Surprise Pregnancy, is it possible that a woman wouldn't know?

While I was surfing the net it saw a very interesting TV series "I Didn't Know I was Pregnant!". I watched couple of episodes and it was a very interesting documentary show. I didn't realize that a lot of women experienced pregnancy without even knowing it and I didn't even think that it is possible until I watched the episodes.

I visited the Discovery Health website where they listed the possible reason why a woman would not know that she is pregnant.

10. Fetus is small, inactive, and/or carried toward the back of the womb.
Believe it or not, sometimes babies just don't make a lot of commotion in utero. In addition, some women's babies rest naturally toward the back of the womb, so that motion and kicking aren't easily detected from outside the mother's body. Many women believe that fetal movements are just irregular or strong digestive activity!

9. Recent previous childbirth.
Many women continue to believe that they cannot get pregnant right after giving birth, or while they are breastfeeding. Additionally, menstrual cycles can be irregular, and women can continue to bleed vaginally for several weeks after childbirth. The truth is, some women ovulate - and can become pregnant - within the very first days after giving birth!

8. Dieting.
Women who are very active and watch their weight religiously may crank up their fitness routine and/or begin dieting when they notice a weight gain. Because of this, they may not gain weight as their pregnancy progresses.

7. Stress.
Stressful jobs, family, and personal lives contribute to irregular periods, and may cause women not to pay attention to their menstrual cycle, or to chalk up missing periods to stress.

6. Fetus is mistaken for a tumor or cyst.
In some cases, particularly when a woman has a history of endometriosis, fibroid cysts, or other tumors of the reproductive system, a fetus can be mistaken for a new or recurring tumor.

5. Obesity.
Carrying a lot of excess weight can perfectly disguise the "baby bump." Depending on how a woman's body deposits fat, she may have looked "a little bit pregnant" in the past, and neither she nor others notice the extra bulk of a fetus.

4. Inaccurate use of birth control.
Many women are certain they could not be pregnant because they use birth control. However, all birth control methods have a failure rate, and the chance of pregnancy goes up exponentially if birth control methods are not used exactly as indicated: missing pills, expired condoms, and similar problems can result in surprise pregnancies in women who are sure they are in the clear.

3. Breakthrough bleeding.
Some women continue to have period-like bleeding throughout their pregnancy; it may be lighter or irregular, or even coincide with a woman's usual "time of the month." These pseudo-periods can be enough to convince a woman that she's not pregnant.

2. Negative home pregnancy test.
Home pregnancy tests aren't fool-proof. Whether taken or read incorrectly, or simply giving a false reading, once a woman has tested negative for pregnancy at home, she may simply rule it out.

1. History of irregular cycles and/or infertility.
Not being able to get pregnant in the past, a history of missing or irregular periods, and/or being close to menopause can all fool a woman into thinking she couldn't be pregnant. The truth is, unless a method of birth control is used every time a woman has sex, she can get pregnant!

Novena to Padre Pio (St. Pio of Pietrelcina)

I read a lot of testimonials from people who pray to Padre Pio and asked for a baby and most of them got their prayers answered. One of the devotees of Padre Pio is Julius and Christine Babao who prayed to be blessed with a baby boy last year and indeed their prayer were answered. I'm posting the novena prayer to Padre Pio (St. Pio of Pietrelcina) and I let's pray that all of our petition will be answered.


Here is the Novena Prayer to Padre Pio (St. Pio of Pietrelcina)

1. Opening Prayers

First Day: Beloved St. Pio of Pietrelcina, you have had the signs of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ on your body. You have carried this stigmata for everyone, enduring both the physical and mental sufferings that racked your soul and body in a continual sacrifice. We beg you to pray for us, so that we will be able to accept both the little and larger crosses we too must bear during out life on earth and to offer these sufferings to God, assuring us a place with Him in Eternal Life.

“It is to your advantage to commit yourself to the sufferings that Jesus will send to you. Jesus cannot tolerate seeing you afflicted and He will come to you and comfort you, blessing you with many graces for your soul.” – Padre Pio

Second Day: St. Pio of Pietrelcina, together with Our Lord Jesus Christ, you’ve been able to withstand the temptations of the Devil. You suffered the beatings and the oppression of the demon of hell, who wanted to have you abandon your journey of holiness. We beg you to pray for us so that, with your help and the help of all of the Heavenly Kingdom, we will be able to find the strength to set sin aside and to persevere in our faith until the day of our death.

“Have courage and do not fear the assaults of the Devil. Remember this forever; it is a healthy sign of the devil shouts and roars around your conscience, since this shows that he is not inside your will.” – Padre Pio

Third Day: Virtuous St. Pio of Pietrelcina, you love Our Holy Mother very much and have received daily graces and consolations from her. Please, we beg you to pray to the Holy Mother for us. Place in her hands the sorrow for our sins and our prayers of reparation, so that, as at Cana in Galilee, her Son says ‘yes’ to His Mother and our name may be written in the Book of Eternal Life.

“Mary has to be the star that illuminates your path and she will show you the secure way to go to the Celestial Father. She will be an anchor to which you must cling in the hour of temptation.” – Padre Pio

Fourth Day: Chaste St. Pio of Pietrelcina, you loved your Guardian Angel, who served you well as your guide and as a defender and messenger. The Angels brought the prayers of your spiritual children to you. We beg you to pray for us, so that we may learn to call on our Guardian Angel who is always ready to guide us to what is good and to avoid falling into sinful actions.

“Invoke your Guardian Angel, who will enlighten you and guide you. God has given him to you for your protection, therefore, you should use him accordingly.” – Padre Pio

Fifth Day: Prudent St. Pio of Pietrelcina, you have had a great devotion to the Souls in Purgatory, for whom you have offered yourself as a victim to remit their punishments. Please pray for us and ask God to send us the same interest, compassion, and love that you have for these souls. In this way, we will also contribute to reducing their suffering and, with our sacrifices and prayers, win for them their necessary Indulgences.

“My God, I beg you; let me bear the punishments that have been prepared for sinners and the souls in Purgatory. Multiply these punishments for me, so that you may forgive and save the sinners and free their souls from Purgatory.” – Padre Pio

Sixth Day: Obedient St. Pio of Pietrelcina, you have loved the sick more than yourself, because you were able to see Jesus in them. You have performed many miracles by healing patients in the name of Jesus and thereby giving them peace of mind. We bed you to pray for us, so that sick patients, through the intercession of Mary, can be healed and their bodies restored so that they may benefit from the Holy Spirit and, therefore, thank and praise God forever.

“If I knew that a person was afflicted in his mind, body or soul, I would beg God to set him free of his affliction. i would gladly accept the transfer of his affliction to myself, so that he may be saved, and I would ask that he benefit from the fruits of these sufferings…if the Lord would allow me to do it.” – Padre Pio

Seventh Day: Blessed St. Pio of Pietrelcina, you have worked in “God’s Plan for Salvation”, by offering your sufferings to free sinners from the chains of the Devil. We beg you to pray for us, so that unbelievers will be converted to the faith, that all sinners will repent in their hearts and that those with lukewarm hearts will find renewed enthusiasm for a Christian life. Finally, pray for all those who are faithful, so that they will persevere on their way to salvation.

“If the people of the World could only see the beauty of one’s soul when it is in the grace of God, all sinners and unbelievers of this world would be instantly converted.” – Padre Pio

Eighth Day: Pure St. Pio of Pietrelcina, you experienced great love for your spiritual children and have helped them by purchasing them for Christ with the giving of your blood. Please grant us, who have not met you personally, the opportunity to be considered your spiritual children. In this way, with your protection, guidance and strength, you will obtain for us a special blessing from God, so that we may meet Him on the day of our death at the gates of Heaven.

“It would be most fulfilling, if God would grant me just one wish (if it were possible); that He would say, “Enter Heaven!” This is my one true wish; “That God would take me to heaven at the same time that the last of my children and the least of the people who submitted to my priestly care have entered.” – Padre Pio

Ninth Day: Humble St. Pio of Pietrelcina, you who loved the Roman Catholic Church, pray for us. May the Master send workers to the harvest and give them the strength and knowledge needed to be children of God. Pray that Our Holy Lady will unite Christian people everywhere, comforting all of them in one great house of the Lord, the lighthouse of our salvation in the storm of life…just as a lighthouse is a beacon for safe return when there is a storm at sea.

“You must always keep yourself on the straight and narrow path in the Holy Catholic Church because She is the only Bride of Christ and can bring you peace. She alone possesses Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, who is the true Prince of Peace.” – Padre Pio

2. Prayer to the Sacred Heart, to be said after the Opening Prayer each day.

1. O My Jesus, You have said: “Truly I say to you, ask and it will be given you, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you.” Behold, I knock, I seek, and I ask for the grace of (name your request).

Say the: Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in You.

2. O my Jesus, You have said: “Truly I say to you, if you ask anything of my Father in my Mighty Name, He will give it to you.” Behold, in Your Name I ask the Father for the grace of (name your request).

Say the: Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in You.

3. O my Jesus, You have said: “Truly I say to you, Heaven and earth will pass away but My words will not pass away.” Encouraged by Your infallible words, I now ask for the grace of (name your request).

Say the: Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in You.

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, to whom one thing alone is impossible, namely, not to have compassion on the afflicted, have pity on us miserable sinners and grant us the grace which we ask of Thee through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Your and our tender Mother. St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus, pray for us.

Hail, Holy Queen….

Amen.

The Journey Begins

July 20th when I had my first period after my D&C and it was really heavy but thanks God I didn't have cramps and it lasted for 4 days.

As I said on my previous post that we want to try to get pregnant again after my first period so I did some research on how we can conceive faster. We don't want to try any medical help yet since according to my OB that my reproductive system is okay.

I read articles online, research every day on helpful tips to conceive naturally. Most of the articles I read said that the best way to do if you're trying to get pregnant is to take your BBT (Basal Body Temperature) or your temperature when you're at rest, meaning your first temperature when you first wake up. BBT should be taken same time everyday and you should have at least 3 hours of uninterrupted sleep. Your BBT is low during and after your period and it will elevate dramatically during your first day of fertile period and keeps high after ovulation and will just drop once you have your period again but if your BBT keeps high until 18 days after ovulation then you are probably pregnant.

The other thing is to monitor your CM or Cervical Mucus because the change in your CM can tell you if you are fertile or ovulating. Right after your period ended CM is usually dry and then it will be creamy like lotion few days then watery, then if it change to Egg White like texture then you are fertile or ovulating. I also read that 2 days before fertility is the best time to baby dance (BD) or make love.

You can also buy an OPK (Ovulation Prediction Kit) to check if you are ovulating. It is like a pregnancy test kit except that it will give you 2 lines if you are ovulating.

I found a helpful website to chart your BBT, CM and other things to monitor the changes in your body, www.fertilityfriend.com. You can also compare chart of other women who are trying to conceive.



By the way, my OB told me and I also ready from other blogs/articles that it is best to take vitamin E, vitamin C and folic acid when you are trying to conceive to prepare your body for the pregnancy.

I bought a digital thermometer at Watson's for 299Php to check my BBT everyday. I decided not to buy OPK yet. I will just going to try it maybe next month if the baby project is not successful this month (but I'm crossing my finger that I will conceive this month).

The Pregnancy...

It was few days after our first wedding anniversary that I found out that I was pregnant. I was so excited and nervous at the same time because I don't know what to expect. I had 5 pregnancy test kit and it all came out positive. I felt so lucky that I didn't feel sick when I was pregnant. The only pregnancy symptoms that I had was sore breast, lower back pain.

Then 2 weeks after I found out I was pregnant I had brownish spotting but it only lasted for 3 day. Though it bothered me but a lot of my friends told me that it was okay and the 2 OBs that I spoke with assured me that it was okay. I was asking for TVS but they told me it was too soon and probably there was nothing to see. They just told me to have a bedrest and to take Duphaston, which I did.

Then after a week I had spotting again but this time it was red and it was really freaking me out. I prayed a lot but the spotting turns to bleeding. Then morning of July 24th at around 4:00 AM I woke up and pee and there was a huge clot and I knew I had a miscarriage because the feeling of being pregnant had stopped. I texted my OB but didn't get a reply so at around 6:00 AM I called her and she told me that I need to have TVS to make sure that it was really a miscarriage or if it is, to check if I need a D&C.

Me and my husband went to the hospital in the afternoon for my first TVS (it was so frustrating that I should have had my TVS when i still have the baby in my womb) and it was confirmed that I lost the baby but the good thing is my reproductive system is perfectly normal and can start trying again right away.

So at around 5:00 PM of July 24th I had my D&C and went home the same night. I didn't bleed that much and my recovery was pretty fast because I felt okay after few days although I was on bedrest for more than a week. After 3 1/2 weeks from my D&C I had my period so my husband and I decided to try again. We just waited for my first period to come before we try again just to make sure I'm okay.