Enjoying the pregnancy...

I am really starting to enjoy this pregnancy now, as I mentioned in the previous posts, I didn't enjoy my first trimester much. But now, feeling like myself again, I can sit back and really be in awe at the changes taking place in my body. My bump is showing, largely I might add, and at only (almost) 14 weeks, I feel little stirrings or flutters from time to time (have to be really still to feel it).

I can definitely feel something in the tummy, feels like a sac of water, especially when I lay down. I look at my body and find myself amazed at the map of veins all across it. These are not the little veins one sees here and there, these are the national roads of veins, think thick, deep blue rivers snaking in under the skin in all directions, and are very prominent after a shower.

People have been noticing a glow, and have mentioned it to me, I don't really see it, but I'll take their word for it :D.

All in all, the start of my second tri has been great so far and I can definitely see why moms out there say its the best time of the pregnancy. You feel great and really start to see the pregnancy coming to be. Lots of new experiences and developments are expected in this trimester and I'm really looking forward to to it :).

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