itchiness, pregnancy blues, and fatherhood
Posted on September 7, 2006
My growing tummy is being plagued by sudden itching lately. I would get unsolicited advice not to scratch my tummy to prevent stretch marks. Sometimes though, the itch gets so unbearable that I get so frustrated because even Ramil keeps on reminding me not to scratch.
Contrary to what these people tell me, texts on stretch marks say that they’re actually hereditary. If your mom had them when she was pregnant, most probably you’ll have them also no matter how much lotion you spread on your pregnant belly. Putting lotion helps the itch though so I’ve been massaging lotion on my tummy every morning and evening. The ritual also makes sure that I have time everyday to notice my tummy, the baby inside it, and to ‘talk’ to our baby.
I’ve also been having pains in my sides and just below my ribcage. Sometimes my ribs themselves are painful. According to my hubby (being a biologist, I always ask him stuff like these), these might be due to my growing uterus putting pressure on all the other things inside me. Good enough explanation for me. Hehe!
With all the physical changes a woman has to undergo just to bring another person into this word, it’s amazing how many babies are born everyday. That these women would go through pregnancy over and over again is pretty admirable. But the other day, while I was in my low moments (sulking over pregnancy blues), I looked at Ramil and suddenly realized that women are also luckier than men. The baby inside me is our baby and yet I’m the one who gets to feel him/her most often, I’m the one who gets to bond with him/her as early as now, I’m the one who gets to care for him/her. If I’m just a tiny bit cruel, I’d say that it’s just his sperm, it’s my baby! That’s why right now, I try to look for as many chances for Ramil to bond with the baby also. Slight movements would make me scramble for his hand to place on my tummy. I give a detailed report of things I’m feeling and things about the baby to make the experience more real to him also. And I must say, the father-to-be is very much a father already. He has never taken so much care of me, in effect taking care of the baby also. My tummy has never been kissed as much as before I got pregnant. And Ramil does his share of ‘talking’ to the baby. Being parents is really a two-person thing. I couldn’t imagine being pregnant without Ramil around, it would make everything suck so much.
I’ve also been having pains in my sides and just below my ribcage. Sometimes my ribs themselves are painful. According to my hubby (being a biologist, I always ask him stuff like these), these might be due to my growing uterus putting pressure on all the other things inside me. Good enough explanation for me. Hehe!
With all the physical changes a woman has to undergo just to bring another person into this word, it’s amazing how many babies are born everyday. That these women would go through pregnancy over and over again is pretty admirable. But the other day, while I was in my low moments (sulking over pregnancy blues), I looked at Ramil and suddenly realized that women are also luckier than men. The baby inside me is our baby and yet I’m the one who gets to feel him/her most often, I’m the one who gets to bond with him/her as early as now, I’m the one who gets to care for him/her. If I’m just a tiny bit cruel, I’d say that it’s just his sperm, it’s my baby! That’s why right now, I try to look for as many chances for Ramil to bond with the baby also. Slight movements would make me scramble for his hand to place on my tummy. I give a detailed report of things I’m feeling and things about the baby to make the experience more real to him also. And I must say, the father-to-be is very much a father already. He has never taken so much care of me, in effect taking care of the baby also. My tummy has never been kissed as much as before I got pregnant. And Ramil does his share of ‘talking’ to the baby. Being parents is really a two-person thing. I couldn’t imagine being pregnant without Ramil around, it would make everything suck so much.
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hay andrea. so true! ako ngayon, i have fears for our baby… lalo na sa case ko, i just hope and pray that he/she will develop inside SO normally. kaya ang dami kong di kinakain na advice ng mom ko at ng OB ko para lang sa baby namin… so much sacrifices pero i also feel lucky kasi like what you said, we feel them and bond with our babies even before they are born.
oh btw, i have an advice regarding the itchy tummy. body shop has cocoa butter moisturizing stick which is so effective for stretchmarks. they also have it in lotion and OBs prescribe it, it safe kasi. you can try and it really smells great parang minsan nga gusto ko na sya tikman eh.
always take care…
hi litzie!
ramil & i always talk about things we want for our baby din. tipong sana ganito… or sana di ganito…hehe!
i actually use palmer’s cocoa butter lotion right now. although un nga, sabi it’s not 100% guaranteed to prevent stretch marks, i use it pa din kahit mabawasan man lang un itchiness. i might look at body shop’s lotion also. thanks a lot! and u take care too.
RAMIL!!!
ANDREA!!!
ala lng. hehe. palink ha?