The Quickening

Hello Baby, how are you doing in Mum's tummy? I hope you're up and about already. =)


This week marked our 20th week together and I finally felt you move inside my tummy! Last Monday, while waiting for your Dad to finish work, I dropped by McDonalds to get a large Shaker Fries --- I know this is not good for both of us Baby but I really wanted to eat one since last week. I was sitting at CA's foyer, eating my fries, when suddenly I felt you moved! The feeling is unexplainable --- weird but overwhelming at the same time. Had there been no people around, I would have shed a tear or two but I don't want to attract attention and be a drama queen hehe. And eversince Baby, you always let me know that you are inside me, kicking and stretching and just enjoying your growth inside me.

Our music nights continued, and when I let you hear Celine Dion's lullabye, you started kickin' again! It was so cute. You don't like her voice Baby? hehe. You love Mozart Baby lullabies and other music too. Your taste is very diverse baby. =)

We had our second hospital visit and when your heartbeat was checked thru an ultrasound microphone, it was beating really really fast which is good! The Midwife said you are so behaved and did not make any movements that she did not have any trouble counting your heartbeat. Thank you baby, you are so cooperative.

Mommy was also weighed and she only gained 1 kg since last month which is good. We are on track with our journey baby.

Here's our photo at 20 weeks ---

and we can't wait to see you in 20 weeks time Baby.

Hugs and kisses to you our little Angel. See you soon.

love, Mom and Dad

A letter to our little one

Dear Baby,

You are 19 weeks and 1 day (in gestational age) today. Your Dad and I were really happy to see you again this morning and couldn’t wait any longer for the 1^st of March to come.

Seeing you today at the Sydney Ultrasound for Women was a breath of fresh air from our chaotic month end activities. I am thankful that I lived in this technological age where I can see you in 4D inside my tummy. You were so cute when you had your arms over your head, just like me when I am sleeping. We saw your limbs, your eyes and nose (and Daddy said you have a very ‘matangos’ nose just like Mommy hehehe). And when we wanted to check your gender, you crossed your legs, cheeky little baby. Though not 100% sure, the sonographer said that you are my little girl, my  mini-me.

How time flies baby, we are halfway through this journey and you know what, my good friend is also pregnant although she didn’t know that she is 14 weeks on the way already. There are so many things she needs to do but I will be here to guide her, and when her baby will arrive, I’m sure she/he will be your best buddy as well. You two will look after each other Baby okay?

At this stage my Angel, I am not sure if what I am feeling was your kicking and jumping but I am sure I will fully feel your movements in the next few days. Seeing you earlier waving at us and kicking is such a joy. And the confirmation that all is well with you is indeed a blessing --- something we continue to thank and pray to God.

My pregnancy book is telling me that you can hear our voices already. I hope you like the music I am playing every night before we go to bed and you also enjoy our conversations together. I treasure these moments, our bond as mom and daughter just began. Sometimes, I think, you also look forward to hearing your Dad’s voice because I can feel the sudden pressure at my lower ribs when I am walking towards his office at 5:00 pm everyday last week! And he enjoys talking to you as much as I do.

Little girl, please continue to be brave inside Mum’s tummy okay? Remember, we love you so so much, we prayed for you, our family and friends prayed for you. You are surrounded with love from the moment you were conceived. A grand party is awaiting your arrival my Princess.

Hugs and kisses.

Mommy and Daddy

The First Peek

On the 12th week of my pregnancy, I scheduled an NT Plus Scan at Sydney Ultrasound for Women. Hubby and I are really excited for this day to come because we'd know for sure if the baby is healthy and we can now announce the pregnancy to the whole world!

After much drama at SUW (I had an 8am appointment at Burwood but because of procedure mixed up, they need to reschedule me at 3pm in Newtown), we finally saw the 'malikot' baby from the monitor.

the butterfly shape is my baby's brain, what a beauty!

baby's arms - he/she wants a hug!

the ultrasound confirmed the baby's age in weeks - 12w1d

closer look at our Angel.

We can't wait for the 18th week scan, we would know the gender by then. =)

On the otherhand, my morning sickness has abated a bit, I now vomit only during the night (from morning, noon and night routine for the last 3 weeks). I reckon, when this nausea will stop, I will put on weight na, oh no!

Its such a relief being able to share the good news to all our friends. Thank you so much for the warm wishes and please continue praying for a healthy baby and mommy too.

ps.. I had a scare last night. I felt a sudden gush of water coming out from me and when I checked, there's a faint blood. We had to rush to the hospital and the OB did another ultrasound to check our baby and the little one is there, not quiet sleeping but still moving around. We heard the heartbeat and it was such a relief to know that the Angel is doing well inside Mum's tummy. Now, the Mum just needs to be extra careful to prevent it from happening again. Thank you Lord!

The Dream

Last Monday, Cesar emailed me that I was pregnant in his dream! Since I couldn't tell him the truth, I just replied --- "really, wow, kaka excite. Nagkakatotoo naman panaginip mo diba? I can't wait!"

Its difficult to keep this blessing to ourselves when we know that a lot of people have been praying for us, but we have to wait for the right time before we can announce it to the whole wide world.

Four more weeks to go and it'll be my 12th week, yay!

The Morning Sickness

For the past two weeks, I always feel nausated at around 4:30 pm, when I'm about to go home. Walking from the office to the train station, my thoughts are always about morning sickness and how its affecting me. I thought 'Great, so this is morning sickness. I can manage this one for the next six weeks'. Oh, how wrong I was for one Monday morning on my 9th week, I was vomitting at the office! So this is the real thing, so help me God.

Back at my desk, I am thinking of the pickled green mango I had at home, it would have soothe my queasy stomach. I can't wait to have it tonight, but for now, I think my skyflakes, apple and mandarin will do. =)

The Confirmation

1st of July - Kinect Night at Aimee and Jesse's place. I jumped, I ran, I squealed with delight while playing the adventure games. Every time I finish my turn, I had to go to the toilet and vomit because I'm feeling nausated. Hubby told me to stop jumping because I've been telling him I might be pregnant since my period is three days overdue. Friends offered me wine and softdrinks and I had to make excuses about having an ulcer attack (I felt bad lying but I just can't afford to drink alcohol when i am not sure about my condition yet).

Over the weekend, I bought a pregnancy kit but waited until Sunday early morning to test because its best to use your first morning urine.

and the result?

　

　

I cried and woke up hubby. he has so many questions, about my period, the preganancy test, etc etc. He was happy but want to make sure that I am indeed pregnant. I told him that I will have a blood test to confirm but because its monthend, I only had the bloodtest done on Wednesday and come Thursday, we got the confirmation from the GP:

　

We told my family first and they were all very happy for me. I told them to pray for me and for the baby. I cannot announce it yet to the whole world even if I want to because I was told its better to wait until the first trimester is over. According to this, I am 7 weeks pregnant so I still have 7 more to go before I can shout it out.

The History

Since getting married last December 2008, Hubby and I decided to have a baby right away, but sadly it didn't happen that quick. For the first 6 months of 2009, I was on medication for rubella and other anti virus that our baby needs but this meant the plan have to be put off to the next half of the year. In 2010, I was getting worried so I went to see a gynecologist and in August, after a number of tests, she confirmed that I was not ovulating. I had to take medications. And after six months of seeing her, nothing still. Then a friend of a friend recommended her OB, she said she had IVF twice with her and all were successful. I was resigned to the fact that we might have to undergo IVF to be able to conceive.

In May 2011, I went to see her OB and she read thru my long history (I brought everything I had from the GP and the previous OB) and said that there is one more procedure she wants me to do before we do surgery to remove the polyps in my ovaries (I have PCOS by the way), and that is HyCoSy - an intra-vaginal ultrasound that is not only uncomfortable but expensive as well, haha. She said that maybe, just maybe, this is just what I need.

　

　

　

Why HyCoSy?

In recent years HyCoSy has increasingly been used in preference to hysterosalpingography (HSG) and laparoscopy as a first line investigation for infertility because of its convenience and safety. HyCoSy also allows examination of the other pelvic organs and because it is a dynamic study and can give valuable information regarding tubal function.

　

　

At the Sydney Ultrasound for women where I had the procedure done, the Doctor told me that my fallopian tube, altough inverted, is not blocked. There's no reason why I should not conceive. That gave me a flicker of hope.

A week later, we tried again.

Then 3 weeks later, I missed my period.