3D Ultrasound and Our First Glimpse of Baby Daniel

Perhaps all pregnant women will agree with me when I say that one of the most awaited pregnancy moments is when you get to listen to your baby’s heartbeat for the first time; or better yet, when you get your first glimpse of him while he is still in your tummy.

Looking at Daniel for the first time

Our experience was no different. We rushed to St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City as soon as our obstetrician advised us that we could have pictures of our baby taken through 3D ultrasound. Unfortunately, Daniel was not too cooperative during our first session so we had to go back for another session, and boy, was it worth everything!

The experience was priceless. As soon as we saw the first image, we felt a rush of love for this beautiful being inside my womb. I cannot quite believe that God has just entrusted this little miracle to us. Needless to say, we brought home his 3D ultrasound images, intending to cherish them until we are able to cradle him in our arms.

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Of Fruits and Pregnancy

Fruits are generally good for expectant mothers as they are a source of vitamins and minerals. But as with any other food, eating too much may cause undesirable effects. It would thus be helpful to expand your taste to include a wider variety of fruits in your diet.

Top-rated fruits for pregnant women

Tangerines, oranges, and other members of the citrus family are known for their Vitamin C content. They are also rich in folic acid that is much-needed by pregnant women. However, some do complain that eating too much of these fruits triggers heartburn or acid reflux. So, it would be best to make sure not to eat in excess of the recommended servings.

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Is the Chinese Calendar for Gender Accurate?

When Thea was already a little more than six months into her pregnancy, Dr. Bautista, her ob-gyne at St. Luke’s Hospital confirmed that her baby is a boy.  So it’s really a boy.  That’s what I already told her and my son-in-law a long time ago and I based it on a Chinese calendar, which is several times proven accurate and correct.

Amrin was wishing their baby is a girl and his Mom was wishing the same too. Maybe because she already experienced having a grandson, that’s why.  And some people wish for a daughter as their first born, because they believe it is a guarantee of having someone to help the parents and the family. A daughter also takes care of the younger siblings better.

Amrin even said that basing on the circumstances of Thea’s conception, it’s likely that her child is a girl.

But I also told him that based on Thea’s age and the month she conceived, it’s most likely a boy although I did not insist so as not to spoil Amrin’s excitement.  So I said further, maybe it’s really a girl, anyway, my Chinese calendar is not that accurate. Read more

Satisfy Pregnancy Cravings the Healthy Way

One of the exciting experiences during my pregnancy with Daniel was when I had pregnancy cravings. So intense was my desire for a specific variety of food that it had become common occurrence for my loving hubby to go to nearby stores and restaurants to order food for me.

Coping with pregnancy cravings

Although there has been no scientific explanation as to why pregnant women crave for certain foods, a possible explanation would be her rising hormone levels. It is also possible that a pregnant woman needs certain nutrients so that the body reacts by craving for food rich in that particular nutrient. Whatever the reason, it is very important not to over-indulge. Read more

Exercising During Pregnancy (with videos)

Learning that I was pregnant with my first baby made me very much aware of the things that I must do and the things I must avoid. I consulted my doctor, read a lot of books, and learned from other women who had been through the same magical experience. Their advice: Eat healthy and do not forget to exercise.

Benefits of exercise

Contrary to a lot of misconceptions, pregnant women are encouraged to exercise, subject to certain precautions. In fact, I felt much better after consistently working out. It aided the movement of food in my intestines so that I wasn’t constipated often. My back didn’t ache that much so I was able to sleep better at night. More importantly, it became a great form of stress reliever. Read more

Top 3 Things to Avoid When You’re Pregnant

Carrying Daniel in my womb was such an incredible experience that I was determined to follow my doctor’s orders, even when they involved avoiding certain things. Come to think of it, these “prohibitions” worked fully to my advantage, as my baby boy is as healthy and bubbly as he can possibly be. Here are the top 3 things I did not do while I was pregnant:

1. Do not hangout with people who smoke

I was never a smoker so this was an easy task to follow. However, I did make a conscious decision not to be around smokers. I knew that if I inhaled the smoke, my baby would, as well. And I didn’t want to, just because I wanted him to be healthy. A lot of studies reveal that mothers who smoke or those who are with smokers most of the time bear babies who are underweight and suffer a lot of complications. Read more