Here
I am.. Waiting for my 2nd baby
to come out.. 7 days to go and I’m about to witness God’s wonderful creation
coming out of my tummy again. I was thinking- why didn’t I blog about this
during my 1st pregnancy?
Why just now? Then I realized that even on this 2nd pregnancy with only 2 years apart, I
have experienced things that I haven’t during my 1st. I know very
well that I have read multiple books and articles about pregnancy- both me and
my hubby actually. Though we are aware of the weight gain, the change in the
appearance due to enlarged nose and bloated face, the possibility of stretch
marks, the sleepless nights and breathlessness, as some of the so-called
“normality in pregnancy”- Things become very different when you experience it
yourself at an intensity you could’ve not imagined. So let me share with you
some experiences that I have encountered during this new chapter in my life
that are both exciting and scary. :)
1.
Pregnancy Acne
When
I gave birth to my first born, the first thing I did after losing weight was
going back to my dermatologist. I was very happy with the result until I got
pregnant again. Oiliness and acne can destroy your mood on a daily basis and
can literally result to stress, especially on a job like mine, where I meet up
with clients and attend a lot of conferences. So I try to google if this is
normal as I have never experienced this during my first pregnancy.
FACT: They said that most pregnant
women experience acne as the higher levels of hormones called Androgens prompt
the sebaceous glands in the skin to produce sebum (causing oiliness). The
bigger sebaceous glands and the excessive production of this sebum when
combined with our skin cells, blocks our pores that creates a ground for
bacteria to multiply. Thus, the inflamed skin erupts and produces acne.
SOLUTION: Aside from weeping and blaming
hubby for my pregnancy (joke!), I just dealt with it with my normal routine. I
didn’t see any abrupt change on the first 5-6 months but I am pretty sure that
I am doing the right thing. I avoided most of my dermatologist’s solutions
since most of the chemicals in it posted big risks to my baby’s development
(ohhh.. the sacrifices of a mother). Thus, I just maintain the usual Cetaphil
face wash and moisturizer (it should be oil-free) and I have also continued
using my usual make-up products such as foundation, concealer, bronzer,
blush-on, highlighter, and lipstick. Day-by-day was a horror but trust me, once
the hormones subside and as long as you keep your face clean and you drink
plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated, then it will naturally go away.
2.
Warts and Varicose Veins Appearance
So
this is another revelation that caught me off-guard on this second pregnancy. I
got shocked when I saw the appearance of warts on my neck area (about 4-5 very
very small thingy) and varicose veins on my legs. So worried that I may not be
able to wear shorts or skirts again, I checked out if this is normal and if
there is anything that I can do to take these out immediately.
FACT:
Warts are usually genetic and it may appear during pregnancy due to change in
hormones. Varicose veins (purple or blue) may appear during pregnancy due to
the weight that you have gained overtime that causes pressure on your legs. As
the amount of blood in your body increases, it adds burden on your veins.
Standing for a long period of time can also make you more susceptible to
varicose veins.
SOLUTION:
Honestly, none. I am not doing anything with these for now. But I am planning
to see my dermatologist after I give birth. For now, I just avoided standing
for a long period of time, wearing heels, and I walk a little bit to regulate
the blood vessels in my legs and maintain a normal blood flow all over my body.
I read that after birth, varicose veins are most likely to subside too. Warts,
on the other hand, are easy to deal with. There are over-the-counter solutions
that you can DIY to take those out. I just wanted to ensure that I’d seek
professional help as the appearance of those are on my neck (near to the face)
that can cause visible scar if not dealt with well. So moms out there, let us
just keep the faith alive and sacrifice this 9- month of ugliness for a
lifetime of happiness in carrying, nurturing, and rearing a son or a daughter.
3.
Ear Itch/Ear Infection during Pregnancy
Ok..
so no doctor said that this is pregnancy-related, I swear. I never thought so
too, not until I googled it and saw that multiple pregnant women all over the
world experience the same thing that I was going through. Honestly, this was
the most terrible pain I have ever felt in my entire pregnancy. Much worse than
contractions! What happened was- there is haze in Singapore.. a terrible and a
long one.. I was on my 35 weeks of pregnancy and I got allergic to it that
caused me flu and cough. Ear Itch, for me, can be pretty normal even when I
wasn’t pregnant. The doctor told me that too much cotton buds contact inside my
ear can cause this to get dry and to itch. Thus, I wasn’t so surprised when it
happened to me at this stage. The usual-stubborn thing I did was to get a
cotton bud and once again, try to clear my ears to ensure it won’t itch. I know
it was a terrible itch, so apart from cleaning the left ear, I know I created a
friction inside. I slept and after 2 hours (1am), I felt the terrible pain
inside my left ear that I couldn’t bear it, that’s why hubby rushed me to the
hospital. I first went to KKH (Women’s and Children’s clinic) but they said
that I should go to Tan Tok Seng instead, as ear infection is not their
specialization. So I had to transfer to TTS at about 2am. After an hour, I was
seen by a GP and told me that she saw that my ear was inflamed but
because it was too painful she recommended that I see an EENT doctor to ensure
that findings are more precise and accurate. To ease the pain, she gave me
paracetamol (2 tablets 3x a day) and CILOXAN (Ciplrofloxacin) good for both
eyes and ears (2 drops of the solution to the affected ear, 3x a day). I
honestly do not want to drug my princess but I have no choice because the pain
is terrible and I was getting more stressed out due to lack of sleep and heavy
weeping. I was able to rest after I took my medications and have decided to see
the EENT doctor the next day. They checked my ear and recommended that I take
antibiotics. So the stubborn mom who refused to further drug the baby didn’t
follow the medication. I had a follow-up check- up and the reason why I didn’t
cancel the appointment is because the left ear was really blocked and I was
having an extreme migraine on the left side of my head. I can hear something
but not totally clear. So Doc Natalie of EENT-TTS checked my ear and she found
out that my ear was very clean and no longer inflamed but she’d like to
understand why I was having a blocked ear. So she did a scan by inserting a
tube inside my nose. Initially, I refuse the spray to make my nose numb so the
tube can enter with less pain. I tried it without any drug on but I couldn’t
bear the pain. Thus, I decided to take the spray. It went inside and she said
that due to the flu I have, the mucus is affecting the nose and ear portion
that is causing the blocked ear. Thus, she recommended that I take and finish
the course of anti-biotics. She guaranteed that it is safe for my baby. And she
also diagnosed that I wash and clean my sinus using FLO SINUS CARE KIT. I did
those and I was so happy that the terrible migraine pain’s gone after 2 days but
the blocked ear has subsided but not completely as of yet.
FACT: It
is ok to clean the ears with cotton buds but we shouldn’t put it inside the ear
that can irritate the skin and other parts of the lobe. We can clean the
outer-visible part of the ear about 3x a week but the inside, we should not dig
deep too much to avoid any dryness that can cause ear itch or ear infection.
SOLUTION: Always, always, always seek
professional help. An EENT exists because they know exactly what to do.
Although we really do not want to drug the baby, think of it as a less
stressful way of taking care of the baby inside us by following the medications
that the experts advise us to do. So our body can produce happy hormones that
can be healthier for our baby. Avoid getting so much stress with unnecessary
pain. When the mom is stressed, then so as the baby. So let us protect our
bodies, thoughts, and emotions so the baby can be more secured and stress-free.
4.
Minor Bleeding during the first trimester
So
this episode freaks me out, right? I knew I was pregnant so why the hell am I
bleeding. Not too much but I saw 2x4 inches blood-wide on my underwear. It is
not continuous but I just happen to see when I went to the restroom after my
meeting. I recalled, I was on my 8th-10th week of pregnancy. “Is it because of
stress? Or probably because I was wearing heels?” So I try to be the Ms. DIY
and see if other moms out there experience the same thing.
FACT: “Spotting” or the light discharge
of blood is common during the first trimester. It is usually lighter in flow
than a menstrual period and the color varies from red to brown. It can be
caused by Implantation bleeding when the fertilized egg implants in our uterus.
Some causes can be a cervical polyp that can exist due to an increased number
of blood vessels in the tissue around the cervix during pregnancy or it can
also post a serious complication such as ectopic pregnancy (fertilized egg
attaches itself in a place other than inside the uterus).
SOLUTION: Though it exists and 20% of the
pregnant women usually experience this, we should not take this too lightly.
Consult your doctor if this happens continuously and/or if it happens multiple
times. As for me, since the bleeding stopped and it was few and it never
recurred, I honestly prayed very hard that nothing serious shall happen to my
baby. After 3 weeks, my scheduled appointment came and I told my OB about it.
He checked the heartbeat of my baby and he said it was strong. So thank God,
nothing bad happened to my princess.
5.
Pre-Natal and Post-Natal Massage are both Ok to have
Growing
up in a province has molded by mind not to entertain any pinch or any type of
massage as it can cause early contractions or miscarriage. So during my 1st pregnancy, I never had any massage and
was so afraid to have one. After I gave birth to my son, hubby and I decided to
go to a spa and they refused to give me a massage as they’ve mentioned that
they can only do so after 6-months post-operation/ birth. So I believed them..
Then this second baby came.. I was in a lot of stress and unbearable back pain.
I couldn’t help it and googled if I can have pre-natal massage and this is what
I found out:
FACT:
Yes, you can have one or even both. But it should be done by a professional,
trained, and experienced Pre-natal masseuse. Every pregnant woman deserves to
be pampered after all; pregnancy is really hard to deal with especially with
the change in our bodies prepping us to carry a baby inside our womb.
Pre
Natal Massage reduces
stress level and fatigue, reduces back/hip pain, and improves digestion and
blood circulation. It also reduces the swelling of feet and ankles and it
improves skin elasticity reducing the risk of stretchmarks. In Singapore, there
are multiple sites you can visit to do so: www.mummybabycare.com.sg , http://www.babiesbellies.sg/Prenatal.php
Rates
range from SGD60-SGD300++ depending
on the kind of package you want to take.
Post
Natal massage, on the other hand, provides ease for muscle tension,
relief from stress, it also eliminates excess body fluids/water retention, it
improves sleep and it reinstates uterus to its original size. Rates range
from the same amount as Pre-Natal (SGD60-SGD300 depending on the package). Both websites above offer Post-Natal
massages too.
In
case that you’d like to explore SPA & SAUNA in a usual SPA Salon
without the POST-NATAL branded massage, please consult your doctor after 4-6
weeks of delivery so he/she can assess if your body is ready to take the heat
of the sauna and the stroke of the usual/normal massage.
SOLUTION: All Moms-to-be and mommies
world-wide deserve all the pampering that we can get. Almost a year of
painstaking that no man would understand (and I think, no man can bear..hahhaa)
is not a joke. Although having a baby is extremely the happiest moment in
your family life, the truth is- carrying one and having one is not a joke and
it is not easy. Prepare yourself- body, mind, and spirit in taking this
journey. Anything that will ease your pain, anything that will not make you
regret, and anything that will make this episode in your life bearable and
enjoyable (of course with doc’s approval)- Go! Please take it. After all, this
is the essence of being a woman- being a happy and a beautiful mother. :)
6.
SALON TIME: Hair Color and Nail Polish are allowed during pregnancy
During
my 1st pregnancy I
never took any of these in my fear of posting big risks to my baby. Besides the
smell of it is really intolerable so I opt out in doing so. I therefore
conclude that my 9-month journey during my 1st experience made me the ugliest
pregnant alive. Hahaha..
Due
to the nature of work I do, I have to look presentable all the time, I started
to ask questions to my OB and have also done a few research about Salon time.
FACT: Hair color has minimal risk to
the baby but no hair color during the entire pregnancy, of course, has no risk
at all. This is what my OB told me. He mentioned that during the 1st trimester, baby is developing so it is
very crucial to avoid any harmful substances and ingredients that may cause
risk to the baby’s health. Although research shows that semi and permanent hair
dyes are safe for the babies and have less likelihood to be absorbed by the
skin, it is much better to wait for 2nd trimester to do so as the developing
baby is less vulnerable at this time. Nail polish on the other hand is not
absorbed into the skin. The smell of it can be bothering to the mom so suggest
that you wear a mask or do this in a well-ventilated area while is it being put
on as anything that can bother you may bother the baby too. Dying of eyebrows
and eyelashes are something that the doctors and the articles I have read
really stressed on NOT doing. This can cause infection to the eyes that can be
a risk for the baby.
SOLUTION:
I personally do both of these but have never done any hair straightening or
perming while I am pregnant. What I did was to do hair cellophane to change the
color of my hair from blonde to black as I do not want to go through it twice
within 9 months.
Do
these if you are comfortable. If not, then just don’t.
7.
Frequent and Uncontrollable Urination during Pregnancy
So
I know about the endless restroom moments where you spend most of your time to
pee than to sleep.. this I know since I was pregnant on my first baby.. but the
uncontrollable part happens on the second pregnancy. When I sneeze, when I
cough, pee comes out. As gross as it is and as much as I don’t want to share
with you, I want to let you know that if you experience this funny and irritating
moment, you are not alone, my friend. :)
FACT: Frequent urination happens due to
the hormonal changes that your body experience. It increases urine production
as your uterus expands and it presses your bladder. They said that this happens
so much during the 1st and
3rd trimester. But the
2nd trimester would be
a relief. Honestly, it wasn’t the same in my case. The frequency increases as
the days go by. As the baby drop lower in my pelvis in preparation for the
delivery, it puts more pressure on my bladder that even sneezing, coughing, and
lifting something, causes me to leak a little urine.
SOLUTION: I was advised to reduce my intake
of fluids from 4pm onwards but I needed to make sure that before that
timeframe, I was able to take 6-8 glasses of water. I have also avoided any
caffeinated beverage that can dry me up and cause me to pee more and more. In
my case, the 4pm liquid cut-back didn’t work out. I feel so dehydrated and am
having minor contractions if I don’t take liquids. Thus, I just have to bear
with the more-pee-lesser-sleep episodes in the entire duration of my pregnancy.
After all, the sacrifice will be worth it once you see your munchkin all happy
and smiling.
8.
Increase in Sex Drive during Pregnancy
So
please don’t judge me or the other moms-to-be out there. No one wishes for this
to happen, except the fathers. Lol. Seriously, I have noticed this already
during my first pregnancy but ignored the drive and the existence of the urge,
not until it happened to me again on this 2nd pregnancy so I have to check if this
is really normal or it is just me. LOL.
FACT: Most women experience increase in
sex drive due to the hormonal changes- increase in estrogen and progesterone-
that happen during pregnancy. These sex hormones increase blood flow to the
pelvic area and the amount of lubrication down below. Breasts also become more
sensitive so your drive to make love could be fired up to the highest intensity
and frequency.
SOLUTION: I was informed that during the
first trimester, sex is not allowed. That saddens me and my hubby since the
drive is actually higher during this time than in any pregnancy stage. The
drive subsided on my 2nd trimester
and went back on my 3rd. Quick advice is- find a
position that will not compromise your tummy, sense of balance, and protection.
Make sure that hubby knows that he needs to take extra caution to avoid
bleeding as you enjoy this moment together.
9.
Constipation during Pregnancy
Ok,
so this is another topic that most women would try to avoid to share. But hey,
this is part of growing a baby inside us and I’d say another sacrifice that
mothers take to bring a baby out of this world. I have experienced the worst of
this problem during my 1st pregnancy
(during the 3rd trimester
actually) and on my 2nd pregnancy
during the 1st trimester.
FACT: More than 50% of pregnant women
experience Constipation. This is caused by the hormone- progesterone that helps
to relax the muscle including the one in your digestive tract. This causes the
food pass-through to slow down. As the baby grows, the pressure on your rectum
continues so the constipation problem compounds each day.
SOLUTION: On my 1st pregnancy, I had no choice but to take
the pain of constipation and waited for the day of my delivery to ask for
drug-assisted method to clean my digestive tract. But on this 2nd pregnancy, since it happened during
the 1st trimester, I
immediately shared this with my OB and he has given me some medications and
cure for my rectum in case it becomes inflamed. I honestly, never took any and
instead, I opted for the natural methods. I increase my intake of fiber-
Nesvita in Fairprice, Oatmeal in the morning, 3 servings of fruits per day
(apples and oranges for me), and increase in water intake. Although these
methods might have been heard many times and may sound like cliché to solve the
constipation issue, it really works best for me and at this time- on my 3rd trimester- I barely experience the
difficult part of constipation and the pain that comes with it, anymore. I
wouldn’t deny and say that there was no effort when I get it out, there is
still. But there is no pain and no inflammation as what I have experienced on
my 1st pregnancy. So,
God’s nature is still the best cure, I conclude.
10.
No two pregnancies are the same
This
is a FACT.
I
thought that having a second child will put me in a better position as I had my
first already. I thought that it will be easier this time since I had my
experience and I was confident that I took the worst already. Hahaha.. But I
was so wrong. It was more of a 60%-40% where 60% is different and 40% is the
same. All the things mentioned herein posted the similarities and the
differences in the intensity and frequency of the things I've been through (and
going through as of writing..). The throwing up was excessive this time. I
literally have to vomit inside my Louis Vuitton bag to save my
face from messing up inside a train (really gross). How can I possibly throw an
LV bag right? So I got to have it professionally cleaned and paid SGD200 to
save the bag. I cry unstoppably at night due to the extreme pain at my back and
pelvis and the most painful leg cramps/RLS (Restless Leg Syndrome). All these I
never experienced with my first.
The SOLUTION is.
Pray,
pray, pray.. that God gives you strength to take all the punches of
this experience and to lighten the load for you. I don’t mean to sound
spiritual here but this is the first thing that always pops into my head
whenever I feel discomfort. No doctor can answer the phone immediately and
magically remove the pain or discomfort you’re feeling right on spot. The only
thing left for you is to pray to your Creator who knows the tiniest bone and
vein in your body that can soothe and calm you. Next is- you’d need the support
of your husband. Sometimes, even if they won’t do anything; but by simply
having them by your side, holding you and calming you and letting you feel that
they are with you in this journey, helps a lot to ease the pain. My hubby
(sometimes voluntarily or forcefully, hahaha) massages my legs and back to make
me feel better almost every night. And I am just thankful that I have him to go
through this with me as the journey is never easy. He wouldn’t and can’t
understand even though he’d say “I understand the pain you’re going through”,
but honestly, only mom knows what it really feels like. Have a good support
system that begins with your husband. Talk to him and send him articles about
pregnancy so he won’t be shocked with the changes on your body and with your
moods. Both of you should be prepared to take this journey side-by-side. After
all, the start of parenthood begins at pregnancy and not after the child is
born. The 9-month journey happens for a reason. And that is to make you both
prepared to exercise patience, selflessness, and love.. the purest love of all.
Learn to share it with one another first so you can freely share the super
abounding feeling to your little ones.
All
the best to your pregnancy, mommies!
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