Goodbye to Baby # 2.. Early Embryonic Demise...

When I saw those two purple lines on the pregnancy kit, I was overwhelmed that another angel  would come to fill our lives with love and happiness. But then I never thought that one day my heart would broke into pieces knowing that the baby we are expecting will never come. What even hurts is waking up every morning, and the moment I touch my tummy, I could no longer feel the life inside my womb that had given me the reason to hope, dream and live stronger once in my life.

The baby I am expecting on October 2011 will never come. Last April 4, I had vaginal bleeding. My ultrasound report at my twelve weeks pregnancy showed an early embryonic demise of an 8 weeks 6 days embryo with no fetal heartbeat.

Weekly Update: 11 Weeks Pregnancy plus Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy



Image from Baby Center



How your baby's growing: (from Baby Center

Your baby, just over 1 1/2 inches long and about the size of a fig, is now almost fully formed. Her hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her gums, and some of her bones are beginning to harden.
She's already busy kicking and stretching, and her tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as her body grows and becomes more developed and functional. You won't feel your baby's acrobatics for another month or two — nor will you notice the hiccupping that may be happening now that her diaphragm is forming.
Foods To Avoid During Pregnancy

On my 11^th weeks of pregnancy, my appetite is increasing, though I haven’t gained weight much.  People everywhere are preparing a variety of foods to refresh during summer time. There has been food everywhere. As a concerned parent, I am concern on what food should I avoid during pregnancy. During my pregnancy with Celine, I avoided softdrinks, chocolates and junk foods. Some mommies have shared that they are more “maselan” or careful with what they eat on their pregnancy with their first babies, but when it comes to their second babies, they don’t bother anymore. For me, I don’t want to risk, I want to ensure the well being and safety of my second baby just like what I did with my first. Thus, it is vital for me to eat a well balanced diet in order to ensure that my child will grow and develop normally, right from the start.

Since during pregnancy, everything that goes into our mouth will also reach our baby in some point, we should take note of the following foods that may pose a potential risk to our unborn baby

(Source: Women's Health Care Topics)

1. Raw Meat- These may contain bacteria, toxoplasmosis and Salmonella, all of which are harmful to the unborn baby.
2. Deli Meats- These includesfoods available at the deli counter such as hot dogs, beef and chicken preparations.These preparations may be contaminated  with a substance called Listeria, which can  cause miscarriage or stillborn delivery.
3. Imported soft cheeses- imported unpasteurized cheeses including blue cheese, feta, Brie or camembert should be avoided- they may also contain Listeria.
4. Undercooked eggs- Raw eggs or undercooked eggs may contain Salmonella. Signs of Salmonella poisoning includes: fever, abdominal cramps and diarrhea.
5. Fish- While eating fish can be beneficial during your pregnancy, there are certain types of fish that you should avoid. These include shark, swordfish, king mackerel, excess tuna and tile fish, as all of these contain high levels of mercury, which can affect your unborn child's nervous system. Generally it is safe to eat 12 ounces of other fish including salmon and tilapia, which are full of nutritious benefits. Canned tuna should also be avoided due to high levels of mercury contamination.
   
   High levels of mercury can affect your health, and it can actually damage the brain of your developing baby. To keep your baby healthy, you will want to limit the amount of fish you eat. While fish is typically not a pregnancy food to avoid totally, you can reduce your risk by eating your fish consumption during pregnancy.
6. Caffeine: While a small amount of caffeine (1 small cup a day) may provide a much needed lift for pregnant moms, in general caffeine should be avoided during pregnancy. High amounts of caffeine consumption have been linked with birth defects and increased risks of miscarriage.
   
   Remember that caffeine is present in many every day food items including chocolate, tea and soda. To play it safe you should avoid caffeine entirely during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy to reduce the likelihood of miscarriage. Daily caffeine intake of more than four to seven cups of coffee a day appears to double the risk of spontaneous miscarriage.
7. Alcohol: Alcohol is harmful to your baby's development. Alcohol will cross the placenta and affect your baby, so every time you drink when you are pregnant your baby does to.
   
   If you are pregnant and have been drinking alcohol, stop now! There is no determined level of alcohol consumption that is considered safe during pregnancy. Daily consumption of alcohol in early pregnancy might lead to a condition called fetal alcohol syndrome. To give your baby the best start in life, alcohol should be considered a food to avoid in pregnancy.
8. Artificial Sweeteners: : If you're a regular diet soda guzzler, you may want to switch to another type of drink during pregnancy. A new study published in a July 2010 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that drinking artificially sweetened soft drinks during pregnancy may increase your risk of preterm delivery.
   
   It is important during pregnancy to learn which foods are safe to eat and which foods you should avoid during pregnancy. By doing so you will provide the best possible environment for your baby to grow and develop in.
   
   A healthy pregnancy depends on a healthy diet. For the best possible health benefits, talk to your health care provider about a balanced diet rich in nutrients, vitamins and minerals from fresh food sources.
   
   With a bit of planning and encouragement, you can learn to plan wonderful, tasty meals that will satisfy your cravings and benefit the health of your unborn child as well.
   
   While you may feel that pregnancy limits your choice of foods, you must keep in mind that this list of foods to avoid in pregnancy will only benefit your baby in the long term. By sticking to this list of foods to avoid in pregnancy, you are ensuring that you have a healthy baby and happy pregnancy!

Remember, you only have 40 weeks of pregnancy. You can eat anything you want after your baby is born – including anything on this list of foods to avoid during pregnancy.

Weekly Update: 10 Weeks Pregnancy- Goodbye UTI!

After a week of medication, my Urinary Tract Infection was finally cured. My urine was tested again and has the following results:

                                                     Before                                    After

Specific Gravity                             1.040                                     1.010
Reaction (pH)                                10                                          7
RBC                                              2-3                                         1-2
Pus Cells (WBC)                            28-30                                     1-3
Bacteria                                         Few                                         Moderate
Sugar                                             Neg                                         Neg
Albumin                                         Neg                                         Neg

I could not wait to see my OB, so I searched online on how to read the Urinalysis Report and found this:
Normal Range Table (Urinalysis)

Urinalysis
Specific gravity		1.002-1.030
pH		5-7
Protein		negative-trace
Glucose		negative
Ketone		negative
Bilirubin		negative
Blood		negative
Nitrite		negative
Leukocyte		negative
Urobilinogen		0.2-1.0 Ehr U/dL
	Micro
	RBCs	0-2/HPF
	WBCs	0-2/HPF
	RBC casts	0/HPF

I'm glad it's within the normal range values. On the following day, I gave the result to my OB and she confirmed that I no longer have the infection. Thank God.

Image from Baby Center

How your baby's growing: (from Baby Center)

Though he's barely the size of a kumquat — a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, your baby has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature.
He's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including his kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy.
If you could take a peek inside your womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.
In other developments: Your baby's limbs can bend now. His hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over his heart, and his feet may be long enough to meet in front of his body. The outline of his spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from his spinal cord. Your baby's forehead temporarily bulges with his developing brain and sits very high on his head, which measures half the length of his body. From crown to rump, he's about 1 1/4 inches long. In the coming weeks, your baby will again double in size — to nearly 3 inches.

9 Weeks Pregnancy & Pregnancy Complications

Image from babycenter.com.ph

At week's end, your fetus measures approximately 0.9 inches / 2.3 centimeters long. In both shape and size, it resembles a peapod and weighs less than a tenth of an ounce / 2 grams. The eyelids are fused and won't open until week 27. The wrists are more developed, ankles have formed, and the fingers and toes are clearly visible. Arms are growing longer and bend at the elbows. By week's end, the inner workings of the ears are complete. Though you can't yet identify the sex of the fetus by ultrasound, its genitals have begun to form. By now the placenta has developed enough to support most of the critical job of producing hormones.(from babycenter.com.ph)

My First Trimester Pregnancy Complications: (Fifth to Ninth Weeks)

1. Subchorionic Hemorrhage

Since my second pregnancy was an ectopic one, I was asked for an ultrasound at my fifth week to identify if my third pregnancy is intrauterine. Thank God it is. But, a superior pole subchorionic hemorrhage was noted measuring 0.57 x 0.48 x 0.37cm or 0.05ml. My OB advised me that there is nothing to worry since I am not experiencing any vaginal bleeding. But to prevent the possibility of bleeding, she advised me the following:

• Sexual abstinence until my twelve weeks pregnancy.
• Avoid carrying heavy objects.
• Avoid traveling to distant places.
• She prescribed Duphaston (2x a day), Baby Aspirin (once a day) and Folic Acid everyday.
1. Urinary Tract Infections

I noticed some light green discharge on my underwear and my urine has a cloudy like appearance. Afraid that it may harm the baby, I search thru the internet and found out that having light green vaginal discharge during pregnancy may be a symptom of a vaginal infection or urinary tract infection. I went to my OB-Gynecologist for check-up and she requested for a Urinalysis to confirm the presence of UTI.

My OB advised me to follow the following to cure my infections:

• Drink 6-8 glasses of water everyday.
• Drink cranberry juice everyday.
• Do not hold urine in.
• Wipe from front to back to avoid the chance of spreading the bacteria in the anal area.
• She prescribed Cefalexin (Antibiotic) to be taken three times a day for seven days.

As compared to my pregnancy with my first baby (Celine), this one is more complicated. And I am feeling more nauseous this time. I pray that God will guide me throughout my pregnancy, and to bear this angel healthy and normal.

Second blessing..our second angel..



I took this pregnancy test after my two days missed period

We're so thankful to God for giving us another great blessing. May He guide us always and keep my baby safe in my womb.. (^^)
My baby Celine will be a certified "ate" after 8 months.. (^^)

7 weeks ( from babycenter.com.ph)

How My Baby Look Like at 7 weeks?

Now about 1cm long, the size of a grape, your baby has distinct, slightly webbed fingers and toes. They look a bit like tiny paddles. Your baby is a jumping bean, moving in fits and starts. His liver is churning out large amounts of red blood cells until the bone marrow forms and takes over this role.

At seven weeks, your baby enters a very busy stage. Between now and 20 weeks, he will grow rapidly. Body parts that formed in the first few weeks of life, such as the heart and brain, will become more specialised and complicated. He now has an appendix and a pancreas, which will eventually produce the hormone insulin to aid in digestion. Tooth buds, palate and tongue are forming, while his ears continue to develop and eyelids are starting to cover his eyes. Your baby’s skin is paper thin, and veins are clearly visible.