The Joys and Sorrows of Pregnancy and Early-Stage Motherhood

Feeling my baby moved in my belly for the first few times was very fulfilling, but watching her smiling at me as I greet her "good morning" now that she's 2 months old is even more fulfilling. It washes away all the stresses and pains that i've been through. Such a delightful feeling in this blissful moment seeing her smiling and trying to respond to my morning greetings...

When I was still working
at my 7th month. 

Pregnancy is such a profound experience every grown up woman should experience. Some look at it clinically as a disease because there is so much suffering that goes with it. And then they said that raising a child is such a very difficult job in the world. Well, after all, you will be creating a new life who might be someone else better than who you are right now, someone who might be able to make a big difference.

When Athina was conceived I have so many pains and discomforts that i've been through perhaps because of my age, I wasn't sure though, but I really did have some pains where other pregnant women did not experience, even my doctor could not explain why. I remember there was one time while I was shopping at Ayala Mall, I suddenly halted and scared that I might tremble down because of the sudden pain I felt at my back. I sat down for a few moments and then I slowly tried to walk to the terminal and decided to go back home and rest. The pain worsen as I arrived home that I could not even step on the stair, I was worried I might be rushed to the hospital. I called my doctor instead and she gave me some medications and the next couple of days the pain was gone.

Before we knew the gender, my husband and I wished for a baby girl. But I prayed that whatever it is, I wouldn't mind as long as God will give us a healthy baby because this baby is such a blessing to our family. When I had my congenital anomaly scan at 5 months, I had a teary eyes as I watched the monitor in front of me while the doctor was explaining that she's very normal and it's gonna be a baby girl. God is just so good, He gave us what we both wanted!

I kept holding on, prayed hard she would not lose, ate nutritious foods, took vitamins and supplements, and she came out a very healthy baby. But my experience during my labor was very intense. It was indeed a matter between life and death that I assured myself this will be my first and last. We don't know what lies ahead but as long as I can, I don't wanna get pregnant again. (i'm crossing my heart!!!)

1 day old Athina.

I tried my very best to have a normal delivery. Followed everything what my doctor advised me yet, I still went through a cesarean delivery. Athina was born at 11:50 in the morning, but I was able to hold her the next day at 5pm at the nursery department. The first time I held her, I almost burst in tears because I was holding such a very cute angel. The doctors were surprised because Athina perfectly sucked my breast as if she has been breastfed for a long time already. I was such a proud mommy at that very moment.

Our first night together at the hospital was terrible. She had been crying the whole night because I never realized I didn't have sufficient milk that time and she must be fed with milk formula through a bottle. I freaked out and called the nursery department because she won't stop crying. The girl who answered asked me when was the last time she was fed with milk formula. I was aghast and realized she was very hungry already. Then she engulfed with all her heart as I fed her with a bottle of milk after talking to the nurse.

Athina turned 2 months old.

I must admit there were moments I wanted to cry when Athina won't stop crying at a wee hour at dawn. No matter how much I tried to feed her, I can feel her anguish and my instinct was telling me her cry was asking for help. When I consulted her pediatrician she had a bloated tummy that needed to be burped. She is a colicky baby that needs to be burped every after feeding.  My husband assured me that my stressful nights will fall over as the baby progresses, as she becomes accustomed to the environment now that she is outside my womb. Then my stressful nights were over when she turned 1 month old.

Seeing her growing up as a bouncing baby girl gives me excitement everyday, discovering new things from her as well as her physical changes. Now that she is 2 months old she is perfectly fine and healthy. I can't wait to see her crawl, hear her first word, and watch her learning to walk. I kept talking to her everyday that she must be a good girl and that mommy and daddy loves her very much. And all she can do is smile back at me.