Pregnancy Diary: Part III - "Hoping for a Girl..."

What: Monthly Prenatal Checkup
When: December 9, 2006
Where: Lipa City

Obgyne: Dra. Lilibeth Manguerra
Weight: 72.9k
Blood Pressure: 110/70
Medicines: Natalwiz (multivitamins) and Sorbifer (iron)
Next Checkup: January 6, 2007

Our Baby: 14 weeks to 15 weeks

Checkup and Ultrasound: No more UTI (urinary track infection). I was not supposed to have an ultrasound but Meinhard told my doctor that he wanted to see our baby. Instead of just listening to the heartbeat of the baby, we had an ultrasound (but I like it better this way – having a monthly ultrasound so we can see that everything is normal with the baby). Our baby was getting bigger already. Meinhard could see already a better image of the baby. We even saw some movements already. We asked the doctor if she could see already the gender of the baby. She said that it looks like a girl but she will still confirm it on our next visit.

Now, we are hoping and praying that we will have a princess already. We are really looking forward to our next checkup.

Facts About My Pregnancy:

• No more UTI
• No more excessive saliva
• Slight headache, dizziness and vomiting
• Feeling a lot better compared to the past months
• Getting bigger and bigger already
  

Your Pregnancy: 14 Weeks
Last updated: August 2006
source: http://www.babycenter.com/mybabycenter/114.html

How your baby's growing: Head to bottom, your baby's 3 1/2 inches long — about the length of a lemon — and weighs about 1 1/2 ounces. Her body's growing faster than her head, which now sits upon a more well-defined neck. By the end of this week, her arms will have lengthened and will be in proportion to the rest of her body. (Her legs still have some growing to do, though.) She's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair all over her body (called lanugo). Her liver starts secreting bile this week, a sign that it's already functioning properly, and her spleen starts contributing to the production of red blood cells. She's also producing and discharging urine into the amniotic fluid, a normal process that she'll keep up until birth. You still can't feel your baby's movements, but her hands and feet (which are now half an inch long) are more flexible and active. Thanks to brain impulses, her little facial muscles are getting a workout as she squints, frowns, and grimaces. She can grasp now, too, and she may be able to suck her thumb.

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

Your Pregnancy: 15 Weeks
Last updated: August 2006
source: http://www.babycenter.com/mybabycenter/115.html

How your baby's growing: At around 4 inches long, crown to rump, your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 ounces. He's busy inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid, which will help develop the air sacs in his lungs. His legs are growing longer than his arms now, and he can move all his joints and limbs. That means his hands are more functional, too. Sweat glands are appearing, and although his eyelids are fused shut, he can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, he's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but his taste buds are beginning to form. And if you have an ultrasound, you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or girl! (Don't be disappointed if it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down the sex depends somewhat on how clear the picture is and the position of your baby during the ultrasound; he may be curled or turned in such a way as to keep you in suspense.)

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

How your life's changing:

You've probably gained about 5 pounds by now. If it's a little more or less, don't worry too much. Every woman gains weight at a different rate. While you're well into the swing of being pregnant, you may still be surprised by an unexpected symptom now and then. If your nose is stuffed up, for example, you can probably chalk it up to your pregnancy. That's because increased estrogen can cause swelling in the mucous membranes and possibly the production of more mucus. Your blood volume is increasing, too, which causes your blood vessels to expand, including those in your nose. (You may get occasional nosebleeds as a result.) And because pregnancy alters your immune system and makes you more susceptible to certain infections, it might just be that you have a cold or allergies. In any case, make sure you stay away from irritants, like cigarette smoke, aerosols, and alcohol. To soothe your nostrils, use a humidifier or vaporizer at night, and drink plenty of fluids. You can also try over-the-counter saline drops or a buffered saline nasal spray. (If you're truly miserable, ask your doctor or midwife if it's okay to take decongestant medication.)

Don't worry if you and your partner are feeling a little stressed out these days. Many pregnant couples worry about the baby's health and how they'll cope as new parents. But with minimal physical discomfort and renewed energy, this is also a wonderful trimester for most women, so try to enjoy it!

3 Questions About...Infections during pregnancy

Q1. What are the most common infections during pregnancy?

UTI: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common bacterial infection during pregnancy. Typically, bacteria from the rectum enters the urethra and makes its way up to the bladder where it continues to multiply, sometimes leading to a bladder infection called cystitis. Higher levels of progesterone are probably partly to blame because the hormone relaxes your urinary tract and bladder, which causes urine to stay in your system, giving bacteria more time to grow. Symptoms of a UTI include pain, discomfort, or burning when urinating, and pelvic discomfort or lower abdominal pain. Your urine might look cloudy and have a foul smell, and you may have a frequent urge to pee.

Bacterial vaginosis (BV): This genital tract infection is caused by an overgrowth of bacteria that usually live in small numbers in your vagina. You may or may not have symptoms with BV. If you do, you may notice a thin, milky white or gray discharge with a foul or fishy smell. (This odor is most apparent after sex.) You might also have some irritation or itching around your vagina and vulva, though at least half of all women with BV have no symptoms.

Yeast infections: These common vaginal infection are even more likely when you're pregnant. Yeast infections are caused by microscopic fungi in the Candida family. This bug is found in the vaginas of nearly one third of all women and only becomes a problem when it grows so fast that it overwhelms other competing microorganisms. Your increased estrogen level during pregnancy causes your vagina to produce more glycogen, making it even easier for yeast to grow there. (Some researchers think estrogen also has a direct effect on yeast, causing it both to grow faster and to stick to the walls of the vagina better.)

Q2. How serious are these infections to my baby?

BV has been linked to an increased risk of preterm labor and preterm rupture of the amniotic membranes surrounding your baby. If you're at risk for preterm labor, your caregiver will screen for the infection and treat you with antibiotics if the results are positive. If you're not at risk and don't have any symptoms, your practitioner won't screen you.

If you treat a UTI everything should be fine. An untreated UTI can lead to a kidney infection that can make you seriously ill and increase your risk for preterm labor. If you do have an infection, your practitioner will treat you with antibiotics that are safe to take during pregnancy. The antibiotics will likely relieve your symptoms within a few days, but it's important to complete the entire course of treatment to destroy all of the bacteria.

A yeast infection won't hurt your baby. If you have an infection when you go into labor, there's some chance that your newborn will contract it as he passes through the birth canal. Yeast infections in newborns are called thrush. Thrush is recognizable by white patches in a baby's mouth; it's not serious and it's easily treated.

Q3. How can I prevent these infections?

• Wear breathable cotton underwear; avoid pantyhose and tight pants.
• Sleep without underwear to allow air to get to your genital area.
• Avoid bubble baths and long baths, and don't sit around in a wet bathing suit.
• Avoid perfumed soaps, scented laundry detergent, feminine hygiene sprays, and douches.
• Always wipe from front to back.
• Eat yogurt that contains Lactobacillus acidophilus, which may help restore the proper bacterial balance in your vagina.
• Drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day.
• Drink cranberry juice. It may discourage new bacteria from taking hold.
• Don't ignore the urge to pee. And when you urinate, lean forward to help empty your bladder completely.