plans for zoie's cake

anniversary cake plans

ronald and i will be celebrating our first anniversary soon.. and m asking good friend jade to make the cake. hopefully it will turn out not great but amazing!

zoie and the common cold

the weather now in the philippines, more particularly in cebu is terrible. the temperature goes from hot to cold in minutes and it is no wonder that most people are getting sick with coughs and colds. and i am no exception either. the bad weather unfortunately got to me. hahai! and it was not much later that zoie had her own batch of sneezes and sniffles.

i was more than worried especially after reading about IPD or the invasive pneumococcal disease that affects most babies ages 2 years and below. so for super concerned and anxious mom's like me, here are ideas on IPD, the common cold and health tips to prevent it. let's keep our babies healthy! =)

excerpted from:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/common-cold/PR00038

Classic signs of the common cold

The common cold is an upper respiratory tract infection caused by one of many viruses. The first sign of the common cold is often a congested or runny nose. Because babies' nasal passages are quite small, it doesn't take much swelling and mucus to cause congestion.

Nasal discharge is often clear at first. As the cold progresses, the discharge usually becomes thicker and turns shades of yellow or green. Later, the discharge may become clear and runny again.

Other signs of a common cold may include:

• A low-grade fever
• Sneezing
• Coughing
• Watery eyes

Toughing it out

Your baby's immune system will need time to conquer the cold. Since colds are caused by viruses, antibiotics won't help.

If your baby is younger than age 3 months, call the doctor at the first sign of illness. For newborns, a common cold can quickly develop into croup, pneumonia or another serious illness.

Most of the time, you can treat an older baby's cold at home. Consider these suggestions:

• Offer plenty of fluids. Liquids can help loosen the congestion. Encourage frequent feedings for younger babies. Offer older babies water between regular feedings. If you're breast-feeding your baby, keep it up. Breast milk offers extra protection from cold-causing germs.
• Thin the mucus. Your baby's doctor may recommend saline nose drops to loosen thick nasal mucus. Look for these over-the-counter drops in your local pharmacy.
• Suction your baby's nose. Keep your baby's nasal passages clear with a rubber-bulb syringe. Squeeze the bulb syringe to expel the air. Then insert the tip of the bulb (about 1/4 to 1/2 inch) into your baby's nostril, pointing toward the back of the nose. Release the bulb, holding it in place while it suctions the mucus from your baby's nose. Remove the syringe from your baby's nostril, and empty the contents onto a tissue by squeezing the bulb rapidly while holding the tip down. Repeat as often as needed for each nostril. Clean the bulb syringe with soap and water.
• Moisten the air. Running a humidifier in your baby's room can help soothe irritated nasal passages. Aim the mist away from your baby's crib to keep the bedding from becoming damp. To prevent mold growth, change the water daily and follow the manufacturer's instructions for cleaning the unit. It might also help to sit with your baby in a steamy bathroom for a few minutes before bedtime.

• Avoid cough suppressants and other cold medicines. Coughing helps clear the mucus from your baby's airway. For otherwise healthy babies, there's usually no reason to suppress it. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns against giving cough and cold medicines to children, especially those younger than age 2 years. Cough and cold medicines haven't been proved effective for children — and for young children, an accidental overdose could be fatal.

  Remember, over-the-counter pain relievers and cough and cold medicines don't kill the viruses that cause upper respiratory infections. And low-grade fevers — which do help kill viruses — don't need treatment. If you give your baby an over-the-counter pain reliever, follow the directions printed on the label.

When the common cold becomes something more serious

Most colds are simply a nuisance. But it's important to take your baby's signs and symptoms seriously. Again, call the doctor at the first sign of illness if your baby is younger than age 3 months. If your baby is age 3 months or older, call the doctor if he or she:

• Isn't wetting as many diapers as usual
• Has a temperature higher than 103 F for one day
• Has a temperature higher than 100 F for more than three days
• Seems to have ear or sinus pain
• Has yellow eye discharge
• Has a cough for more than one week
• Has thick, green nasal discharge for more than two weeks
• Has any signs or symptoms that worry you

Seek medical help immediately if your baby:

• Refuses to nurse or accept fluids
• Coughs hard enough to cause vomiting or changes in skin color
• Coughs up blood-tinged sputum
• Has difficulty breathing or is bluish around the lips and mouth

Think prevention

The common cold typically spreads through infected respiratory droplets coughed or sneezed into the air. The best defense? Common sense and plenty of soap and water.

• Keep your baby away from anyone who's sick, especially during the first few days of illness. If you have a newborn, don't allow visits from anyone who's sick. If possible, avoid public transportation with your newborn.
• Wash your hands before feeding or caring for your baby. When soap and water aren't available, use hand wipes or gels that contain germ-killing alcohol.
• Clean your baby's toys and pacifiers often.
• Teach everyone in the household to cough or sneeze into a tissue — and then toss it. If you can't reach a tissue in time, cough or sneeze into the crook of your arm.

Simple preventive measures can go a long way toward keeping the common cold at bay.

Here are info about IPD:

http://www.nfid.org/factsheets/pneumofacts.html

4th month boitday!

sophia marie gabrielle is now 4 months old!! yey!!

we bought her cake. she was sooo happy. as if she can eat it! hahahahaha!

teething

zoie's first set of teeth are slowly peeking from their gums and so she goes like this most of the time -->> hahahahha..
nway, i read in one article that a child's teeth develops as early a when they are still in the womb. zoie's pediatrician even said that there are some babies who are born with teeth, which is amazing. this probability is albeit one in 2000 but nonetheless that fact is amazing.. wonder how breastfeeding moms would react to this. zoie's milky whites are in their spurting stage, i bet and i know they will hurt like daggers when they (her teeth) are fully formed. ang mga bangkil, waaaaa!

for now she is constantly fussing with her tongue and with her gums. I can imagine these can be quite itchy and even painful for some babies. it's a good thing my darling princess is just getting by it by showing her tongue to anyone and everyone every few minutes.

we noticed those white caps as early as when she was 3 months old. usually baby's teeth start to grow from age 4 months up. i guess my child is an early developer, go zoie, go! =)

another unusual zoie fact, her first set of teeth are molars. generally, this is the pattern:

Age	Teeth	Position
6 to 7 months	Incisors	Two central bottom & Two central top teeth.
7 to 9 months	Two more incisors	Top & bottom; making four top & four bottom teeth in all.
10 to 14 months	First molars	Double teeth for chewing
15 to 18 months	Canines	The pointed teeth or “fangs”
2 to 3 years	Second molars	The second set of double teeth at the back

** info taken from http://www.thenewparentsguide.com/baby-teething.htm

suwail jd ni ako anak oi! =)

also from the same site, here are a few tips to help your teething baby:

What are the symptoms of teething?

The symptoms of teething vary from child to child. Because of these different experiences, parents and physicians often disagree as to the symptoms of teething and how painful it is. The list below shows symptoms that a teething baby may experience. While most parents usually agree that some or all of the symptoms below happened around the time of teething, it is still recommended that if your baby experiences any of these symptoms you check with your pediatrician to rule out other possible causes for the symptoms.

Irritability: As the sharp little tooth rises closer to the surface your baby’s gums may become increasingly more sore and painful, leading to your baby being very fussy. The pain and discomfort is most often worse during the first teeth coming in and later when the molars come in because of their bigger size. This is most often the case since babies become accustomed to the sensations of teething and learn to live with them. But you may find your baby may be fussy during the whole time that every tooth comes in. Every child reacts differently.

Drooling: From three to four months of age you may see your baby start drooling more often than normal. Teething stimulates drooling, which is often worse with some babies than others.

Coughing: The extra saliva can cause your baby to occasionally cough or gag. This is usually nothing to worry about as long as your baby seems fine and shows no signs of a cold or flu and does not run a high fever.

Chin rash: If your baby is a big drooler, the constant contact with saliva can cause the skin around the chin and mouth to become irritated. To help prevent this, gently wipe your baby’s mouth and chin periodically throughout the day.

Biting & gnawing: A baby that is teething will gnaw and gum down on anything she or he can get their mouth around. The counter pressure from biting on something helps relieve the pressure from under the gums.

Cheek rubbing and ear pulling: Pain in the gums may travel to the ears and cheeks particularly when the back molars begin coming in. This is why you may see your baby rubbing their cheeks or pulling at their ears. However, keep in mind that pulling at an ear can also be a sign of an ear infection.

Diarrhea: While this is a symptom that is disagreed upon by physicians, researchers and parents, most parents usually notice slightly looser bowel movements when a baby is teething. While the recent study done by the Children’s Hospital in Australia found this to be the most common symptom of teething, there are still many people that will agree and disagree with this recent study. It is believed that the most likely cause of this is the extra saliva swallowed, which then loosens the stool. Be sure and report any diarrhea to your doctor that lasts more than two bowel movements.

Low-grade fever: A fever is another symptom that doctors are sometimes hesitant to directly link with teething. But there are many parents who will disagree with this and find their baby gets a slight fever while teething. The best thing to do is be extra safe and notify your doctor if a fever last more than two days.

Not sleeping well: With teething pain happening during the day and night, you may find your child wakes more often at night when the pain gets bad enough. Most parents agree that the night waking happens more often during the first set of teeth and with the molars.

Cold like symptoms (runny nose, etc.): Some parents find that their baby will show signs of having a cold. Runny noses, coughing and general cold symptoms are believed to come from the baby having their hands in their mouth more often. Play it safe and always notify your doctor if symptoms such as this occur.

How can I help my baby with the pain?

There are several things that you can try to help ease the pain of teething; some work and some don’t, but most parents agree they’re always worth a try. Teething rings, water filled and chilled rubber teething toys; mom and dads fingers can all provide counter pressure that can sometimes bring relief. Offering your baby a cold bottle of water can also help. If sucking on the bottle bothers your child, offer a cold cup of water. The water can also help replenish your baby’s fluid if they’re drooling a lot or have loose bowel movements.

Cold food has also been found to be helpful by some parents. Chilled applesauce, yogurt and pureed peaches may be more appealing to your baby and also more nutritious than a chilled teething ring.

When nothing else helps, you can also turn to the Infant Tylenol. Before giving your child Infant Tylenol (acetaminophen) always check with your doctor first. Your doctor will tell you if it’s all right and what the proper amount is to give your baby. Baby Orajel and other teething pain medicines that are applied to the gums can also provide some relief. Some parents say the Baby Orajel type products work great, while other parents will say it doesn’t. Also check with your doctor before giving this type of over the counter pain reliever to your baby.

The teething process will come and go just like so many other things with new babies. Keep trying different things until you find what provides the best relief for your child.

Note: Before trying any of the suggestions listed above or any other type of home remedy it is highly recommended that you contact your pediatrician first. You should follow your pediatricians advise first before trying anything mentioned on this site or on any other site. Your child's doctor knows what is best for your child.

here are more pics of me and zoie with stuck out tongues.. her gums must be really itchy!

a massage for mom

ronald and i visited the spa the other day to get a full body massage. Body massages are our favorite indulgence even before we got married. we used to get 3 to 4 sessions a month, lesser when I was pregnant with zoie of course; when i had to content myself with a foot massage. either way, i would never get tired of body massages. I particularly like the Swedish kind because i get to snooze off. i get awaken by thai massage on parts where they need to stretch you out.

anyway, i had thought twice about going for a massage as I had just given birth. figured, 3 months past is enough and decided to go for it. it was ok. felt a little sore around the thighs though. asked the therapist not to apply too much pressure there. guess it does take some time to let those tired muscles (which pushed zoie out) time to heal.

found a great article on the net on postpartum massages. written by Elaine Stillerman, a licensed massage therapist in New York City, who has been specializing in prenatal and postpartum massage since 1980 and has worked with hundreds of expectant women. here is an excerpt:

The Massage Techniques

Women in tribal societies resume normal activities almost immediately after birthing. To get back into shape quickly, these women employ a number of natural techniques, including massage, abdominal binding, herbal treatments, diet, and steaming of the perineal region. All of these methods help the new mother to regain her strength, heal faster, and ease her way in subsequent births.

Massage is a sensuous, relaxing, and loving treatment that has the added bonus of being especially good for you. It is one form of "medicine" most people delight in taking! Massage is a wonderful way to reduce stress and promote general well-being.

While you are pregnant, your body is undergoing stress-producing changes. Massage pleasantly and effectively eliminates many of the adverse effects of stress and the accompanying discomforts. Let's look briefly at some of the physiological changes that occur during a massage and see how they benefit your health and the health of your developing baby:

• Massage will help prepare you for an easier delivery. Self-massage to the perineum (the area between the vagina and anus) promotes flexibility and elasticity. It might actually help you avoid an episiotomy.

• Massage stimulates glandular secretions, stabilizing your hormonal levels and making their side effects less severe.

• Massage to the legs can control varicose veins, and the draining effect of massage facilitates reduction of edema (swelling) of the extremities.

• An increase in general circulation offers a rise of blood to all areas of your body, including the placenta. This brings greater nutrition to the tissues of the body and enhances waste product removal.

• "Lazy" red blood cells lining the vessel walls are reintroduced into circulation, thus increasing the red blood cell count. This is of particular importance to those women with anemia. A rise in the red blood cell count also helps to eliminate fatigue, since more oxygen-carrying hemoglobin is released into the bloodstream.

• The lymphatic system circulates faster and more efficiently. The result is more energy and less fatigue.

• The strain on the muscles of the lower back, abdomen, and shoulders can be greatly reduced through massage. As your pregnancy advances to its final trimester, this relief will be most welcome.

• Muscle tone can increase with regular massage. Muscle spasms and knots are easily released, and muscles, ligaments, tendons, and joints enjoy greater flexibility. This is most advantageous during labor.

• Massage sedates the nervous system, producing much-needed rest and relaxation. In utero, your baby feels the same way. Frazzled nerves are lovingly soothed, and insomnia can be relieved.

Massage accompanies childbirth nearly everywhere in the tribal world. Noted anthropologist George Englemann, who studied tribal customs, wrote in 1884, "There is hardly a people, ancient or modern, that do not in some way resort to massage and expression in labor, even if it be a natural and easy one."² The elder women of the Nama Hottentot tribe of South Africa massage the expectant mothers several times a week in preparation for childbirth. Pregnant women of Uganda receive treatment to make their bones supple for an easy delivery. Women of Kiribati (formerly the Gilbert Islands) receive "shampoos" by expert massage practitioners to train their muscles to bear contractions.

The massage techniques you will be using are derived from Swedish massage, Shiatsu acupressure, and foot reflexology. Mother Massage also includes herbal remedies, nutritional information, and exercises and postures as part of its holistic scope of pregnancy health care.

The Swedish strokes are effleurage, petrissage, friction, tapotement, and the nerve stroke.

to read the whole article, click on this link:

http://www.enotalone.com/article/5646.html

i have yet to know about a spa or a massage parlor meant for pregnant women or new mothers here in the cebu or in the philippines. hopefully, someday i will fulfill one of my dreams and put up one myself. wouldn't that be great? i feel giddy just thinking about it. =)

due date calculator

pregnant women are always anxious to learn when their baby is due. to give you an "hypothesis" on when you can expect to give birth, here are a few links that would be helpful in calculating your due date:

http://www.babycenter.com/pregnancy-due-date-calculator
http://www.amazingpregnancy.com/duedate/index.html
http://www.justmommies.com/duedate.shtml
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/due-date-calculator/PR00099

hope this helps! =)

are you pregnant?

i figured it is best to start with pregnancy because you can't have a baby without getting pregnant in the first place.

i first learned that I was pregnant when I missed my period which is usually the first sign that tells you to be ready because you will soon be carrying another human being inside you. my hubby and i waited for 3 three weeks before we decided to take a pregnancy test. and voila, we discovered that we are pregnant!

a missed period and a positive pregnancy test are generally sure signs telling you that it is time to give your ob-gynecologist a visit and have that first prenatal checkup. there are however other symptoms that you may observe during this period. among these are:

food cravings and altered sense of taste. i remember asking Ronald for strawberries during my first few months of pregnancy. I remember because he just teased me and never got me one. Bad Ronald! =p he reasoned that strawberries are rare in Cebu and he has nowhere to buy them from. as if! other than that, i craved for chocolates and ice cream which is not surprising as i usually get a helping of sweets and a scoop of two once a week. as for the sense of taste, you may find yourself saying "no" to certain foods that you used to love.

swollen breast and darkening of areolas. they say that the circles around your nipples get darker by the day when you are pregnant. supposedly it is to guide the baby when breastfeeding. if this is true or just a myth, i am unsure. what i am sure of is the tender and swollen breasts. you get swollen breast due to a hormonal surge which happens when you are pregnant. some women get swollen breast during periods so this may not be a very reasonable sign of pregnancy.

implantation bleeding or cramping. as the egg is burrowing into your endometrial lining, you might see spotting or stains of pink or brown. this bleeding may occur at the same time of your period. this is the reason why some women may dismiss that they are pregnant but take note that even with a slight bleed, you may still be pregnant.

fatigue. this i got a lot of. i used to miss work a lot because i felt dizzy and faint. fatigue is a surefire symptom that you are pregnant. your body gets high levels of hormone progesterone during this period so you might feel all exhausted and would love to stay in bed all day.

and with fatigue comes morning sickness. and do not be deceived. this is a misnomer. the sickness can occur anytime.

so there you have it, some of the tell-tale signs that you might be staring at your very own bundle of joy come nine months. sure it may sound scary at first and you may think that you are not prepared. but believe me, giving birth is the best fulfillment ever! we are talking about the miracle of life nonetheless! it is however best to know it early so you have time to think things through and of course, prepare for the big day. so goodluck and think positive!

let us begin

when i started this blog, i was pregnant and was looking for an outlet for my "paglilihi" and all the angst that comes with pregnancy. they say writing is always a good way to let go and that stays true for me. however, i never anticipated that i would prefer to spend my time sleeping than writing while i hold shelter for my princess in my womb.

cliche as it may sound, time does fly. my baby is now 3mos old and growing healthier by the day. albeit, my blog is still a little empty and has little news as i only visit it rarely. nevertheless, a new idea struck me one day and gave me the zest to activate and make better use of this blog that i once forgot about.

here is a blog that would become a venue for new mothers like me. whatever i research, i will post so that i not only learn but get to share what i know as well. motherhood may be a bliss but it is a very challenging one. we need all the help we can get. feel free to email me if you have any topics in mind. i hope this blog would be a partner for all blogging and surfing moms out there.

my little mermaid

zoie had her first dip last march 2, 2008 at a beach near her dad's hometown, in carmen. it was a treat to see our little princess splashing and gliding through the clear waters and having her first taste of the salty sea water. from the looks on her face, it was quite a thrill for her too. not bad for a two month old baby huh? she is one baby who is not afraid of the water. not so surprising since she loves bath time so much. she looks forward to it everyday. =) yes, anak. i will teach you how to swim and we will earn you swimming medals someday.. watch out world! =p