. Don’t stress too much about your perfect pregnancy diet in the first trimester. You’ll have time for 5 servings of leafy greens and 8 servings of protein once the barfing feeling lifts. It’s important to let your body get through this time– your hormones are intense and a heavy dose of initial progesterone can turn any girl’s stomach. There just HAS TO BE an evolutionary reason why all newly pregnant women only want to eat plain bagels. You’re not supposed to increase calories in the first trimester (unless you start your pregnancy underweight) so just eat what you can in small portions. Try to keep it real: eat the most freshly baked, least-processed plain bagel you can find. Try to eat any protein you can stomach and plan to eat a more colorful diet soon.

2. Ditto for exercise. Almost all women regain energy in the second trimester. Look into options for pregnancy works outs but if you can’t actually get yourself on a treadmill or into a lap pool, pursue them in earnest later. And don’t sweat it if you’re thrown off your game. Serious, serious exhaustion is the number one bi-product of early pregnancy. It’s normal. It’ll lift. Take a nap.

3. Tell whomever you want to tell. There can be pressure to spill the beans or keep this news a secret. The answer to how to deal with it is this: You do whatever feels right to you! Everyone is different. It can be helpful to have someone to talk to about what you’re going through. Preferably someone who understands how lame the first tri can be.

4. Buy one of the non-alarmist pregnancy books, like the one I wrote (!) or The Panic-Free Pregnancy. Buy other ones too, if you want, but have at least one resource that can help you navigate the pregnancy food and toxin safety recommendations without completely losing your mind.

5. You will feel pregnant (and not just fat), you will feel kicks (and not just sluggish bowels, indigestion and gas) and you will glow (or at least get thicker hair) one day. I promise. It’s just not (likely) going to happen in the first trimester. The entire process of being pregnant, giving birth and caring for a baby is one transition after another. We’re presented so often with images of happy, glowing pregnant women with big bumps and then again with mothers, all settled with their babies or toddlers. But there are painful, dorky stages in amongst all of this. In fact, a lot of it is really dorky. The beginning of pregnancy is downright awkward. You are new to this, things are changing. It’s a bit like adolescence. Don’t judge yourself harshly (or at all!) in these early weeks while you get used to the weirdness. And the dorkiness is character building. Right?

Ref: http://www.babble.com/pregnancy/5-tips-for-surviving-the-first-trimester-blahs/

Where to start...Baby shopping

Baby shopping, where do I start?

So, we've reached a milestone at 3 months, even though we decided not to buy until the beginning of the new year (we'll be just over 5 months then), I want to get my ducks in a row and plan out what and how we're going to buy.

So I'd like some suggestions from Moms and Moms-to-be out there. What did you find useful, an essential, and utterly useless when baby came around. I'd like to avoid making unecessary purchases and your input will be greatly valued.


What was your best purchase?
The essentials?
Utterly useless?

Also,

When you found the best time to starting buying?

Looking forward to hearing from you guys :D

Getting the Dad-to-be in the loop

I try to keep my hubby in the loop of what's happening to me as well as the development of baby. I find that so much focus is on the woman when a couple is pregnant that men are not as celebrated as much.

During the day at work I'll send him little clips about babies development or what to expect during delivery. Also, I plan to enroll us in an Antenatal class, in order to prepare us (especially him) of what to expect when the time comes. I would like him to take in the whole experience and not just conk out on the floor at the first sight of blood or seeing me in pain.

Therefore I've included a birth cheat sheet below for dads-to-be:

One of the best ways to prepare for childbirth is to accompany your partner to a childbirth education class. Almost all hospitals and birth centers hold classes, and parents are usually given the option of attending two or three short evening sessions or one long daytime session. You and your partner can also choose to go to an offsite class, where the emphasis may focus more on natural childbirth.

Before taking a class, it helps to know a little about childbirth. Below is a cheat sheet of some of the things you may learn and discuss in a childbirth class:

1. Recognize the onset of true labor
Late in pregnancy, many women will experience painful contractions that may feel like false labor— Braxton Hicks contractions that may start out strong but taper off and then stop after a while. Look for these signs, among others, that your partner is experiencing the real deal:

• Her water may break, resulting in a trickle or a gush of fluid. When the amniotic sac (also called the bag of waters) breaks, many women spontaneously go into labor shortly after. If not, labor is often induced to minimize the risk of developing an infection. But keep in mind that contractions usually start before her water breaks.
• Persistent lower back pain, especially if your partner also complains about a crampy, premenstrual feeling.
• Contractions that occur at regular and increasingly shorter intervals and become longer and stronger in intensity.
• She passes the mucus plug, which is in the cervix. This isn't necessarily a sign that labor is imminent – it could still be several days away. But at the very least, it indicates that things are moving along.

2. Know how to time the contractions
Make sure your watch has a readable second hand, and time your partner's contractions from thebeginning of one contraction to the beginning of the next. Count the frequency of contractions in minutes.

If she is having regular painful contractions, lasting 30 seconds or more, your partner is likely in early labor. Your doctor or midwife can help you make the decision over the phone about when to come in.

As a general rule, if the contractions are five minutes apart or less, last more than 30 seconds, and continue in that pattern for an hour, it's time to go the hospital. Some situations call for getting to the hospital sooner, so talk to your caregiver ahead of time about what's right for you.

3. Don't get to the hospital too early
Don't head to the hospital the minute your partner goes into labor. If she's dilated to only 1 centimeter, chances are they'll send you home or tell her to go for a walk until it's clear she's in labor.

Take a walk, go to the mall or a museum, hit the beach, catch a movie – do anything to help your partner take her mind off the contractions. Though it may not be easy, try not to fixate on the clock. If labor begins at night, help your partner get back to sleep for a few hours.

4. Know what to expect during labor
Forget those TV sitcom episodes where a woman goes into labor and a baby pops out by the second commercial. It sometimes happens that fast, but not usually. For most women, especially first-time mothers, labor is a journey, not an event.

Don't expect labor to be over in just a few hours. Every woman's experience is different, but it's helpful to understand that there are three distinct stages of labor:

First stage
The first stage really consists of three phases:

• Early phase. This phase typically lasts up to 12 hours although it's usually considerably shorter for second and subsequent babies. As labor progresses, the contractions get longer and stronger.
• Active phase. Often this phase lasts up to six hours, although it can be a lot shorter. You should be in the hospital or birth center by now or en route. Contractions are much more intense, last about 40 to 60 seconds, and are spaced 3 to 5 minutes apart.
  
  Breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, and coaching are all important now. If your partner is having trouble coping or she's not interested in a drug-free labor, this is when she might opt for an epidural or other pain relief.
• Transition phase. This phase can last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours. It's here that your partner is most likely to swear at you like a truck driver. (Don't take it personally – even women who have coped well up to this point often "lose it" during the transition phase.)
  
  Contractions last 60 to 90 seconds and come two or three minutes apart.

Second stage

strong>Pushing and birth. The second stage can last from minutes to hours – the average is about an hour for a first-time pregnancy (longer if she's had an epidural) – and ends with a moment that's made up in equal parts of relief and breathtaking beauty: The birth of your baby.

There's a lot to think about during this phase: Do you want to record the birth on video? Will you want to cut the cord? (Be sure to remind your doctor or midwife if you do and be aware that some hospitals don't allow pictures or videos in the birthing room.)

Does your partner want to try to breastfeed immediately after birth? If so, be sure to tell your doctor and nurses so they can help with that as soon as it's safe for your baby to do so.

Third stage

Delivery of the placenta. It's not over yet! This stage, which begins immediately after the birth of your baby and ends with the delivery of the placenta five to ten minutes later, is usually anticlimactic but necessary.

Your partner may get a case of the chills or feel very shaky during this phase. If that's the case, be ready to offer a warm blanket and to hold your newborn while your partner's regaining her strength.

5. Be an active participant
In the days and weeks before your baby's due date, make sure both you and your partner arepacked for the hospital, including a possible change of clothes, toiletries, a camera or video camera, and other essentials. If your partner has a birth plan, you may need to let the labor and delivery nurses know about it (you should have already discussed it with your partner's doctor or midwife).

During early labor, remind your partner to drink plenty of liquids. Pour her a glass of nonacidic juice such as apple juice or pineapple juice, honey and water, an herbal tea, or just plain water to ward off dehydration. Offer her a bagel, yogurt, or something bland, unless her doctor has asked her not to eat during labor – she might not get anything solid to eat at the hospital while she's giving birth. Finish packing.

When you head to the hospital, drive carefully. This isn't the time for taking unnecessary chances. When you get to the labor room, stick around to provide comfort and support.

6. Be an advocate for your partner
The doctor or midwife and nurses are there to make sure your partner and baby do well during labor and birth. But you have a big role in helping your partner get comfortable and in communicating her wishes.

You and she also have a big say in personalizing the room. When it's time to rest, soften the lighting. Freshen the smell by taking along aromatherapy balls, potpourri, or scented oils. Bring pictures, movies, and your own music.

7. Know how to play coach
Take your cues from your partner. Some women love having a massage or having their hair stroked during labor. Others don't. And it may be hard to predict ahead of time what your partner will prefer.

In any case, try to reassure her that she's doing fine and be ready to help in any way she asks. See more tips on how to be a great labor coach.

8. Be prepared
Watch videos about vaginal birthing and c-sections. Don't be surprised if your baby's skin looks wrinkled or his head is molded into a cone shape.

9. Cut the cord if you want
Many dads or partners choose to cut the baby's umbilical cord in the first minutes after birth. If you want to cut the cord, don't be shy about reminding your partner's doctor or midwife.

10. Read further
Some commonly recommended books include: The Birth Book by William and Martha Sears; Sheila Kitzinger's The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth; Carl Jones's Mind Over Laborand Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn: The Complete Guide by Penny Simkin, Janet Whalley, April Bolding, Janelle Durham, and Ann Keppler.

And there's no substitute for exchanging questions or swapping tales with other moms-to-be and their partners. The BabyCenter Community brings together expectant mothers by due date and provides a place for expectant dads to hang out.

Ref: http://www.babycenter.com/0_a-childbirth-cheat-sheet-for-dads-to-be_8244.bc

Packing for the hospital

Packing for the hospital stay when you have to give birth can be quite daunting. For about a 2-3 stay (hopefully, in my case) there will be some essential items that I'll need to take along.

Below is the list that is recommended by the hospital I'll be delivering in:

Rash explosion on my face

Over the past week or two, I started noticing increased acne on my face. Predominantly on the forehead and cheeks.

Yesterday, I think some irritant just got to it because it started looking like an infestation and actually itches on certain spots. I thought I'd be spared the 'acne symptom' during this pregnancy, since I'm already a sufferer prior to getting pregnant. Figuring, maybe it'd the the complete opposite and I'll have dewy and smooth skin. Well, no such luck :( I now look like a pimply teen.

Ofcourse this has led to me searching the internet for natural remedies. So here's what I found:

Natural remedies

Let’s look at some simple natural remedies for acne treatment during pregnancy using easily available ingredients:

• Water:- Water is known to do wonders for the skin, it is recommended that one drinks plenty of water to keep the skin hydrated and flush out any toxins that can cause acne. You should also wash your face frequently
• Tea tree oil:- you can use tea tree oil to remove any blemishes or acne by applying it on the acne affected area.
• Healthy diet:- One of the most important pregnancy related acne tip is to have a healthy diet, eat lots of fruits , vegetables and food high in fibre. Avoid oily, greasy and fatty food as it can worsen the pregnancy related acne.
• Vitamins: Ensure that you have an adequate vitamin intake, vitamins A,E & B are good to help cure acne.
• Milk:- Milk can help cure your pregnancy related acne, boil milk and add crushed nutmeg or powdered nutmeg to it and apply on the acne..
• Lime juice:- Lime juice is known to be a great natural remedy for acne during pregnancy, Take one tbsp of freshly squeezed lime juice and mix with water and apply on the acne.
• Papaya Juice:- Papaya juice is known to be a good natural remedy for acne during pregnancy.
• Honey and cinnamon: mix honey and cinnamon powder and apply the paste to the acne, rinse after 30 minute with fresh warm water.
• Garlic:- Garlic has many medicinal qualities and if rubbed on the acne it helps curing the acne pimples.
• Tomato & cucumber paste: you can make a paste from tomato and cucumber and apply it on the affected skin.
• Yellow fruits:- fruits like orange or mango can be made into a pulp and applied on the acne. This is a great remedy for acne during pregnancy.

Medications to avoid for treating acne during pregnancy

While acne is usually treated using drugs like accutane (can cause birth defects if taken during pregnancy), retin-A and tetracycline( causes inhibited bone growth and yellow teeth in the foetus), these medications can have a negative impact on a pregnant woman’s health and thus should be avoided during pregnancy, it is best advised to visit a physician and consult them if you do want to take any medication to treat acne during pregnancy.

While you can use natural remedies for treating acne during pregnancy, you can also take precautions like keeping your skin clean and healthy, avoiding oily or greasy makeup, avoid harsh cleansers that are astringent based etc.

You can try out the natural remedies and help get rid of your acne problem and also give you great smooth, glowing skin.

Ref: http://www.medicationathome.com/natural-remedies-acne-pregnancy.html

Stages of pregnancy...

I think I'm just getting past the "Boo no wine stage" and entering the "Barf city/people think I'm fat and Welcome Muffin Top" stage.

11 Weeks Today!!

I'm truly hoping that the worst of the first trimester is over, during week 6-8 I had the worst nausea, no vomiting though (drinking ginger and peppermint tea really helped to curb it). But the constant nausea and fatigue was intolerable, I remember telling hubby that I don't think I'll be able to endure another 6-7 months of this, just the joys of knowing that the HCG hormones are increasing.

But thankfully, it subsided, only to be replaced by a continuous upset stomach, which is slowly starting to ease up. My biggest pain (literally) right now is my swollen gum (it looks like I have an infected tooth) to the right of my mouth and I just want to rub ice on them. Eating is almost impossible, unless I want to cringe all the way through my meal. I've had teeth and gum issues prior to falling pregnant and I am expecting it to worsen over this pregnancy. The upset stomach and sore gums has caused me to lose some weight. I have this urge to have my troubled teeth extracted in the second tri if the pain don't let up and hoping that it won't affect baby. You can read more about pregnancy gingivitis here.

Anyhow, so far, so good!! Here's to a happy and healthy pregnancy!!

So We're Pregnant...

I have to admit, the day we found out we were pregnant, we were more shocked and cautious than anything. It was a Saturday evening, and I took a pregnancy test because I was a day or two late (my period was regular for the past four months, so I get a bit anxious when it's late). Honestly, I took this test without any expectations (I think getting so many negative tests have numbed me to a possibility of a positive test result). In my mind, it will show negative and the next day Aunt Flow will be making her appearance and we'll be back on track. So I went ahead and took the test, left it in the toilet and left to take a shower. I returned from the shower in my towel to check the test, and lo and behold there's a faint line.

Now, I am no stranger to lines, I've purchased so many hpt's that I should be offered shares in the pee-on-a-stick company, also I've come across so many evap lines before that I had to call my hubby in to double check for me. He's response "Hey, that looks like a line." There was a quiet excitement, obviously we wanted to be certain that it was real and the plan was to test again in the morning. What really caught me, was the fact that I never ever got a line, evap or not, with the brand I was using that night.

Next morning arrives and off to the pharmacy we go to purchase two more tests (I had to hold a pee I woke up with till we got back). Took the both tests at the same time, and what do you know, more lines. But still, we contain our excitement, because the next day we'll be triple checking by doing bloods at the closest medi-cross.

Went in the morning, and got the results by early afternoon.

Congratulations!!! You are 4-5 weeks along!!

First people we told, were our parents. Naturally :) and I got roses that evening to celebrate :">

Relax...Take It Easy...

I know that for some of you trying to conceive, these words have passed your ears a couple of times; "try not to think about it too much," "relax, it will happen, just be patient."

I must say, there is some element of truth in the sayings above. Once I shifted focus (obsession) from trying to get pregnant to working on myself, my mindset completely changed. I was no longer sad because of the struggle I was facing, I felt liberated. One day, while struggling to get out of bed (that's the CFS) at work, I prayed and said "Lord, I'm handing this over to you and I will start preparing and working on myself to receive this gift."

After that prayer I felt free, of depression, sadness and failure. I felt more relaxed and content, appreciating what I had; a home, a loving and adoring husband, family and friends and a job. So many times, we cannot see past the veil of our desires to truly realize how blessed we already are.

So for all the ladies out there who still trying to conceive, I know my struggle have not been as long as some of yours out there... but the disppointment and heartache was all the same. Don't give up hope!! When you shift your mindset and focus on being healthy, emotionaly, mentally and physically, the second line on the stick might show up sooner and unexpectedly.

Hello World...

Hey Guys...

I'm 29 year old Capetonian and I'm married to the most amazing man. We've been together collectively for about close to 8 years now, married for close to three. We are currently expecting our first baby (totally excited) and I can't wait to go through this journey and share my experience with all of you.

Let's start at the beginning of my journey. A few years back I was diagnosed with PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) (this was about a year into my marriage), even though I've known I had it since my teens based on my symptoms: irregular periods, oily skin, couldn't maintain a healthy weight etc.

I decided to ditch the first gynae I went to see who diagnosed me (he lacked interpersonal skills) and opted for a female gynae instead (who'm I'm still with). About over a year ago, she prescribed Clomid (I did not ovulate every month, if not at all) and this was suppose to help those little eggs burst through the ovary, and yes you get scheduled intercourse added to the mix as well. After my first cycle, I decided to stop the medication for various reasons; 1. I did not like the way I felt on the medication (really bad cramping) 2. It felt unnatural (esp with scheduled intercourse) 3. Around that time, I suffered Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) too.

After struggling for about a year and a half to conceive I realized that I firstly needed to look after myself before I can look after anyone else, especially a very dependent baby, and that when my journey of self discovery started.

My husband and I started on an eating plan, we managed to drop the weight and regain our energy but it was tough to maintain. Even though I don't follow the eating plan whole heartedly, I still abide by the low carb, low sugar, high protein basics as much as I can.

It's been close to a year since then, I've managed to drop and mantain my weight, I even managed to regulate my cycle, having a period every month instead of every 3-4 months.

For a while I was on Vitex, but stopped once I started getting my period regularly, thereafter I just stuck to a multivitamin, folic acid and omega oils as my daily supplements, I kept this up for 4 months before I conceived.

The month before I fell pregnant, I challenged myself to a month of no sugar, I think this was the icing on the cake for the little eggs, as the following month, we got the best news we've been waiting to receive for a long time... WE'RE PREGNANT!!!