What free time?

A little exercise before
bedtime.

Wooooow. It's been aaaaages since I lost posted. I suppose every mum understands how time can get away from you when you're taking care of a little tot! It's been a crazy half year filled with new adventures and a lot of firsts.

Asher's first tooth is making an appearance already. It's like a tiny iceberg popping its peak from a pink sea of gums. Okay weird description, but you get it. He's been fussing a lot and whining too--not so much serious crying, but I can tell he's very uncomfortable. I managed to soothe him by letting him suck on a frozen veggie.

Frozen chayote in a Munchkin sucker bag.

Just three days ago I put him down the floor where I assembled layers of blankets and comforters to act as a playmat. Normally he'll be happy as a lark just on his tummy or on his back playing and babbling to himself. But I had no clue that three days ago, I would find to my surprise that he can finally stand up! I was cleaning up my dresser table when I turned to look and check on him and found that he had propped himself to STAND UP against the mirrored closet door and was talking to his reflection! My heart nearly burst out of my chest! He pushed back a little and let go, as if to test his own equilibrium and stance, and after a few seconds, fell on his cute little bum. Then he turns over to his tummy and then CRAWLS really fast toward me. I was like "Woah! When did THIS happen? When did you learn to do that??"

It's amazing how strong he is and everyone I've shared these milestones with have told me that it's the power of breastmilk. I am so thankful and elated that I really stuck it out. So glad I have other mummy friends who encouraged me to keep at it despite the pain and frustration. It truly is worth it.

Nappily ever after

The past few weeks of my new role as a mum have improved significantly. I am learning to decipher my son's cries and whimpers better and have purchased a calm about myself in approaching his fussy time. I no longer get panic-stricken and rush in to scoop him up without first trying to asses the situation. Breastfeeding has also been going swimmingly for Asher and myself; he's learned to latch on well and we both have found our rhythm. The nappy changing is not something I try to escape, after all as a single parent, it's not as if I have someone else to pass the buck to.

I've been trying on different brands of diapers not because I like to squander away my hard-earned money on randomly trying different brands as though I were merely sampling the different types of canapes on a tray. They were gifts from friends and some packs were from my parents who seem to be enjoying their new role as grandparents. The first brand I used when Asher was newly-born was Drypers. It seemed to have done a good job at absorbing what's wet and been expelled, but since newborns don't really void that much in volume, there was no imminent danger of leaks.

Then I switch over to Huggies. It did a decent job and I couldn't really speak about the cost since the pack was a gift. EQ diapers was the obvious economical choice seeing as it's quite cheap. But the design of the diaper in itself leaves a lot to be desired and it is horrendously prone to leakage. I found this out when a warm goo of mustard-like batter squished out from the sides of my son's leg and onto my hand. Not a happy discovery.

An aunt gifted me with a brand that's become such a household name, Pampers. It's ubiquitous in the advertising world of baby products. It's not cheap either. It didn't exactly spring a leak but it made it a little tricky determining upon ocular inspection whether it was time for a nappy change. Then I bought a bag of Mamy Poko. This has been my favourite brand as of late. It's got this Poo Poo Pocket feature that catches the poo and keeps it from spreading and leaking to the sides. Each nappy change has been easy and clean and even though it's not as cheap as EQ, it's still more affordable than Pampers or Huggies.

So as I sit in a room with bags of different brands of diapers, the Mamy Poko emerges as the winner. it seems that my little one is also most comfortable in it.

Labour for love.

So it's been weeks since I last blogged. That's because I finally popped! It seems my son took it to heart when I would rub my belly and whisper to him "Take your time son, no one will rush you or pressure you. Come out when you're ready." I think I both meant it and said it just to be nice. Truth is, the last few weeks--especially last few days, before you give birth, are the worst! They are the most difficult and frustrating days to wait out and live through. You're uncomfortable, cranky, tired and just plain getting sick of the waiting game. 

My due date was predicted to be June 18th. But seeing as I am a first-time mum, there was an off chance I'd deliver either two weeks earlier or later; my money was on delivering earlier. I was wrong though. It seems my son, self-assured already as he is, took his time and maximised his stay in utero and really did come out on the 18th. I started going into labour at 130am on a Saturday, June 18th. I was determined not to get an epidural because a friend of mine who had it told me it was an additional payment of an exorbitant amount. I can't believe I didn't actually ask an anesthesiologist! All this time I was staving off the epi because of financial restraint. 

Thankfully my dad was in town that weekend and so he and my mum drove me to St. Lukes, BGC. I had run this event through in my head over and over again and was determined to be calm. And I was. The staff at St. Lukes including the guards and receptionists are all amazing. They have been trained well in customer service. They've also got state-of-the-art equipment and their facilities are world-class. I would often get confused whether I was in hospital or in a hotel. 

Anyways, back to the labour pains. They hooked me up to this monitor that read out the baby's heartbeat as well as my contractions and for a long time I was doing alright seeing as my pain threshold is quite high. I was effacing very slowly though--having only reach 40% effacement after what has been 10 hours and dilating only 4cm then too. They shot me up with Oxytocin to induce labour and the contractions started getting really excruciating. I could barely contain seeing my mother's face as she watched me wail and writhe in pain. I know that any mother would wish the pain on themselves if only to alleviate their children's suffering. But this time, it was payback. I suppose I am paying off her own labour when I was born. 

After much coaxing and drunken argumentation (I was high from the sedative they gave me to help me breathe and relax in between contractions), I finally caved and agreed to an epidural. Thing is, they normally administer it when you're about 4cm dilated. I got it when I was already 8cm. Talk about tough stuff. It was hell trying to get me to calm down enough so that the anesthesiologist could properly insert the needle and catheter in my spine. Freaked my mum out. She was so scared that something would go wrong and I'd end up paralysed. 

It's hard to push when your legs are like wet noodles and you are dead from the waist down. But I summoned a sort of cerebral willing--a Jedi mind trick of some sort, the way I imagine Professor Xavier of the XMen would and managed to pop my baby out in only 4 pushes. Brilliant performance. I was proper knackered after and the next day felt like I had done 12 full rounds in the ring with Holyfield. Even then and in my sluggish, drugged and exhausted state, I managed to give high-fives (I seriously did) to the doctors and nurses who surrounded me. I kept saying "Good job guys!" Haha. I must have sounded mental! Anyways, it was a still, shining moment when they placed my beautiful son on my chest--his big, hazel-gray eyes already opened and looking right into mine. It's true when they say that you forget all the pain and suffering the moment you see and hold your child.

I commend St. Lukes BGC for having world-class facilities and wonderful, compassionate medical staff. They treated me and my child with such absolute care and compassion. It was like I was staying in a medical hotel the whole time! It made it that much more enjoyable for me to have delivered there. 

Consonants and 'Bowels'

Quick disclaimer before you read any further: this entry is not for the faint of heart (or appetite). It may be reduced to a 3-letter description TMI (Too Much Information) but tackles a very real situation for pregnant women. If you're male and have a strong constitution, then read on anyway and be educated. Perhaps you'll gain better insight on how to treat pregnant women whether it's your wife, a friend, sister or a perfect stranger.

Okay, so I'm on my 38th 1/2 week of pregnancy. I'm due to pop any day this week, doctor says. I'm in joyful anticipation and grinning and bearing the discomforts that come with childbearing. I was having a chat with another pregnant friend of mine and we got to talking about the difficulties of bowel movement. Seems like she is learning new consonant combinations as she grunts and heaves just to clear her system. As if it's not hard enough to have this huge belly that makes sitting on the toilet uncomfortable and difficult, but just moving her bowels so she can feel better seems impossible. She asks, "why am I so darn constipated???" Boy can I relate.

Good question.

Let's begin by understanding what constipation is. It is when the colon absorbs too much water or if the colon's muscle contractions are slow and sluggish; this causes the stool to move through the colon much more slowly. There are several causes for it including a fibre-poor diet, lack of physical activity, dehydration, ignoring the urge to move your bowels (I have no idea why anyone would do that when a successful bowel movement or "deposit" feels so liberating) and changes in lifestyle like aging, travel, and pregnancy.

Constipation is a common problem during pregnancy because of the hormone progesterone. If you think it sounds familiar it's because it's what is known as the "pregnancy hormone" (did you know that cows are milked during pregnancy and that is why their milk is high in progesterone? It's different coming from cows and has been seen to be dangerous for humans; this is why I have stopped drinking cow's milk altogether. That, however, deserves another blog entry on its own). But progesterone occurring in humans is a different story; there's something really cool about this hormone because while it prepares the endometrium for the uterus implantation, at the same time it also makes the vaginal tissues and cervical mucus thick and impenetrable to sperm! If pregnancy does not happen, progesterone levels will drop and thus leads to menstruation. Ah yes, that time of the month when men steer clear of a woman scorned by her period.

Anyway, an increase in your progesterone levels due to pregnancy is what causes your smooth colon muscles to relax and chill out way too much for your own bowel movement's good. If you're on Iron supplements (which is usually the case for pregnant women), then bowel movement is going to be a challenge especially as the your uterus grows and adds pressure to your rectum.

How do I prevent constipation?
I don't know if we can ever really altogether avoid it, but we can do something about it.

• It helps to drink lots of water and have a good amount of fibre in our diet. Whole-grain cereals, brown rice, beans and fresh fruit everyday in your diet are going to be such a big help to you. 
• Drink lots of water and have a glass of fruit juice (prune juice is a natural laxative)
• Exercise regularly and stay active. Do lots of walking or try and go for a swim or a ride on the stationary bike--anything to keep your body physically active.
• Never EVER put off going to the toilet. After a meal is when your bowel is more likely to be active so try and train your body to go to the bathroom after a meal. 

If you want to read on further, you may check out what Wikipedia has to say about progesterone (but let me warn you, if you don't have an inner geek, you'll doze off reading this) or you can go to Baby Center for a mummy-friendly explanation of constipation during pregnancy.

*For those who are curious, here's a quick read on why I no longer drink cow's milk.

I hope this helps you a little bit. Happy bowel moving! Hahaha!

Growing girth and impending birth.

I will be full term at 37 weeks in a few days. As per doctor's advice, I was to stay ambulated and to keep walking about so that the baby can start engaging and getting into position. Our bodies actually start preparing for labour a month well ahead of it. You'll know that labour is at hand when your baby 'drops' or is what is called 'lightening,' and it happens a few weeks before labour starts. It's when you feel a heaviness on your pelvis and less pressure on your lower rib cage which now makes it easier to breathe.

I walked around the mall and ran errands with my mum until I started to feel a little tired. It's odd walking around and grasping my belly as though I had just stolen a watermelon or bowling ball and was hiding it under my dress. I can feel my baby moving and trying to get into position. There's a slight pinching sensation around the vaginal area and your perineum feels the pressure of the baby weight too. Oh I kept moaning when I got home. Moaning about back pain, moaning about how short of breath I am and how difficult it is to find a comfortable sitting position (or any comfortable position for that matter). 

I am so tempted to just lay down all day! But of course, that doesn't help the baby transition any. There were moments last night when I felt like I might start going into labour. Since I'm a first-time mum, I'm glad I asked my doctor about the things to look out for before checking myself in. Coming into hospital too soon will cost me more money than time. So she basically narrowed it down to looking out for three things:

• If you start having contractions, time them and see if they are within 10 to 15 minutes of each other within a 2-hour span. This is accompanied by extreme pain (duh, you're going into labour!!)

• If your water breaks, then you definitely have to go and get checked in. If you notice a leak and it doesn't smell like urine (yes you'll have to smell to be sure), you'll still have to go in because that means there is a leak in your amniotic sac and that is going to expose your baby to deadly bacterial infection. The most urgent thing is for your baby to be protected. In this scenario, if you haven't started getting contractions or going into labour yet, you will need to be induced.

• If you notice a mucoidal vaginal discharge that's tinged with brown, pink or red blood, that's what's called a "bloody show." This means that you passed your mucus plug and that you are going into labour in about 1-2 days. DON'T GO to the hospital yet. You might want to wait for the two above-mentioned signs instead.

In other news, sleep has become even more elusive to me now. I went to bed at midnight last night and woke at 2am due to pretty bad heartburn. It's like when you swallow a capsule and it doesn't go down at all; it's just stuck in your esophagus. Switching positions is such a painful task because the baby's weight is fully pressing down on you and you need to do it slowly because it's a roll cage for him in there. Your best move when it comes to any feeling, sensation or sign is to get in touch with your practitioner immediately. Text your doctor or midwife no matter what time of night or day if there is something you're experiencing but aren't quite sure about. There's nothing like peace of mind to aid us in our home stretch in this pregnancy.

So here I go. A walkabout I will go and pray that my son comes out soon. :)

Swimming and kneading

It's a sunny Sunday but the skies were pregnant with potential precipitation (I love saying those two words together). The air is heavy and thick with humidity and the best escape for me today was to The Palms Country Club in Alabang. My girl friends Danielle and Feanne and I were excited over some pool time. I love being in the water because it's the one place throughout this pregnancy where I feel weightless and free. It felt so good being able to do laps and get my cardio up. The restaurant at The Palms serves fresh coconut juice and the best part is that they chill the whole coconut before serving it so you don't have to suffer drinking room temperature coconut water. The Palms, however, is a private, members-only country club.

After a poolside lunch, we headed to Alabang Town Center for some air conditioned comfort. A long walk in a buzzing mall on a hot day deserves to be rewarded with a little spa time. We found a quaint little Balinese-inspired spa that turned out to be more than a spa. It's called Kartini and it was a spa, al fresco cafe/resto and herbal garden.  The entrance is a gorgeously-carved wooden door with elephant statuettes flanking it on both sides. As you enter, you are greeted by a stone pathway cutting through the grass which leads to the main reception area.

The services are varied and the masseurs seem to know their stuff. I opted for a neck and shoulder 30-minute massage which we had to sort of discuss because they were apprehensive about taking in a very pregnant client. I explained to them that my doctor had advised only against massages from the waist down (and especially around the legs and feet) due to the risk of bruising and blood clotting that may endanger my baby. It was a good sign for me that they didn't just take me in without firs tasking how far along I was in my pregnancy and telling me about the precautions they needed to take.

Once you decide on a service, they take you down the stone pathway and into a separate room with massage beds lined up. Because I'm pregnant, I was made to lay down on my side while the masseur kneaded my back gently--she refused to put any more pressure on my back in order to avoid any complications or danger to my pregnancy. She did, however, indulge me in my request for a harder kneading on my shoulders and neck. The service cost me P490. Not bad. My friend Danielle got a 30-minute foot spa with leg massage for P300+ which she says she was happy about.

They serve you either a cold beverage or hot tea (depending on what you prefer) after your session. Danielle and I walked around the place to check it out and admire the place. It had such a relaxing ambience, you wouldn't have realized it was chaotic and busy outside with all the cars driving past and the flurry of people walking about. They have these lovely herb gardens that grew Oregano, Chives, Peppermint and a slew of other fresh herbs. They also sell organic skin products like oils, scents, etc. 

Another thing we noticed about Kartini is that nearly all the beautiful wooden furniture in the place were for sale--even the antique mirror in the bathroom! They sell plants, stones, have landscaping and flora services AND you can get all that green-thumbing and massaging done in a place that offers meals and refreshment as well. So if you feel like that massage left you a little too relaxed and you find that you have other errands to run, you can sit outside where the air smells of flowers and herbs and a quietly flowing fountain numbs your senses to the buzzing of the outside world and order yourself a coffee. 


Check them out if you find yourself down south in the Alabang area. You can visit their website or email their president and design principal, Nina Malvar at kartini_nm@yahoo.com. Their contact numbers are: (632) 8074356; (0917) 9080386 / (0915) 8770454.

Hot flashes and heat rashes.

I learned something today that left me feeling like a total idiot.

I just came from my OBGYN for my usual check up and as I was telling her how I'd been feeling the past few weeks, I chanced upon that terrible Sunday morning when I endured nearly 20 minutes of excruciating misery due to hot flashes. I wasn't overly melodramatic but I made sure she understood how horrible that experience was for me-- as I describe how it felt, complete with gesticulations and facial expressions. After my theatrical recount, she let out a light and non-condescending laugh and said, "Those weren't hot flashes. What you experienced was a form of heatstroke."

DOINK.

I can't believe I (along with other much older women who were mothers that I had spoken to) kept calling calling them hot flashes! Apparently, hot flashes occur due to declining levels of estrogen--something I'm obviously not experiencing right now. This is experienced by a woman during the early stages of menopause. I felt so ridiculous but at the same time was happy to learn something new today.

The heat really has been wreaking havoc on my sense of wellbeing (and my electricity bill) and is even causing my skin to develop rashes. While there's nothing I can do to magically draw rain clouds over the city and lower the temperature, I find that drinking lots of icy water is excellent for keeping you hydrated and cooling you down from the inside.

To avoid the sticky sensation on my skin, I apply Nivea Baby Calming Powder. I know it's for babies but who's to say mummies can't use it too? I don't know how much calming powers it actually wields, but it does ease the itching and rawness of rashes. You can also try mentholated body powder that has a cooling effect on your skin. Feels like you've slathered on some mint cream. Luscious.