We're having twin girls!!!

Thank you friends for sharing the joy with us!

Lumbar Pains / Back Pains

I'm now on my 6th month and my tummy is getting heavier and heavier. It's crazy because I've been watching my diet carefully, in fact I've only gained a total of 10lbs from my pre-pregnancy weight. Though I've only gained a little (than what I experienced with Xavier), my tummy is definitely bigger this time. It looks like I'm on my 7th month in this picture! 

I've been having a lot of back pains and it's something I don't miss in being pregnant. Last week, I was awaken by the sharp pain in my lower back area radiating through my right leg. I went up to go to the bathroom and was a bit scared that I couldn't walk because of the pain. I was more horrified that I can't even get back to bed! Nash and I went to the hospital right away to see if there's something bad happened to my spine.

My OB referred me to an Ortho doctor then. They can't do any x-ray at the moment and can't give me any pain medications too. The doctors said the babies are hitting some nerves in my spine which is normal when you're pregnant. They referred it as Lumbar Pain. Apparently carrying twins increases your odds of experiencing it. 

I'm only left with hot compress, maternity belt, some non-steroidal cremes, light stretching exercises and pain management. I also have to change positions every hour - from sitting to standing to lying on my sides. 

I have some PT sessions at Medical City to help me with the exercises I can do on my own at home. They make me do a lot of pelvic tilts and wall stretching! I hate!

I'm surprised that maternity belt helps a lot! At first I thought I will be hurting the babies because you have to wear it snug and tight but then I did a little research and found out it's common to wear it when you're expecting twins. You can wear it as snug as you want and it won't hurt the babies. :)  

Maternity Belt

Massages for Preggers

Prenatal massage helps me a lot. During my pregnancy with Xavier, my hubby used to massage me EVERYDAY, especially my feet. It helps me relax and feel good after. It improves the circulation of my blood thus making me sleep better and helps my chronic headache too.

My advise is to ask permission from your OB first, get a well-trained therapist, and learn about the body parts you should avoid massaging.

Of course you cannot lie facedown anymore and it's not a good idea to lie on your back too (the weight of your uterus puts pressure on the vein that returns blood from your legs to your heart) so I suggest you lie on your sides. 

Make sure you know the person massaging you. Some therapists here in Manila would just say they know prenatal massage but actually lacks the knowledge. If possible, get recommendations only from your friends who has personally tried them while pregnant. I have been turned down by some therapists before because they lack the necessary training for that. I'm at least thankful for the honesty. Some therapists will even ask clearance first from your doctors.

A well-trained therapist knows the areas to avoid but in my case I never let her touch my belly part. I let her massage my feet (with minimum pressure), legs, arms, hands, back and head. Change sides every now and then to avoid discomfort from staying on one side too long. 

I know for a fact that you should totally avoid the saunas and hot tubs. It can overheat your body and your baby inside. 

I only do my massages at home because I want to sleep right away. The cost of home service massage is around Php250-300/ per hour but it depends if they will charge you differently because you're pregnant. If you want to try the spas, I know that The Spa is offering prenatal massages for Php2,700/ 1 hour and 45 minutes. Yeah, that's a bit expensive but it's a good reward you can get from carrying your baby (babies, in my case) for 9 months! So ahead pamper yourself because you deserve it!