Pregnancy across 3 continents

I am 28 weeks pregnant with our second baby. I am an expat and will have been out of South Africa (my home country) for 3 years on May 13th. I conceived our first child and spent the first 13 weeks of my pregnancy in South Africa, then moved to the United Kingdom and spent the remainder of my first pregnancy in England. This time around, we conceived baby in Cebu and I have spent the entire pregnancy thus far (save one weeks holiday in Hong Kong) in the Philippines.

I prefer midwife care during pregnancy and so have experience with working with 3 groups of midwives thus far, the South African home birth midwife, the English community midwives and now Cebuano Birth Centre midwives.

My experience with all three groups has been a pleasant one, I don't think its fair to compare them as each individual midwife will have her own way of working. My SA midwife knew me personally pre-pregnancy as I had worked with her as a doula during some home/birthing centre births. She taught me all I know about water birth for which I am eternally grateful as my daughter was born in water. My english midwife was one of the most gentle kind woman I have ever met, she spoke so softly and was just so relaxed it was such a pleasure being under her care during my pregnancy. My current team of midwives have very varied personalities, one is gentle, one is strong. I am hoping to have my "gentle" midwife at my babies birth but am glad to know that if need be the "strong" midwife is there to oversee and guide over any serious complications.

All 3 sets have had a focus on staying active, eating healthy and being positive about pregnancy and birth. My UK midwives joined my husband and I at our home for the birth of our daughter when I was in active labour. They were in my space but not in my face which I appreciated. The PH is different, we will go into the birthing centre when ready and I will be given the space and time to labour alone in my private room for as long as it takes. When I am ready to push, I will go to the delivery room and inform my midwife who will then prep for the birth. Immediate separation of mom/baby and cord clamping is practiced routinely here which I am against, however I have been assured that this will not happen with us and this has been discussed with the birthing team. I am left to now trust that what has been said will be done.

I have approximately 12 weeks left of this pregnancy and am in good health. I am looking forward to labouring and birthing this baby into the world. I am still processing and working through some thoughts in my head, I know I cannot control any situation but I do feel I can prepare for it.

 I read something along these lines recently which has really stuck with me:
I am the only person who can birth this baby into the world and for this I take full responsibility

Getting baby to rotate to avoid back labour, simple solutions

Incidentally I sleep in the side lying pillow between my knees position, I find it most comfortable. If you don't have a birth ball yet, get one, remember that when sitting on an inflated birth ball your knees should be lower than your hips. Birth balls are not only good for labour and pre-natal exercise but they can also be used post-partum to rock the baby on. We did a lot of bouncing and rocking with our newborn on our birth ball. It takes up less space than a rocking chair, is cheaper and can be moved around with you if need be.

Helpful and positive labour and birth preparation

Looking for some breathing exercises this morning, I came across this gem. I have done the exercises along with the video and my baby is now awake and moving. A bit of oxygen to your body does wonders.

I have already been able to practice some labour breathing as I experience braxton-hicks on a regular basis especially at night time. Deep regular breathing has become second nature which I am glad about. Having had the opportunity to watch a number of labouring mother's move through strong active labour into transition and finally pushing their babies out, the women who concentrate on their breath, who take deep slow breaths remain calmer. It's a helpful coping strategy. Give it a go. Try if possible to get your labour partner to practice these breathing techniques too, as they will be able to redirect your breath if needed.

This is my second pregnancy and I found this birth affirmation video during my first, I watched it often and find it really relaxing and empowering. I share it now with you.

Stay well.

Burlesque Breastfeeding promotional vid on youtube

I stumbled across this pearler this morning. As you do on the internet.

I like it, I really do,
the lyrics are catchy
like the flu!

But seriously, you sexy-sassy-breastfeeding-women rock!

*singing (quietly to herself as tot is napping) baby loves mommas breast...*

LYRICS:

Apple Dumplings, Angel Cakes, Bongo Baps & Betty Boops
Cherry Pies, Charlies, Coconuts & Cantaloupes
Doobies, Dingoes, Dairies, Fleshy Flappers, Gags & Globes
Happy Hangers, Hemispheres & Heavy Hilly Homes

You make the milk, so don't let it go to waste
Woman let your baby enjoy that yummy taste

Baby loves Mamma's breast because her milk tastes the best and it beats all the rest
Baby loves Mamma's milk, when its time to re-fuel
Dontcha know how it's cool

Igloos, Jubblies, Juggernaughts, Jumbo Jugs & Jelly Jibs
Kettledrums, Kazoogas, Kumquats, Knockers & Kids
Lollies, Lemons, Lactoids, Love Cushions & Loaves
Mambo, Mammeries, Macaroons, Melons, Mounds & Mangos

You make the milk and can take it any place
Woman, let your body be your baby's saving grace

Baby loves Mamma's breast because her milk tastes the best and it beats all the rest
Baby loves Mamma's milk, when it's time to re-fuel
Dontcha know how it's cool

Nunga Nungas, Nectarines, Noogies, Norks & Nancies Nibs
Oobies, Oompas, Oranges, Palookers, Pillows & Pips
Quarts of Love, Rib Balloons, Snobs, Scones & Sweater Swellers
Totos, Tangerines, Twinies, Taddies, Tits & Tooters

You make the milk and it's ready all the time
Woman, make that tummy fat be on the downward climb

Baby loves Mamma's breast because her milk tastes the best and it beats all the rest
Baby loves Mamma's milk, when it's time to re-fuel
Dontcha know how it's cool

Tonsils, Teats, Twangers, Tweakers, Tortillas & Torpedoes
Upper Decks, Volcanoes, Wahwah & Winnebagos
Watermelons, Weather Balloons, some Wongas & Front Wings
Yabbos, Yams, Yard Dogs, some Yayas & Zeppelins

You make the milk, throw the thick stuff in the bin
Woman open up those breasts and let the health shine in

Baby loves Mamma's breast because her milk tastes the best and it beats all the rest
Baby loves Mamma's milk, when it's time to re-fuel
Dontcha know how it's cool. -- Repeat x2

12 weeks tomorrow and starting to feel it.

I am one of those women who start showing from the moment they fall pregnant, okay maybe not the moment, but by 6 weeks I have a discernible baby bump. So by 12 weeks, there is no question about it, there is a baby on board. I like this for the most part, I like wearing maternity clothes (any excuse to wear super comfortable clothing is a plus in my books), I like having the physical reminder at arms length for feeling under the weather. It also means that the stretching and pulling and growing and aching starts early for me... like today early. Fun :) Lucky for me I have already made a rice sock which comes in handy. (Take a long sock, like a hockey or rugby sock, fill with rice, heat up in the microwave as needed **not too hot, direct heat is not good for your baby**).

Whoa today I have had my first experience of "ptyalism", commonly known as too much saliva in the mouth. For a while today I felt like I was sucking lemons, you know that scrunch-up-your-face-mouth-filling-with-spit feeling, yes that. Not fun. No thanks. I find that drinking lots of water helps (seems counter-intuitive I know).

I am glad to be moving out of first trimester soon, and into second, second is fun.

My second expat pregnancy - another interesting journey lies ahead.

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Exclusive Breastfeeding in the Workplace - Philippines

We now live in the Philippines, have been for the past 5 months. It is a wonderful country filled with happy and friendly people. Also filled with poverty, heartbreaking gut wrenching poverty, which is in your face on a daily basis.

Women have babies, women need to work (its literally a life or death scenario), ALL babies deserve to be breastfed. When I first arrived I was shocked at the amount of formula available... aisles dedicated to the stuff. Plus the expense... over PHP1000 per can. Some woman who work as nannies only earn between PHP2000 and PHP3000 per month!!! (That is why formula gets watered down). Plus they leave their babes at home to go work in the cities. What ever happened to basic human rights for infants? They have the right to their mothers milk, especially vulnerable at risk infants (those living in poor families).

My husband's current employer has a new building going up, he tells me that they have really lovely lactation rooms in them for their employees. This kind of news makes my heart sing.