Buntis Chronicles: Week 6

Let me start this post by quoting what my good friend and UP Diliman schoolmate, Jacqui Conclara, told me last night: "Pray and trust in God. He didn't take you this far to leave you (hanging)."

Jacqui, I believe, is one of the many whom God used and will use to convey His message of faith and love especially now that I've reached my 6th week of pregnancy. Needless to say, in the tradition of Yin and Yang, in spite of the overwhelming positive attention my not-so-discreet Facebook announcement got, looming at the background are precautionary tales and advice of my OB and some friends and colleagues. I was told to be conservative. I was told to take good care of myself and of the baby and avoid stress. I was told to not expect too much as so many (bad) things could happen. Needless to say, all these had me succumbing to crazy googling about early pregnancy. I needed and still need reassurance that my baby will develop fine and that I will deliver with no life-threatening complications.

What I've been feeling as opposed to what I've learned so far:

1. Nausea is good. It is an indication of good placental growth. I've so far experienced the tell-tale signs of the start of nausea, queasiness (of stomach) and all that vomiting stuff. I could say that I am at the mild stage: to vomit or not to vomit, that's the question. Strong odors, those that I found tolerable and even fragrant before, make me gag and slightly teary-eyed. My thought? Bring it on! Vomit and all. lol

2. Mild to moderate cramps are good too  -  although they freak me out at times. I frequently make trips to the bathroom to check if they're accompanied by spotting and/or bleeding. Nothing so far. Besides, I was told by the pre-natal clerk at Kaiser that the cramps should be severe enough to get my attention or cause fainting. An article somewhere mentioned that if the pain is mostly at one side, it's most likely because it's where the embryo implanted and thus the first one to stretch and grow; that the uterus is a muscle and is growing continuously as the pregnancy progresses.

3. Breast tenderness is TMI but a wonderful information (at least for me) just the same. It's especially painful everytime I'd have to get up from the bed. But hey! It's more than fine for me! :)

Overall, with all these, the human in me, fragile and all, can honestly say that I'm still nowhere near relieved until I hear that fetal heartbeat on June 12 (Independence Day for the Philippines  -  independence from fear for me!). Until then, I know that I just really have to trust that God is cradling and forming my baby in His merciful and loving arms.