Week 14 news

We are officially in our second trimester!!

woohoo!

I can feel my abdomen getting tighter and harder, and I feel as if it is protruding out a bit, I will post belly pics soon. I have been guilty of laziness :]

Queasiness is still bothering me, but the actual vomiting has decreased significantly, so now I can at least eat a bit and keep it down. Hopefully I'll start gaining weight soon! (fingers crossed)

One bad news: DEAR HUSBAND HAS CAUGHT THE COLD. Our employees have been getting sick left and right and husband brought it home with him. :[

So what do we do?

Medication?

We have decided this pregnancy will be medication free pregnancy. I haven't taken anything besides prenatal vitamins to aid the growth of our little fufu, and I don't plan on taking any other meds. This also will include the time of labor and delivery, so no epidural. This poses a dilemma- what happens if I catch the cold my husband has, and I end up having a fever?

According to research, TYLENOL is ok for pregnant women to take as a fever reducer. Many doctors say that controlling fever is the most important when dealing with the common cold since it can be fatal to the baby. Body temperature of 102F or higher is lethal and therefore should be monitored. This is why many doctors don't recommend baths because the body temperature CAN go up this high if bath is prolonged or the water temperature is hot. 

HOWEVER, the husband and I feel strongly about taking medication, so even if I catch it, we will use home remedies to control the fever.

Flu shot?

Since the flu season IS approaching, and coincidentally, the husband has caught the cold, I thought, flu shot? But, that goes against our 'medication free' pregnancy policy, so I will not be taking it regardless. From my past experience with flu shot, I don't recommend it. I got EXTREMELY SICK THE DAY OF MY FLU SHOT, which lasted for a full week (last year), and I STILL caught the flu. Never will get flu shots, pregnant or not. Also, there have been many controversies over the safety of the flu shot for pregnant women. Some say it's the devil, some say it's the lifesaver, some say don't get it at all, some say get it but not at first trimester. The big debate seems to be about pregnant women who received the flu shot and producing autistic kids. I have read into it, and although I concur that mercury can affect the fetus, (mercury thought to be contained within the flu shot) I'm not convinced enough that the vaccination alone is solely responsible for babies born with autism. Also, many of the cases that women report with autistic babies say that they got their flu shots in their first trimester, knowingly or unknowingly, and I strongly believe that it is just as much of a responsibility of the mother as much as it is of the health care provider. Women who are not on birth control, who are sexually active, who have a CHANCE of becoming pregnant, should be aware that even flu shots CAN affect the development of the fetus. Speaking as a person who lost the first baby due to miscarriage in the first trimester, I will say that I wasn't really much informed how fragile pregnancy is the first trimester, and how every little thing I did to my body whether it's exhausting it too much, or eating unhealthy foods, or being around smokers, or not getting enough exercise, or not taking vitamins and really listening to my body, ALL THESE things can influence your pregnancy. After the miscarriage, I'm more aware, educated, and informed about my body and my pregnancy. 

And my personal decision of flu shots is, no. 

Home remedies?

YES! This is our way :] I haven't caught the cold yet, but that doesn't mean I won't. So the best way is  PREVENTION. The obvious hand washing is really hard to be religious about, but I have increased the number of times I wash my hands. I try not to touch my face as much, and have increased my fluid take even more. We have been drinking lemon tea with honey= hot water, half a lemon freshly squeezed into the water, honey, and citron tea. Husband is taking dayquil, but I'm just trying to eat as much as I can, especially fruits. My husband and I have not hugged or kissed, or touched hands, and been near each other since we found out he got sick, and we plan on keeping our distance until he is completely healed. I will purchase a mask to wear since some germs are airborne, and some people online even suggested wearing gloves since I might end up touching things with the germs. 

I'm continuously taking the prenatal vitamins, which will help, and I think the most important things is to keep a positive mindset that I won't get sick if I'm careful. I don't want to be a germaphobe, and I just have to be mindful of things I do. 

The poor husband now gets absolutely NO LOVE from me, as I have been bitchy all first trimester, and now we can't even be physically close. 

Well, no one told him to get sick, and we both don't want any harm for our little fufu, so we just need to suck it up. Plus, I get my space :]

Please pray for a speedy recovery for my husband, and for me and the little fufu!

Week 13 news

This week is the last week of the 1st trimester and all I can say is thank God!

Second trimester is supposedly the "honeymoon" phase of the pregnancy, where you feel good, you'll eat better, and many of the discomforts will slowly dissipate. (having my fingers crossed) And most importantly, the chance of miscarriage significantly drops, which is the main concern for me and my dear husband. Losing the first baby to miscarriage last year took a toll on me physically and emotionally, and finally I can breathe a sigh of relief. One more week! 

This week I have noticed a completely new set of discomforts. Main one being my teeth. They feel like they're going to fall off. Literally. They feel they're weakened at the gums and whenever I brush my teeth, they feel as if they've been rattled to the point of falling off. WEIRD. Also, cramps, oh my cramps. I get cramps that are a combination of muscle spasms and period like cramps. They come and go, but mostly come and stay. I try to calm myself by reminding myself that it's just the uterus expanding, and the baby is fine. However, it does unnerve me quite a bit whenever I wake up with a clenching feeling down in my lower abdomen. So I did a bit of research, and this is what came up. 

Currently I am in week 13, which according to the research, is when I'm going to feel the most change in my uterus since it has completely come out of the pelvic cavity, and is going up higher into my abdomen. Around week 20, or according to the growth of my baby, I will have a full baby bump that sticks out at my belly button. As of now, I just feel really heavy down there, like when I'm pmsing, about to get my period, but this is a different kind of heaviness, and all I can hope for is that everything is going ok down there. 

And that's another thing too. I hate not knowing how my little fufu is doing inside me. I hate being in the dark and I even told my husband we should get a ultrasound machine at home. That is how frustrated I am not knowing. At least if I knew or saw some kind of a picture, it'll put me at ease. I don't know how women way back then did it. They didn't even have ultrasound back then, they just had to wait 10  months. Kudos and props to women back in the days. 

I have been VERY MOODY and CRANKY lately and the poor husband is getting the worst of it. It's so weird how I look at him and I hate him to his very core. I start yelling and screaming and biting his head off and I sometimes physically punch him or bite him. I am usually sensitive when I get my period, but this pregnancy has put me on a hormonal roller coaster and my husband gets abused. I warn him when I wake up, usually with a bitter remark, "I am cranky today so don't even start" -but the thing is he didn't even do anything, I just get cranky for no reason. Sorry, husband- hopefully it'll get better second trimester. 

Boobs have been hurting NONSTOP. Especially the nipples. Sometimes I will get this excruciating jolt from my armpit to the nipple, and it'll be like morse code but painful. Then it'll stop. One night, I woke up from my sleep because my boobs hurt so much. 

Maybe my body is on full mode bad symptoms for this last week of the first trimester before I enter my second trimester and start feeling better. For the peace of this family, and especially for my husband, I hope my hormones calm down a bit and I start feeling better in the second trimester. 

Keep us in your prayers and more news later!

Very late week 12 news

Today is actually 12 weeks and 3 days, and I have been very lazy lately.

I have been constantly sleeping, which is good and bad, good because I'm getting the much needed rest, and bad because it cuts down on my eating time. 

The nausea has NOT subsided like babycenter has claimed it would. It's actually on and off. On good days, I could eat. On bad days, I still throw up 2-3 times a day.

According to babycenter, the little fufu is now a size of a lime. Yay~

Other symptoms and changes: my abdomen/stomach area is itching a lot- it probably is due to the expanding uterus and stretching muscles. This leads to tightening sensation of the lower abdomen near my pubic bone area, and it is not a pleasant feeling at all. I think these symptoms all attribute to my body making extra room for the little fufu, but man, it is UNCOMFORTABLE. Also, my tail bone hurts like it's been bruised. I'm thinking this is also due to my expanding uterus, and it makes sense, since the doctor told me my uterus is tilted back- it's probably pushing down on my tail bone. NOT A GOOD FEELING. I feel like I have to poop all the time. And it is extremely uncomfortable. My boobs have been hurting like crazy, but they seem like they're still the same size. According to my mom, she said her boobs (when she was pregnant) grew overnight. So she said just wait, they will come. 

I'm just worried that I won't gain the weight I need to gain by the next doctor's appointment. Until then, it's just more rest, and more eating. Hopefully no more puking, but we'll just have to wait and see. 

Keep us in your prayers, and more later!

11 Week 3 Days NT ultrasound

Went to the doctor for the follow up NT ultrasound and GOOD NEWS! The NT has decreased from 3.2mm to 2.8mm! We are now in the safe zone and the doctor reassured us that we don't have anything to worry about :] Praise the Lord! The next visit will be in four weeks for the QUAD blood test, which will also test for genetic disorders, main one being Down Syndrome, but for now the ultrasound looks A-OK! woohoo!

Here are some pictures of our little fufu. Fufu has grown so much in a week that he actually measured AHEAD of his time. He is 11Week 3 days old but measured at 12 weeks!

He is sucking his thumb right now, and you can see his little fingers! This little tyke was moving and squirming and flexing his legs and moving his toes and fingers, and it was just a wondrous sight. It was amazing! His heart was beating strong and he was a happy camper. 

Here's a picture of him smiling!

You can see the two little dots for the eyes, and his mouth is smiling! :D

The doctor also confirmed that the umbilical cord has three distinct parallel lines, which is definitely good, and the placenta looks great. Teehee!

On a more somber note, I have lost yet another 4 pounds. The total weight I have lost this pregnancy adds up to 8. I have never dieted in my life, and this is as close as I will ever get to actually losing weight this fast this much. 

Doctor wants me to gain some weight by the next appointment, which will be in four weeks. We will get to hear fufu's heartbeat and HOPEFULLY get to know the gender, if he/she is in the right position. WOOHOO! 

Also, the doctor said my uterus is tilted back, that is why I have been having crazy back pains. She said this will ease up once my uterus comes out of my pelvic cavity and settle higher up in my abdomen. Until then, she said, it will hurt. Also, she said I may show a little later, but I will still show. I can't wait for the baby bump :]

We have three more weeks until we enter the 2nd trimester, and all we can do is thank God for bringing us this far. We continue to pray that He will make everything perfect :]

Thank you so much for all your prayers, more news later!

week11 news

Our little fufu is now a size of a fig. How cute! :]
Since the last ultrasound, we were a bit shaken up with the thought of having issues with the NT, but the husband and I decided it is best to leave everything up to God and just not worry about it. 
Symptoms are pretty much the same, except the vomiting has increased to 3-4 times a day. It's really hard to gain weight with all the throwing up, but it's harder to keep it in when the puke is already in your mouth. Bleh. 
Husband thinks it's the baby's last hurrah before the morning sickness subsides and the appetite kicks back in. I'm not so sure; according to most medical websites, morning sickness should be subsiding starting week 11-12, and mostly gone by week 14 but... at this rate, I don't know.
Mom is a little discouraged to see me throw up despite her wonderful awesome cooking. She probably thought the morning sickness would go away if I get some home cooked meals. I love her cooking, but some ingredients make me throw up regardless of how good it is. Biggest culprits: green onions, garlic, cayenne pepper (고추가루) they make me puke no matter what. This is a big problem, since most korean foods require them as ingredients.... 

The coming doctor's appointment is this thursday. That's when we do our formal NT screening tests for the little fufu. We pray and trust in God that everything will turn out just the way it should be: perfect.

On a more disgusting note: if you have a weak stomach, do NOT proceed to read. 


Yesterday during breakfast, I was having my usual breakfast, fruits and nuts... when I switched my sitting position, and SPLAT! Something felt really wet and not right. I started gasping and exclaiming, oh oh oh! and I just had this ghastly look on my face. Mom thought I was having a miscarriage, but I knew. I kid you not, I shit my pants. 
This is by far the most horrific experience I had since being pregnant, and I still can't get over the trauma. Of course I cleaned myself up immediately after, thank God I was home, but I felt so nasty and humiliated. Mom was so relieved little fufu was fine, but I was mortified. I heard stories of pregnant women who couldn't control their bowels, so they ended up wetting or shitting themselves, but I had never in a million years thought I would shit my pants.... I guess I have to welcome myself to the club. YUCK. 
But, like my mom said, it's better to let it out then hold it in. I agree. I just have to be near a toilet. :]

Belly photos to come soon! Keep us in your prayers!