I'VE GOT ONE OF THE GOOD ONES

I am in my 3rd trimester of pregnancy and honestly I wouldn't be able to do this without my boyfriend. During the week I am by my parents and weekends I visit my boyfriend (hopefully we get a house soon). When I come to him weekends it is a huge relief. He disciplines our toddler, makes him food, pours him cooldrink and even lets me sleep when our toddler cries for someone to come lay in bed with him. I am so amazed at how amazing this man is during my pregnancy. He is so supportive and helpful. I go on BabyCentre a lot and I love reading the VENTS-posts and not everybody has a great guy like me, no offence since most of my traffic are from my fellow-BC-moms.

 

BABY BOY NAMES

So here I am sitting... I am wondering... what am I gonna call our baby boy. Daddy says Jacob and I've been thinking Zane. Jacob is a nice name but it makes me think of our president, Jacob Zuma and let's face it - he doesn't have the worlds best reputation. Are we ever going to decide?

 

I updated my post called FREE SAMPLES, yes fellow South African's - I got more products from places.

PREGNANCY JOKES THAT ARE SO TRUE

WHAT A BLESSING TO HAVE HIM

My painful contractions have subsided, hospital is booked and awaiting my 2nd gynae appointment plus baby is still in tact. My boyfriend has been an absolute blessing and I am so grateful about how supportive he has been with both my pregnancies. I repacked my hospital bag from 3 small bags to one big bag so at least it won't look like I am planning to move into Louis Leipoldt. Human rights day meant a "kind of" long weekend and we spent it together. Oh how I love this man! He bumped into his manager or something at one of their stores and eish I couldn't hide my big whale body but she at least told him I'm pretty :) but it doesn't matter because he thought that anyway otherwise he wouldn't be with me LOL. I am becoming increasingly uncomfortable and in a selfish way I wish it was time to pop and have a real, live, actual baby. Baby's all elbows and knees. Sleeping is becoming horrible and I am awake every few hours and so tired the next day. Karin and I made a joke and I told her that we are getting too old to have babies (24). I miss my friend so much and even though she comes to visit from Worcester every now and then I wish she was here in Cape Town. I am not even interested in getting other friends because nobody will be like Karin :(

Last night Karin and I were chatting and she said she can't wait to see what our babies look like. All I was thinking is "I can't wait to see what I look like after he is born". I found a few funny pictures overall on the internet and thought I'd share it with you guys since most of my traffic does come from BabyCentre. An extra note for my sweet wonderful boyfriend who has put up with my hormones... I love you more than words can describe (yes, I know you check out my site LOL you're the only other South African)

AS MY WEEKS PROGRESS

So here's why I have been so quiet. Between fighting with a medical aid, them refusing to take my sons grommets out and finding blood and infection in my urine and maybe having my baby before the time and being told he is going to have health issues... I have been having contractions and can't do anything.

 

Update: 24 March 2013

 

Still having some pain. I have been reading up on Braxton hicks and thought that any other momma's might ant to have a read as well.

 

What are Braxton Hicks contractions?

Some time towards the middle of your pregnancy, or maybe even earlier, you may notice the muscles of your uterus (womb) tightening. If you place your hands on your bare bump when this is happening, you can feel how hard your uterus becomes.

Each tightening usually lasts for about half a minute, and probably won't cause you any discomfort. You may have this sensation once or twice an hour, a few times a day (Cheng and Caughey 2009). Not all of us feel these contractions. They get their name from John Braxton Hicks, the English doctor who first described them in 1872.

You may be aware of Braxton Hicks contractions from as early as 16 weeks (Shepherd et al 2004:238). However, without you realising, your uterus has been contracting gently on and off since about seven weeks (Murray and Hassall 2009:191). The bigger your uterus gets, the more you notice the tightening sensations when they happen.

What do Braxton Hicks contractions do?

Braxton Hicks contractions may just be a sign that your uterus is keeping its muscle fibres toned. It could be that these contractions keep your uterus in good condition and ready for the rigours of labour.

Some experts think the contractions also affect your cervix. In early labour

, your cervix starts to get shorter and more stretchy (Walsh 2004:430), ready to dilate and make way for your baby. It's possible that Braxton Hicks contractions give your cervix a bit of a rehearsal for the stretching stage.

Other experts think that Braxton Hicks contractions don't affect your cervix. They believe that your cervix doesn't change until the very last days of your pregnancy (Murray and Hassall 2009:192; Baker 2006:53), or once you're in labour itself (Cheng and Caughey 2009).

What's the difference between Braxton Hicks and labour contractions?

Most women who are pregnant for the first time will ask their midwives or friends this question. The answer is often maddeningly vague, along the lines of: "You'll know real labour when it starts." Fortunately, there are differences between Braxton Hicks contractions and labour contractions

that can help you tell them apart.

Braxton Hicks contractions:

• are infrequent, usually happening no more than once or twice an hour, a few times a day
• often stop if you change activity, so, walk around if you've been sitting, and vice versa
• are usually irregular, and if they are regular they only stay that way for a short spell (McCormick 2009:466)
• do not last long, usually less than a minute (McCormick 2009:466)
• continue to be unpredictable and non-rhythmic
• do not increase in intensity
(Cheng and Caughey 2009)

Compared to Braxton Hicks contractions, labour contractions are usually:

• noticeably longer
• more regular
• more frequent
• more painful
• keep on going, increasing in frequency, duration, and intensity as time goes on
(Cheng and Caughey 2009)

You may experience what is called false labour. This is when Braxton Hicks contractions come more rhythmically, perhaps every 10 to 20 minutes in late pregnancy (Murray and Hassall 2009:191).

False labour can be hard to tell apart from early labour, particularly if the tightening of your uterus feels uncomfortable. However, during false labour your cervix won't have started to change yet (Murray and Hassall 2009:191). Your midwife will be able to tell by carrying out a vaginal examination.

What if the Braxton Hicks contractions become painful?

As your pregnancy progresses, these contractions may become more intense and even painful at times (McCormick 2009:466). When this happens, they may feel like the real thing. But however strong they feel at the time, if they ease off, they are probably Braxton Hicks.

You may find it helpful to think of Braxton Hicks as practice contractions you can use to rehearse the breathing exercises you'll learn in your antenatal class.

You may notice that Braxton Hicks contractions come more often when you do even light activity, such as carrying the shopping. If you feel discomfort, it sometimes helps to lie down, or, conversely, to get up and take a walk. It's the change in activity that can help to ease pain (Cheng and Caughey 2009). A warm bath

sometimes helps, too.

When should I call my doctor or midwife?

If you are less than 37 weeks pregnant, call your doctor or midwife if your contractions are accompanied by:

• watery discharge or bloody vaginal discharge
• lower back pain or cramping

These are signs that you may be going into premature labour

(Baker 2006:173).

After 37 weeks, call your doctor or midwife if:

• you think your baby's movements have slowed down
• you think your waters have broken
• you have any bleeding

Check out other pregnancy symptoms you should never ignore.

If your contractions become longer, stronger, more regular and more frequent then your labour may be starting. Your midwife will probably have talked to you about what to do when you think labour has started, but if you're in any doubt give her or the hospital delivery suite a call.

PUSH GIFT FOR MOMMA PLEASE

Push present

             

A push present (also known as a push gift, baby mama gift or baby bauble) is a present a partner gives to the mother to mark the occasion of her giving birth to their child. In practice the present may be given before or after the birth, or even in the delivery room. The giving of push presents has supposedly grown in the United States in recent years. ^[1] A push gift is any type of present loved ones give to a woman who has recently given birth to a child.^[2] The name push gift although indicative of a vaginal delivery does not exclude those women who have given birth through a C-section.

History

The tradition of gift-giving to commemorate a birth has long roots in England and India.^[3] The term push present first appeared in a publication in 1992.^[4]

There is no conclusive evidence that the present was invented by the jewelry industry to sell more goods,^[1] and until recently it was passed on largely by word of mouth or peer pressure among both mothers and fathers.^[3] According to Linda Murray, the executive editor of BabyCenter, "It’s more and more an expectation of moms these days that they deserve something for bearing the burden for nine months, getting sick, ruining their body. The guilt really gets piled on."^[1] Other sources trace the development of the present to the increased assertiveness of women, allowing them to ask for a present more directly, or the increased involvement of the men in pregnancy, making them more informed of the pain and difficulties of pregnancy and labor.^[1]

Frequency

A 2007 survey of over 30,000 respondents by BabyCenter found that 38% of new mothers received a push present, and 55% of pregnant mothers wanted one, though fewer thought it was actually expected. About 40% of both groups said the baby itself was already a present and did not wish an additional reward.^[1]

The popularity of push presents has been attributed in part to media coverage of celebrities receiving them. Examples include a 10 carat diamond ring given to celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe by her husband Rodger after the 2011 birth of their son, a Bentley given to reality TV star Peggy Tanous of The Real Housewives of Orange County by her husband Micah after the 2007 birth of their daughter, and a diamond and sapphire necklace given to singer Mariah Carey by her husband Nick after the 2011 birth of their twins.^[5][6][7]

The trend has generated a backlash, as some couples dislike the implicit materialism of push presents, and would prefer increased help in chores or baby care, or save the money for the child's education.^[1]

According to etiquette expert Pamela Holland, there are no set guidelines for push presents. "The standard is that there is no standard," she said. "It does make sense to have etiquette around wedding or baby shower gifts because you're inviting other people into it. But this is far too intimate to have a rule."^[3] In general it is the woman who lets her man know about push presents, not the other way around,^[1] although there can be peer pressure from friends to buy one on either the man or the woman.^[3]

GIFT FOR THE NEW BIG BROTHER

Wow my new friends on Baby Centre are the coolest! Best post because I didn't think of this. Corbynne's life is going to be changed forever and he doesn't know what to expect. I am going to get him a gift from the baby for when the baby is here.