35th Week of My Development

At this point, I don't have much room to maneuver now that I am over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in mom's womb, I am not likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times I kicks should remain about the same. When you look into my mom's tummy, you may notice an elbow, head, foot or bottom protruding from her bump now and then – and it may feel uncomfortable when I kicks.

My kidneys are fully developed now, and my liver can process some waste products. My hearing is fully formed (although some aspects will continue to develop until about the age of 18 months), so if dad is talking to me I'll be hearing him better than ever this week.

As I continues to gain weight and lay down fat, the wall of mom's uterus and abdomen will be more stretched than ever, letting in more light. I'll be able to see this and I may develop a new, daily activity routine.

Most of my basic physical development is now complete — I'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

Did you know that at about this point, I have expanded to a thousand times my original size!. Amazing!!!

Friends see you soon!!!

Image from: http://www.babycenter.com/fetal-development-images-35-weeks

A Baby Shower

Last Sunday, September 20, 2009, a baby shower was held for my mom. It was planned and arranged by my parents' friends:

The celebration was filled with laughter through games like "Pinoy Henyo" (best seller among Filipinos, originated from a noontime show here in the Philippines), Babies A to Z (fill-up the alphabet with anything related to babies) and many hilarious and funny games. Thanks to Tita Cla in preparing the games and prizes.

The "Paint Me a Picture" was the last game before my parents revealed my name (Tita Anne and Tita Agirl were able to guess it). The game is consist of 2 teams trying to make a portrait out of the poems dad has written. The winner is the "In Her Womb" group.

After all the laughter and funny antics my parents' friends prayed for them (it is one of the nicest thing when your with a God-loving people). It was led by Tito Jet and Tita Lilet who came from their church service and still come even if we knew they were both tired.

It would have been better if all the invited guests were able to attend, nonetheless my parents and I were blessed because of this celebration. A celebration of life. Thanks for coming. Your presence is more important than anything else. We love you all!!!

Finally, just for fun the above photo was taken. It looks like that they are all pregnant (LOL), but they are not (LOL again). I wonder why dad did not join (hmmm!?).

Friends, see you in a couple of weeks. Please pray with us that mom would have a normal delivery, as of this day the placenta is still covering her cervix and it is not possible to have a normal delivery if this is still the case next month. Her last ultrasound is scheduled sometimes next week. Hoping for the best.

Friends, see you soon!!!

P.S.

More Photos here.

Up next: A Baby Shower Photo Story

© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Unauthorized use, edit, copy, reproduction, publication, duplication, download and distribution of any image may result in severe legal and criminal penalties under the law. The above photos were taken by Ricky Pascual and remain the properties of the photographer. Please do not use elsewhere without the owner’s permission.

34th Week of My Development

I now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds and is almost 18 inches long. My fat layers — which will help regulate my body temperature once I'm born — are filling me out, making me rounder. My skin is also smoother than ever. My digestive and intestinal systems are fully – functioning now, although they will continue to mature until about the age of two. My first poo (meconium) is ready and waiting to be passed and my lungs are nearly fully developed.

If I were to be born now, I'd have a 95 per cent chance of surviving without any medical help – reassuring to know. You'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

My fingernails now reach the end of my fingertips, and once I am born you may be surprised at how long (and sharp!) they are.

The placenta reaches maturity and starts to age from this week onwards but it will still continue to do its job, providing me with nutrients and oxygen, until my birth.

Did you know that I'm weeing a lot now – up to a pint a day!. Amazing!!!

Friends see you soon!!!

Image from: http://www.babycenter.com/fetal-development-images-34-weeks

My Name Is....

After a few weeks of deliberation on what should be my first name, finally, my parents agreed on what should be my first name. Thanks to all who participated on my survey. Raine got 44% and Reine got 33%.

Here's the meaning of these two names.

• Raine - means abundant blessings from above (in German origin, it means mighty army which compliments the name Gabrielle)
• Reine - means Queen

Basically both names is pronounced the same but differ in meaning. My parents chose the former.

Hi my name is Raine Gabrielle and I am a mighty warrior of God.

Friends see you soon!!!

A Baby Shower - KFC Eastwood Part 1

We're here at KFC Eastwood in Libis waiting for my parents' friends. I hope all of them can make it on this very special day. It's 2:25PM and the program is about to begin. Thanks to Tita Cla for with her handsome and supportive BF decorating the place.

Here's a few photos of our friends who arrived early as well as the souvenir mom made. It was actually a surprise baby shower but someone spill the beans (LOL). Anyway, I know this is a fun filled occasion.


The fun is about to begin.

Have a blessed day to all.

© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Unauthorized use, edit, copy, reproduction, publication, duplication, download and distribution of any image may result in severe legal and criminal penalties under the law. The above photos were taken by Ricky Pascual and remain the properties of the photographer. Please do not use elsewhere without the owner’s permission.

The Fetal Skull

To understand how I will maneuver out of the pelvis of my mom you will need to know a bit about the fetal skull.

The bones of my head are not yet fused, this allows the bones to overlap as I makes it's way through the pelvis at the end of pregnancy and labor. The lines are called suture lines and also show the fontanels or soft spots of my skull. The front of my head is the anterior portion and the back is the posterior portion.

The Lord really prepared everything, even this gap on my skull is well designed to ensure my safety during birth. Imagine if the bones of my head are already fused, my skull will be crushed (and its fatal) because of the pressure created by the pelvis. Amazing!

Friends see you soon!!!

Source: http://pregnancy.about.com/od/laborbasics/ss/fetalpositions.htm

33rd Week of My Development

This week, I weighs a little over 4 pounds and has passed the 17-inch mark. I am rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and my skeleton is hardening. The bones in my skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for me to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with conehead-like appearance). These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as my brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

My skin has changed from a reddish colour to pink and will be smoother now as I continues to lay down fat. I may grow over an inch in length this week and there's probably more baby than amniotic fluid in my mom's womb now. As a result, she'll feel every prod or kick I makes more than ever!

My immune system is able to give me protection from mild infections. I am still receiving antibodies from my mom, which are important, and will continue to do so after birth through breastfeeding. I may be in a head down position ready for birth now.

Did you know that the connections in my brain are developing in huge numbers this week, and I may now be able to coordinate sucking and swallowing with breathing.

Friends see you soon!!!

Image from: http://www.babycenter.com/fetal-development-images-33-weeks

Inside My Mom's Womb @ 33 Weeks

Last Friday, Dad was again fascinated with all the movements I made - the kicks, the punch and the wave-like motion inside my mom's womb. This time dad made it sure that he recorded it and share it with you. Before this, I'm too shy or hide myself whenever dad gets the video recorder.

This time he let mommy hold the camera and he just sat and waited to enjoy my little show. The waiting and strategy paid off. I showed my mom and dad how strong and active I am. While watching me, Dad made faces, laugh and in awe to the delight of my mom.

At this point, I am more active during the night and snoozing during the day. The same routine I'll be doing on the first few months after my birth.

Friends, watch and enjoy this video.

Watch out for the upcoming baby shower, I'll be sharing it with you next week.

Music background is "Ang Puso Ko'y Nagpupuri" from the album "You Are Mine-Jesuit Music for Mothers and Babies" from Jesuit Communications.

Friends see you soon!!!

© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Unauthorized use, edit, copy, reproduction, publication, duplication, download and distribution of this video may result in severe legal and criminal penalties under the law. The above video were taken/edited by Ricky Pascual and remain the properties of the videographer. Please do not use elsewhere without the owner’s permission.

Little Things I Need...

It's September!!!, this only mean that I'm 6 weeks away (more or less) before my birth. Hopefully via normal delivery (as of the last ultrasound, the placenta is still covering mom's cervix). Here are some of the things mom and dad bought and/or acquired for me. This includes my basic needs such as clothes, new born diapers, socks, towels and grooming kits.

They also bought feeding bottles and breast pump (mom will breast feed me and pump is needed to express her milk when she's at work to ensure that I have a continuous supply of milk). Other things are freebies from the seminar they attended such as the additional bottle and new born diapers.

Storage Cup - This is were mom's expressed milk will be stored and can also be used as feeding bottle. Mom and Dad got 4 cups for free when they attended "Breastfeeding and Parenting 101 Seminar".

Breast Pump - This is a manual breast pump, there are also a battery operated breast pumps available but it's more expensive than this one.

Hygiene and grooming kits - Many of these were given by my parents' friends in the Light of Jesus Community - Couples Group

Clothes, Socks, Gloves etc. - After mom and dad knew my gender, they quickly hopped to the mall and bought a few pairs of cloths (many of which are colored pink).

Baby Wall Clock - Dad got this for free when he bought my crib and it's special because every hour, lullabies is being played.

Some Pillows - Dad bought this one a few months before I'm conceived (not too excited)

Well, that's all for now. I'll be sharing more in the coming days like my crib, stroller and other stuff I need.

Friends see you soon!!!


Disclaimer: This site is not endorsing in any way a particular brand, it just so happen they chose these brands for me.

© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Unauthorized use, edit, copy, reproduction, publication, duplication, download and distribution of any image may result in severe legal and criminal penalties under the law. The above photos were taken by Ricky Pascual and remain the properties of the photographer. Please do not use elsewhere without the owner’s permission.

Mom's Birthday @ Holistic Circle

Yesterday, Mom celebrated her (?)nth birthday at the Spa. After eating rib flakes (yummy!!) and carbonara at "Racks" and watching movie "District 9" (Not a good choice though), they hopped in the 5th floor of the mall and looked for a spa to have a decent and relaxing foot massage/spa for mom.

After one spa rejected mom to give her a massage, they found "Holistic Circle" were mom was pampered with a relaxing and soothing foot spa with massage and pedicure. It is a much needed massage and pampering since I'm getting heavy each day.

Mom deserves to relax for she is doing a great job taking care of me. Don't worry mommy, only 6 weeks to go and the sacrifice you are giving will be rewarded. Happy Birthday Mom...mwah!!!

Watch this video:

Friends see you soon!!!

© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Unauthorized use, edit, copy, reproduction, publication, duplication, download and distribution of this video may result in severe legal and criminal penalties under the law. The above video were taken/edited by Ricky Pascual and remain the properties of the videographer. Please do not use elsewhere without the owner’s permission.

32nd Week of My development

This week is a real milestone as my lungs will have started to produce a substance called surfactant, which stops them from sticking together and helps them to expand – so in other words I am more likely to be able to take a breath of air unaided than ever before.

By now, I weighs 3.75 pounds and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in my mom's uterus. She's gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to me. In fact, I'll gain a third to half of my birth weight during the next 7 weeks as I fattens up for survival outside the womb. I now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). My skin is becoming soft and smooth as I plumps up in preparation for birth.

Research has shown that, at this point in my development, I am behaving almost exactly as a newborn and will continue to do from now on. I'll spend the majority of my day asleep or snoozing while my body gets on with the business of growing and maturing.

Did you know that I am receiving half a litre (500ml) of blood from the placenta every minute to help me grow. And at the moment my bladder volume is 10ml. At 40 weeks it will be more like 40ml!. Amazing!!!

Friends see you soon!!!

Image from: http://www.babycenter.com/fetal-development-images-32-weeks

Happy Birthday To You, Mommy

Hi Mom,

Happy Happy Birthday to you, Mommy. Thank you for taking care of me (and dad too). I see your excitement to hug me and kiss me specially when I do my somersaults and kicks and I'm sure I will get all the love from you. I am so excited to feel your warm embrace. I and dad are blessed to have you. A good, loving and supportive wife (and mother).

A few weeks to go and we will see each other for the first time and that day would be the beginning of the happy days in your arms. I know you will be a good mother. By the way, dad is telling me that he is so blessed to have a wife like you. He would never be as he is right now if not because of you. When he met you, things were never the same. It's like having the key to all the blessings and happiness.

I know you are not getting any younger (laugh!), but you still looks like 25. Catch all the blessings from God.

We love you mom.

Loving You,

Colostrum - A Newborn's Source of Antibodies

At this time, mom may have noticed a yellowish or creamy substance that has begun to leak from her breasts. This substance is called colostrum or pre-milk.

Colostrum is the first stage of breast milk that occurs during pregnancy and lasts for several days after the birth of the baby (That's me!). It is either yellowish or creamy in color. It is also much thicker than the milk that is produced later in breastfeeding. Colostrum is high in protein, fat-soluble vitamins, minerals, and immunoglobulins. Immunoglobulins are antibodies that pass from the mother to the baby and provide passive immunity for the baby. Passive immunity protects babies like me from a wide variety of bacterial and viral illnesses. Two to four days after birth, colostrum will be replaced by transitional milk.

Can't wait to latch. God is preparing the best milk for soon to be born babies like me and it's available for free.

Friends see you soon!!!