Quickening and some other thoughts

So, it turned out, a few hours after I wrote my last update, my baby started quickening, aka those first solid movements of the baby in the womb. True enough, it did feel like bubbles, as my doctor described. But unlike the flicks from the previous week, which were so infrequent (like 1-2 times a day only) that sometimes I doubted maybe it was all just a figment of my mind, these are qute frequent, about 7-8 times an hour. I first felt them last Tuesday - right on my 20th week- evening while lying in bed. The first bubble came up, then another one and another one. 4 in quick succession. I was so happily surprised- and the idea of my little one being "really there" became even more real, and I cried tears of joy. I just lay there on the bed, half-laughing and crying with indescribable happiness. Hello there, love! Mommy is here :)

Dennis was in the other room at this time so when he came back a few minutes later, he was shocked to see me crying. I told him to hurry and come over to me, so he can put his hand over the spot where the kicks were. He was able to feel one solid kick, and I knew he felt the same. 

He hasn't been able to catch more since then though. I know he feels a bit left out hehe, but I tell him not to worry. He will feel more as time goes by. 

Anyway, today, I found myself thinking again about cord blood banking. Dennis and I initially decided to forego it, mostly because according to my research, there's little chance of needing it and even if the need arises, there's a limitation to what it can do. The quantity, for starters, can only save a child, not a full adult or even some teens. Not all diseases can also use it. If you match that with the cost, it seems like a lot of marketing and not much insurance. 

But there's that nagging guilt-trip of a line "what if it CAN save your baby?" 

Grrr. Marketing. I hate you. 

Hmm what else... I am happily into researching various topics related to the baby, like comparing breast pumps and looking at crib VS cosleeper VS packNplays. It's a complicated world out there! Haha! But definitely no shopping yet until my 7th month. My mom's strict orders. 

Which leads me to think of baby showers. Since I don't have sisters, I am not sure how to go about this. According to the TheBump app, I should start scheduling baby showers and the like. Is this really done by the mom-to-be, at least in the US? Sounds strange to me. 

I am also still "praning", especially worrying about what can possibly go wrong with the baby or with giving birth, et al. I should really find a better way of putting a lid of this. 

Oh and latest preggers symptom: loose stools (tmi, sorry). I just wanted to share this because I think not a lot of people talk about it as much as they talk about constipation. What's up with that?! Hehe. 

Thursday is the congenital scan. Fingers crossed everything is okay (I'm praning nga, as I mentioned). Can't wait to see the baby again though!! :)

Oh and it looks like our baby's yaya has confirmed that she'll work for us and help me care for our little fighter! Hooray! This is a huge tick mark off my to-figure-out list. She's a trusted helper and I am super comfortable to leave the baby with her. Hooray!

Which brings me to: If Armi will be my baby's caretaker, will I still need 6 months' off from work? I can sure use the money that those extra months can give me if I went back to work after 3-4 months instead of 6.

But then, it's just 2 extra months. 

As I said, I have been having many thoughts. Hehe. Not all are coherent. 

Lastly, breastfeeding seems to be a quite complicated affair. Note to self to continue my research on this and watch more youtube instructionals. 

That's it for now! :) 21 weeks today!!