A MOMster Life

Disclaimer: I am in no way compensated for whatever products that may be mentioned in this post. 



I will start this by announcing that I am now a proud mom of three.
I just gave birth to my third baby last April.

I wouldn't be surprised that some expectant mom friends would ask me what to prepare for their coming babies.
So for reference, I am posting my own list of essential things to buy when having a baby.

Please know that even though I have three kids and all, I am no expert. The list here are based on my personal experience.

Newborn Clothes

Mittens and Socks

Cap

Blanket

Burp Pads or Bibs or Hanky

Baby Detergent

Newborn Diapers

Baby Wipes

Changing Mat

Baby Bath Tub

Wash Cloth or Cotton balls

Baby Bed

Above is the cuddle bed by BabyCuddle PH. The one below is the Snuggle Nest Harmony by Baby Delight.

Baby Bottle

Baby Bottle Soap

Breast Pads

Breastmilk Storage Bag

Breast Pump

Baby Sling or Baby Carrier

Back in high school, I stumbled upon this book in the school library entitled "Don't Take a Bath on a Friday" talking about different myths. I didn't get to finish the book because the bell rang.
Later when I returned to the library, I couldn't find the book anymore.

Since then, I find myths interesting. Not that I believe in all of them but I really find some amusing.

When I became pregnant, there were a lot of advice and "what-not-to-do's" because of myths.
Some moms also shared a few myths their friends told them, too.
There were some that is familiar to me, and some that I've heard the first time.

1. Sharing food with someone who is pregnant will make you sleepy.

"While I don't want to believe it because there's no scientific basis, my husband and some friends complained that they really got sleepy when I gave them my leftover food." - Nocturnal Mom Talks

2. If someone is blocking the door to a room where the pregnant woman is, she will have a hard time during the delivery.

It's hard to pass through a blocked door, right? Then that's what will happen during the delivery, too. Baby will find it hard to pass through. Sounds scary! I did spend 45 minutes (as per OB) pushing. Not sure if it's because of the myth, or it's just because I - a 4'11" - gave birth to an 8-pound baby.

3. If pregnant woman becomes better-looking, she's having a baby girl. Otherwise, it's a baby boy.

Baby girl means more feminine hormones, thus pregnant woman becomes more "blooming".
It is because of this myth that sometimes I get offended when people say "I'm sure you're having a baby boy." Lol.

4. Food will affect baby's appearance.

Eating too much light-colored food like eggs will make baby's skin lighter, while too much dark-colored foods like chocolates will make baby's skin darker.

"Avoid eating eggplant because baby will turn purple when he cries." - Supergirl Nanay

5. Pregnant women should only look at beautiful faces so baby will be good-looking.

This also means to stop watching horror flicks, and to avoid ugly and scary looking faces as advised by mom and MIL of The Purple Cow Adventures.

6. If belly is itchy, baby's hair is thick.

So baby's hair is tickling momma's tummy, eh? Hihi.

7. Wearing necklaces when pregnant will cause baby's cord to coil.

"Coincidentally, I didn't listen to myths during my first pregnancy, and I ended up undergoing CS with one of the reasons being - you guessed it - cord coil." - Paintedshoulder

8. Applying special oil (ie. snake oil) during labor will make delivery smoother.

Some people believe that there are kinds of oil with "magical" properties that could ward off evil spirits. Another useful effect is it could make baby come out fast.

9. Eating too much chicken will turn baby's gender to a girl.

I was told to avoid chicken during my second pregnancy if I want my baby to be a boy.

10. When a pregnant woman steps over someone, pregnancy symptoms will be transferred.

You don't want to have all those morning sickness, nausea, cravings, and mood swings? Step over your husband while he's asleep.

11. To know the baby's gender, hang a needle over the preggy's belly.

"Hung a needle from a thread above the belly of the pregnant woman and depending on the oscillation of the needle, you could predict the gender of the baby." - Jacquiv Manila


Whether these myths are true or not, they still amuse (or even scare) me.
What other myths do you know?
Feel free to share on the comments section!
Leave your link as well. :)

• Haydee Bellen-Sorrano - Paintedshoulder
• Meg Villamarin-Ortega - Nocturnal Mom Talks
• Ubengbaka Joy - The Purple Cow Adventures
• Pia Melissa Cruz - This Blended Home of Mine
• Yza Relativo Pillone - Melissa's Nest
• Des Mon - Supergirl Nanay
• Jacquiv Manila
• Ma Kimberly Galarido
• Anne Marialyn Amodia for the photo

Finding out I was pregnant would always be one of my life's stories I love to tell!
All of my pregnancies come unexpected, thus it always seems to us as a life-changing surprise.

So how did I found out I was pregnant?

Planning to Take Pills

I was planning to take some birth control pills. And fortunately I found out before I could take any. Now, let me narrate the whole story in order.

Some time May of 2013, I had abnormal bleeding. I was advised to take some medicine to stop the bleeding. The meds worked! But then after a few months, my period stopped coming. All that time I thought it was because of the medication I had last May.

A friend was also having problems with her period. She said she's going to take some pills so that her period would come regularly. Then I remembered another friend who said she needed a pregnancy test first before buying pills. I thought a negative PT result was a requirement to buy pills so I bought PT kits. And to my surprise, it came out positive!

Not Ready

Being one who is not expecting and planning to have a baby, I was surprised, confused, and not ready. A lot of questions then come running into my mind.

How am I going to raise this child?
How will I tell my parents?
What's going to happen to my life now?
Parenting - Can I do this? Will I do this?

Life Changer

It was scary. Believe me, I was terrified. I was scared of change. I was scared that I will no longer be able to do things that I used to do or are still planning to do. It's like my life is definitely going to change forever.

I was used to staying late at night hanging out with friends. There is never a weekend that I won't go out. All I cared about was just to have fun with no specific life goal.

Everything changed when I knew I'm going to have a child.  I asked for direction and I guess this is the answer - be a parent.

Though it was scary, I embraced parenthood.
And it was a decision I will never ever regret.

Now I've got my little Akisa - a constant reminder that for everything I may have done wrong, there is a time I did something right.

Blame the Gym

We planned to finally say our vows on 2017 (this year). So to make sure we look "sexy" on our soon-to-be-wedding photos, we decided to have some actual fitness program.

A month after signing up, my period stopped coming again. Now for someone whose period always comes regularly, this would be quite odd.

I googled if sudden workout can affect a woman's menstruation. Search results would say that the body may see this as stress - and stress always affects a woman's menstrual cycle. So yea. I blamed the gym.

I continued my program but then gotten paranoid later on. What if the reason why my period stopped coming is because I was actually pregnant? I would love to continue my program but I wouldn't want to harm my child if ever there is.

Negative with a Faint Positive

I took a pregnancy test and the result came out negative. I was like "meh, ok" and continued with taking my bath. After my bath, I was about to throw the test out and well, guess what? A very faint line appeared making it look like a positive. I know I am not supposed to read results after five (5) minutes but it got me confused.

I took another pregnancy test and the same thing happened. It gave a negative result at first then becomes positive later on. I went to the OB for ultrasound just to make sure but then she told me it's really very early and she might misinterpret the ultrasound results.

After a few weeks, I returned to the OB and tadaan! I'm going to be a mother again!



This time I wasn't scared ... well maybe, I still am. But I was more of excited to have another child - and for my little girl to become a big sister! I immediately quit the gym because making sure the baby's healthy is more important than being "sexy" when walking down the aisle.

Love is Multiplied

Now I'm a mom of a toddler, and a newborn, and I'm going to have to deal with more dirty diapers and a lot more tantrums. But hey, I've also learned that I am capable of giving more love. That it's okay to not have favorites. I love both of my children very much and I'm sure they'll both be equally annoying some time in the future. Lol!

They may have come to my life in the most unexpected times yet these little bundles of joy mean the world to me. And they will forever be the most beautiful surprise God has given me.


Finding out about one's pregnancy will always be a treasured memory.

If you wish to share your story on how you found out about your pregnancy, feel free to comment below or send me a message.

Aha! You've been mislead! Well, actually you're not.

This is not really a post about things pregnant women find annoying. Well, in a way, it really is.

This is just a list of things people say that I - the pregnant me - find annoying. I am too busy/lazy to interview other pregnant women, so this will be from my personal list.

You know how pregnant women are, we tend to become overly sensitive and irrational and may take offense over anything you do or say to us. And if there's anyone or anything to blame, it's the hormones! I tell you!!! It's the hormones!!!

You should be more mindful of your actions and of what you say to us, pregnant women. Yes, ikaw mag-adjust bes! Hahaha!

Seriously, though, let's leave the rest of the pregnant women alone. Here are three things people say that I secretly find annoying.

"You look like you're ready to pop!"

I find this really annoying when people asks "When are you due?" and I'm like "Oh, it's going to be on the last week of June." and they'll immediately say "But you look like you're going to give birth any minute now. I'm sure you'll give birth before June."

Are you seriously wishing for me to give birth prematurely!?

"Are you sure you're not having twins?"

Though I've always wanted twins (boy and girl), I still find it annoying when people insists that I am having one.. err, two. Even if they know that I've already had ultrasound to check, they would be like "Maybe the other baby is hiding."

"You're not eating enough." / "You're eating too much."

I think some people have hormonal problems, too! They make sure to always find something wrong - like what's their problem with my eating habit, anyway?

Please let me eat in peace!

Don't worry if you happen to tell me these things before.
I am such a forgiving person that I just let it slide.

And if you will accidentally tell me the same things again in the future, I won't slap you. I won't get mad at you. You will not see me annoyed.

I will show you my usual angelic face (hahaha).

I may just have strangled you in my thoughts, though.
Kidding!

Xoxo,
Your annoyed pregnant friend

This is my own pregnancy tests. :) Both showed negative at first, then showed positive results five minutes after.

I may sound like some kill-joy who always sees something wrong on what was supposed to be funny, but the question here is..

Why is pregnancy used to fool people?

Is pregnancy a joke?

Is it supposed to be funny when someone's pregnant?

I just want to share a different point of view.

Some people are trying so hard to conceive. They have themselves checked for anything wrong. They prayed so hard just so they will be blessed with a child. Some find it hard to bear... Others just can't.

There are some who suffer complications during pregnancy. They had to take extra meds and do checkups more than the usual. I, myself, having Essential Thrombocytosis had to visit two different doctors in a month. There are even some who are forced to quit work. Expectant moms are willing to sacrifice their wants to make sure the baby gets what it needs.

There are a few who experienced what I think is the worst thing that could happen to anyone: losing a child. Some didn't even have the chance to see them. Others had to send their babies back to Daddy God the moment they came out. They can never get over it.

Pregnancy may have become a sensitive topic for me now that I am a mom, and most especially because I have known people who had suffered infertility, and miscarriage.

For some, they may see it as a joke. But for others, pregnancy is an answered prayer.

Pregnancy is not easy.
Pregnancy is nothing to laugh about.
Pregnancy is not a joke.

It is about having a family, about people giving their all.
Pregnancy is about life and giving life.


PS: And please people, don't even get me started with your new "I have cancer" posts!
DON'T EVER MAKE FUN OF CANCER.