airplane travel during pregnancy

If you read any information about travelling while pregnant, it will say that travel during the 2nd trimester is the best and safest time to go.  But the reality is that many women have to travel at different times throughout and planning during only the three months of the 2nd trimester is not always practical.  They say travelling during the first three months is not advisable as it's the most critical part of the pregnancy.  And travel during the last three months is not advisable as it's nearing the ending point and who wants to deliver on a plane, right (although I've heard that in such cases your baby will receive free tickets for life...lol)?  :)  My best advice is to talk to your Dr. about any travel plans you may have or want to make and s/he will advise you accordingly.  In many cases your travel plans may be permitted by your Dr.  There are a lot of women who must travel for business, and just think about flight attendents.  I know that many attendents will continue to work and fly through a good two-thirds of their pregnancies.  But because each case is different, you must discuss it with your Dr. first.

I travelled during my 2nd trimester with little guy.  And everything was okay.  I had one spot of blood a few days after landing and that was it.  Nothing more.  I'm still not sure if that was from the flying, or just the increased activity from the trip itself.  If it would've continued, I would've seen a Dr. for sure.

This year I'll be travelling in my 1st trimester.  I'll be in my 3rd month on the way to my destination and I'll be starting my 4th month on the way back.  I admit that I was nervous that my Dr. would not okay this trip.  My flight will be 13-14 hours. 

However, my Dr. did okay it, but with some rules.  I think these are important tips for any woman who is planning to fly during pregnancy.  Here they are...

~ My Dr. has prescribed baby aspirin for me to start taking two weeks before I travel.  Baby aspirin is a low dose aspirin that is considered safe during pregnany.  It helps to thin the blood and prevent clotting during long haul flights. 

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~ My Dr. has also recommended that I wear surgical stockings during the flight.  These will help with blood circulation.

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~ My Dr. has advised me to drink lots of water throughout the flight. 

~ My Dr. has advised me to get up and walk around frequently.  From my first experience I can tell you that this is done without even thinking.  When you're pregnant bathroom trips are frequent and with all that water drinking, they'll be even more so.  :)

Here are a few of my own helpful tips:

~From my first experience I can share that taking extra snacks is important.  On our return trip during my first pregnancy we were stuck on board for 6 long hours.  Because our airline offers snacks, all I brought were some Reese's pieces.  Because our flight was a connecting one, they were only able to offer our one snack (which was a sandwich and drinks).  It lasted for an hour or so, but soon this pregnant mama was hungry again.  That day Reese's pieces and I became bff's....lol.  So, no matter what the situation, be sure to pack some snacks.  Your baby and your hunger with thank you for it.  And try to include some healthy options too, like crackers, pretzels, etc.

~As hard as it is, try to rest as much as possible.  Travelling can be tiring, add pregnancy to that and it's double tiring.  Unless you're flying first class, sleeping is challenging on a plane.  But do try to find some sort of comfortable position so that you can sleep.  Our flight is 13-14 hours.  My goal each flight is a good 8 hours of sleep.  It's not the same as 8 hours in my bed at home, but it helps a little. 

~Don't push yourself.  We have a three hour drive after our 14 hour flight.  And even though hubby does the driving, I still feel the strain of that drive.  I'm the navigator, staying alert, and paying attention to the road signs.  This year, we have decided to stay overnight near the airport in the hotel, get a good night's rest, and then wake up refreshed for the drive to my parent's house.

~ Do not lift heavy things.  We all know how heavy suitcases can get.  Don't be afraid to ask for help in lifting them.  Instead of a shoulder duffel bag, opt for a small carry-on suitcase with wheels.  Your shoulders and your back will thank you too.

~ And finally, remember that you should always discuss your personal situation with your Dr.  While some women can travel without complications, some may not.  Your Dr. will help you decide what's safe for you.  And also keep in mind, that when you're further along in your pregnancy, airlines may require a Dr's note of permission in order for you to fly.

Happy Travels!  :)

pre-maternity clothes

I am not one to shy away from maternity clothes.  In fact, I often wonder why women are so prone to delaying the inevitable.  A pregnant woman will in fact have a growing belly.  And therefore her clothing will need to be adjusted accordingly.  What's the big deal if you're wearing maternity clothing anyway?  You can't blame fashion anymore.  Sure, back in the 80's the fashion world was dressing up mamas-to-be in those frocks with the huge puffy sleeves making them look more like a giant doll babies than women, but now you can wear the lastest fashions with maternity wear.  So embrace those growing bellies ladies.

As for my current situation, I'm in a small dilema.  We still haven't told anyone our news but my pants are just too uncomfortable to wear.  Around the house I can get away with my comfy pants, but I dread the days I need to go out because I have to find something to wear.  I could wear maternity pants and no one would even notice.  But as I've mentioned I have a housekeeper and I'm trying to keep the secret from her too (Long story, but she will most definitely mention it to the other housekeepers in the family.  I do not want them all to know before family, and also the chance of them mentioning it to family is great.  We want to tell them when we're ready, not have them find out through word of mouth).  So, even though I have some maternity pants stored away, I can't yet wear them (they will be seen in the laundry if I do).

I decided to go out shopping and try to find some things to wear for now.  I had success at H&M.  Jeans with an elastic waist, and flowy tops.  But unfortunately, I couldn't find any of my purchases on their website.  :(  So, I headed over to Old Navy's website and found some examples for you.  Whether you decide to share your news early or later, these styles will work for that growing belly.  And the cool thing is that these can be worn after pregnancy too.  Trust me, a lot of women cannot fit right back into ther pre-pregnancy clothes after giving birth.  So you'll appreciate having clothing with loose waist areas.  Here we go...

Some pretty flowy tops, with room through the belly area...

A feminine dress with the same feature...

Cargos with an elastic waist is comfy on that growing belly...

Leggings are a great choice for the waist area, nice and stretchy...

All of the above items are from Old Navy.

I only found one thing on the H&M website that resembles any of my purchases.  I found a similar style of jeans like the ones below.  Except I'm personally not a fan of the color of these.  Mine are solid (no stripes) and a dark denim color.  The bunching at the ankles had me unsure, but let me tell you that when paired with the right top and some flats, this style is fashion friendly (not to mention very comfy too). 

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I will be happy once we announce our news.  I have a storage bin of maternity clothes that I can begin to use.  I'm planning to secretly dig through them soon.  I have an upcoming vacation and need some comfy options, especially for our L O N G flight.  :)

eating may feel like a chore

"Eating may feel like a chore."  I read this in either my pregnancy book or on my weekly e-newsletter.  And for this pregnancy it is SO true.  I feel kinda guilty saying it because there are way too many hungry people in the world who NEED to eat and would LOVE to eat just to be alive.  And here I am, with plenty of food in my kitchen, and yet feeling almost bothered that I feel constant hunger.  But the reality is that I am pregnant and I get hungry like every 2 hours.

This is very different than my first pregnancy.  When I was pregnant with little guy I felt so sick the first three months.  Only certain foods sounded any good to me.  And some foods that I thought I wanted, I pushed away upon trying to eat them.  But not this time.  This time, I eat a meal and then within two hours, I'm hungry, AGAIN.  This could be very dangerous...lol.

But I guess the good thing is that there have been very few foods that turn my stomach, so I have many options.  With my first pregnancy, I had definite cravings and was limited to what I could eat.  But this time is very different.  I haven't had any specific cravings other than just plain ole being hungry...lol.

Today we ordered tuna sandwiches at work from a local shop for breakfast (I know, tuna for breakfast may sound strange...lol).  I had a delish lunch of chop chuey (a Chinese-style dish with chicken breast chunks and veggies) with a side of white rice.  I had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich as a snack (little guy wanted one, and it sounded so good that I made two, one for him and one for me...lol).  And now hubby is on a light dinner snack run because we're all hungry (at least it's not just me, right?).  It's just all very strange for me because I normally (when I'm not pregnant) eat a light meal at work, eat a good lunch, and maybe eat something very small for dinner (but often skip it bcuz I'm just not hungry).  My Dr. advised me to eat several small meals a day.  And this time around I will listen not because I was told to, but because I feel the need to.  :)

On a side note, this post has got me thinking.  I may donate some money.  I want to help feed those who are hungry.  If we all helped, no one would be hungry on this planet.  I try to help when I can, but being blessed with this pregnancy and the ability to eat inspires me to give more.

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1st ultrasound, 2nd appointment

Yesterday I went for my first ultrasound.  Although according to my cycle I am 7 weeks pregnant, the ultrasound is reading 6 weeks.  My Dr. told me that in early pregnancy it is normal to have up to 2 weeks difference.  At the next ultrasound we will see if the dates match up.  If the ultrasound is still showing a week behind it could be that I ovulated a bit later.  But if the dates do match up then we won't change anything.  For now, I'm going with 7 weeks.  My cycles are so regular that I am sure of my ovulation days.

This is not me...lol...I found this image here.

Let me give you a little advice.  If you're going in for an ultrasound be sure to drink plenty of water beforehand.  You need a full bladder in order to have a good ultrasound.  It's been five years since I had an ultrasound and I forgot about this fact...lol.  So the tech had to do a vaginal ultrasound, which was something new to me.  It was not bad though.  Honestly.

So based on my ultrasound, things are good.  I even saw the heartbeat!  That's always a special thing to see.  The tech did not want to use sound because I'm still in early pregnancy and we don't want to disturb baby, which is prefectly fine with me.  I saw the beating, and that was enough, for now.

Today, I went to my 2nd appt. with my Dr.  This appt. was basically to discuss all of my results.  All of my blood work came back fine.  I have to have vaginal swabs done consistly throughout this pregnancy to ensure I have no infections (an infection is what most likely caused me to have PPROM with my first pregnancy).  I have no infections as of now....a good thing!

I wrote down several questions for the Dr. and asked them during my appt. (I highly suggest doing this.  If you don't write it down, you'll be sure to forget something.)  I'll share them with you...

1)  I will travel in a few weeks, by plane.  My Dr. gave me the OK (Which is good, because I can't really cancel at this point...lol).  She prescribed baby aspirin for me to start taking from now.  She said it takes 7 to 10 days to really take effect.  I was concerned as I've read a lot about aspirin being harmful during pregancy, but this is low-dose or baby aspirin and is considered safe.  The purpose of taking this is to thin my blood to prevent clotting while flying (I have a 13-14 hour flight each way).  She also wants me to purchase and wear surgical stockings to help the blood circulate properly throughout the flight.  She advised me to drink LOTS of water during the flight and to get up and walk around often.  I'm sure that water will keep me going to the bathroom many times...lol.

2)  I asked about bug repellents.  I'm planning a few outdoor gatherings with my family and there will be bugs.  She advised against these as they can contain chemicals.  She advised using products that only contain natural oils.  I've done some of my own research and some Drs okay bug sprays so I guess it depends on your Dr.  I think it's better safe than sorry and may opt for Avon's Skin-So-Soft, which is known to help keep bugs away.

3)  I asked about hair coloring.  She advised against it.

4)  I asked about teeth whitening, home kits like Crest.  She advised against it (She's kinda tough, right?  lol).

5)  In relation to my upcoming trip, I asked about the new body scanning machines.  She advised that I request the pat-down rather than the new scanning machines.  The new machines use a small does of Xray and this is not good for pregnancy.  She reminded me that I'm still in the early stages and so I should take more precautions.  So some poor woman is going to have to wand me.  I feel bad for her and for me...lol.  (As a side note, that has got to be THE most uncomfortable job in the world)

She ended the appt. by telling me that I can come see her again before I travel if I like, but it's not something I must do.  I told her I would like to see her once more and she was pretty happy with that.  So I plan to have another appt. in about 2 weeks from now.  Better safe than sorry.

So everything is looking good so far.  Besides one little detail (I will post about that at a later date), I like my Dr. so far.  I've already requested an epidural...lol...which she supports and made sure to take note of.  We have yet to tell anyone but it's getting harder to keep quiet.  My pants are becoming uncomfortably tight and I have obviously gained a little weight in the mid section.  But I can still pass it off as that, "gaining weight".  I did a little shopping this week to find some clothes that are loose in the belly area, buying me more time to share the news.  Within 3 weeks, my family should know and after vacation we'll share with my hubby's family here.  I've been lucky.  I haven't had sickness.  I've had a few moments that quickly passed so I'm feeling VERY blessed with that (much different than the first time around).

So, until next time...:)

is she gaining weight?

Things here are going well.  For the most part I feel great.  I don't have nausea like I did with my first pregnancy.  I've had only a couple of experiences where I didn't feel well, but then they quickly passed.  What I do have is an increased appetite.  I'm trying to be careful with this because I do not want to gain too much weight, too soon.  I'm also visiting the bathroom more often, even during the night.  I do drink a lot of water, but I always have, so this increase is definitely pregnancy related.  I also still have breast tenderness, but I'm kind of used to it now.  And while I do feel a bit tired in the middle of my day, overall I'm feeling pretty darn good.

My waist is starting "to thicken" as pregnancy books like to call it.  LOL.  I think this is a funny way to say it.  I think "bloated" or "feeling puffy" are much better ways to describe it.  My pants have become a bit uncomfy and I may need to switch to maternity pants in the near future.  My problem is that this is still a secret.  I have a live-in housekeeper and she doesn't even know (well, I've never told her, but if she's smart she may have a hunch by now).  If I begin to wear my maternity pants, she'll know for sure as she does our laundry.  So I've been trying to hold out.

The most amusing, and also the most annoying, is that I look like I've gained weight.  In the first trimester people who don't know that you're pregnant assume that you've been indulging in too much cheesecake and skipping all forms of exercise.  I've had more than a couple of people make comments to me about gaining weight.  Hahaha....if they only knew.  It's hard, because no woman wants to hear that she's gaining weight.  But then I chuckle to myself as I know that my expanding waistline is due to a little baby that no one yet knows about.  I can't wait to see that look of "Ah, that's why she was beginning to look fat" once we share our news.

Tomorrow, I have my first ultrasound.  We're praying all goes well.  I have to admit that with so many family members and friends who have experienced miscarriages in recent times, I feel a bit nervous.  But I'm praying that everything is good.  After my ultrasound I have an appt. with my Dr.  I will be sure to update.  Until then...

possible signs of a positive

There are definite signs a woman can see/feel once she has become pregnant.  A woman who is very intune with her body may notice more, and sooner.  But even for women who aren't as intune there are some signs that could mean a little one has begun to grow.  Here are a few...



• Missed Period...The most obvious sign.  It's important to keep track of your periods.  Always record the first day of every period each month.  This date will be important once you become pregnant because your Dr. will use this to determine your expected date of delivery.  As I've mentioned before, if your period is more than a week or two late and your at-home tests are showing negatives, you should see your Dr.
• Frequent trips to the bathroom...This was a sure sign with my first pregnancy and now I see that it was also for my second.  I drink a lot of water so I'm used to going a lot.  But I noticed even more trips to the bathroom after becoming pregnant.  This is actually my first sign as it happens before my missed period.
• Breast tenderness..."Ouch" could be an appropiate word...hahaha.  I had some tenderness the first time around but this time it seems to be even more so.  Your breasts will also begin to grow.  You will eventually need to buy some new bras.  But don't stock up on your new size.  Only buy 2 or 3 for now.  You may very well need to buy an even bigger size as your pregnancy continues.
• Discharge...It is normal for a pregnant woman to have an increase in discharge.  If you notice blood it could or could not signal a potential problem, but either way you must inform your Dr. about it.  I have had friends who bled throughout their entire pregnancy and gave birth to healthy babies.  I have also had friends whose bleeding was the start of a miscarriage (usually there is cramping and/or other symptoms in this case).  So take care.
• Sickness...I recently read that just a little over half of women experience "morning sickness", so just under half are lucky and don't.  My first time I has this constant feeling but only had to vomit a few times.  This ended right after finishing my third month.  This time around, so far so good.  I hope it can stay that way!
• Eating...You may notice cravings.  You may notice an urge to eat more.  You may feel disgusted by all things food.  My first time around I had specific cravings because I felt sick and only certain things sounded good to me.  So far this time around I always feel hungry.  I'm trying to be careful because this could lead to too much weight gain.  My Dr. did tell me to eat small frequent meals.  So I eat my three meals a day plus snacks in between.  And when I want to eat I'm trying to opt for healthier options.  I'm trying to avoid junk foods.
• Physical Feelings...You may notice some aches in pains in your tummy or even your back.  If it's minor, chances are it's nothing serious.  My Dr. advised me that if I feel abdominal pain I should tell her but go to the ER only if it's acute pain (like an appendix erupting).  She explained that some slight abdominal pain can be normal.  With my first pregnancy I had this streching feeling in my right side.  It eventually subsided.  This second time, I sometimes feel a slight feeling in my very lower abdomen.  It's not painful, more like a discomfort and sometimes like a stretching feeling.
• Emotional Feelings...It's so normal to be emotional.  You may feel super happy excited, or scared to death.  You may worry more easily, you may get angry (like PMS), or you may be cool and calm.  Every woman is different.  But find someone to talk to if you do have worries.  It'll make you feel better to get them all out. 
• Growing waistline...Within the first two months you may notice a thicker mid-section.  In the beginning this could be bloating.  But some women do begin to show more quickly than others.  If you are thin, you may show sooner.  If this is not your first time, it it normal to show sooner the second time around.  But again all women and all pregnancies are different.  So don't compare and make yourself worry.  And if you're anxious to have the infamous baby bump, relax and know that it will come eventually.  If your 9th month pregnant self could speak to your 2nd month pregnant self she'd tell you not to rush it.  Your belly will pop all right, and then some!  In my first pregnancy my bottoms were too tight by the end of my 2nd month.  So far this time I'm fitting my bottoms but I'm noticing some tightness.  I often unbutton my pants while sitting for some extra comfort.  I won't be surprised if I need to fish out my maternity pants within the next month - month and a half.

I will say this a million and one times...all women and all pregnancies are different.  We may all share similar things but no two women are going to experience the exact same pregnancy.  Take some pride in that and know that you and your growing little one are unique and special.  ;)

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starting 2 grow

I haven't posted for a couple of weeks because we've been waiting.  And in the middle of all the waiting, little guy got tonsilitis and rotavirus which required a couple of days in the hospital for fluid, meds, tests, and observation.  I'm happy to say that little guy is fine now.  I will one day post on rotavirus.  It can sound scary, and when you're child is going through it, it may seem scary.  But with proper steps, your child will bounce back to normal. 
So, anyway...I was late for my period this month.  I felt a bit excited as my body is very regular.  But I didn't want to get my hopes up.  I decided to wait a few days before taking a home test.  With my first pregnancy, I took a test right after missing a period and it was negative. That's because the urine test reads whether or not the pregnancy hormone is present in your urine.  In the beginning, there may not be a high enough level of the hormone to show up.  The further into pregnancy, the higher the level.  I waited a couple more days and that one was positive.  So taking a pregnancy test too early can give you a negative when you may in fact be pregnant.  So always wait a few days and take a 2nd test.  If your period still doesn't come after that, you must see your Dr.

So, after a few days of missing my period, I took a test at home (and I used a cheapy test, the pharmacist insisted that they're all the same).  The pregnancy line was very faint.  Now, I know from my first experience that this qualifies as a postive (depending on the level of the hormone as well as the sensitivity of the test, the line may not be as bright colored as the control line).  But still, just to be sure, I waited two days and took a second test.  Again, positive.  I then made my Dr. appt. and a blood test confirmed that I am pregnant.  Yay!  We have a due date of early February 2012.  :)

So now we are not only ready to grow, we are in fact starting to grow.  As of now, it's our (and your) little secrect.  We plan to tell family and friends later.  What a difficult secret to keep.  :)

A lot more to come as we continue this journey...

p.s.  I'm sorry to say that I forget where the image is from.  If you know, please let me know so that I can credit it.  Thanks!  ;)