Surprises

This past week had been quite exciting to me.

After receiving a FEDEX package from my parents in Suriname with all sorts of gifts, I started really to get more into the spirit of “baby”.
Somehow I found my self panicking that I would not be ready.
I read more , I stayed on line looking at online stuff to find the latest news and recalls. Some how I have this picture in my mind of how its supposed to be done and how ITS NOT.Being in a totally different country with different culture sure makes it harder to connect with women here. So I rely on my mom and my memory to get me trough.Yesterday I got a great Gift from a friend. I guess the gift giving for a baby is UNIVERSAL . I know that people care and they are excited for me. So I think I’ll make it.I have 10 weeks to go, to meet this little person that has been swimming inside my body for months. When she arrives she will change the World.

Guess who's coming to Virgin Gorda?

My mom ,stephdad and my younger sister Whitney planned to be with me when I will have my baby.Robbert and I are very happy, because we think as this is my first child,its very important that my parents will be with me.My younger sister will
come also and she is delighted to see the baby . Unfortunately my Big brother Jerome won’t be able to come,because somebody MUST stay at “Home” To look after
our beautiful dogs : Angus and Sarah. He planned to come when the others return
to Suriname.My parents did the hotel reservations in a very early stage,due to the busy holiday season when they will arrive in Virgin Gorda .Virgin Gorda is one big attraction for tourists on cruise ships during the holidays. I can hardly wait to see my family

A day at the beach

Last Sunday I had a bit of a scare. While I was sitting in front of the TV I suddenly felt faint. I taught nothing of it and just ate something, but I got worse, so I went to lay down.After that I started to throw up. I decided to see the doctor which turned out to be a good idea. I had low blood pressure which was causing me to feel faint and nauseous.I was told to rest and drink extra fluids.
I had to cancel my usual day at the beach on sunday.Since I don't really workout I try to walk the beach every now and then.Living in BVI I have some beautiful beaches to take advantage of.I often go to "the Baths" to relax, but since that takes a hike to get there its off limits for the stage of my pregnancy. I also love "Savannah Bay".That's a flat bay so we went there today and took a swim. I also took a walk along the bay. The baby was very quiet.I think the water rocked her to sleep.We intend to take her there often once she's born.I'll always have the memories of taking her there in my tummy.

Living on an Island

When I first came to Virgin Gorda two years ago,for a vacation to be with my then fiancee,and now husband Robbert who is also from Suriname,but happens to work in Virgin Gorda,I could soon see lot's of differences between My country Suriname and the Island of Virgin Gorda.Lot's of mountains here in Virgin Gorda,while the lanscape
is flat in Suriname. Now my country isn't big if you compare it to our big "neighbour" Bazil,but its still many times larger then the tiny Island Virgin Gorda.There are hardly two thausand inhabitants in Virgin Gorda,while there are
about half a million in my home country.The language is english but not exactly
the english we learned at school,and it was not so easy to understand the people.
english is still a foreign language to me as a Surinamese,who speaks dutch.
Let alone to understand the BVI dialect.After living and working here for a year
I get along much better.What I will never get used to is the very strong chloride concentration in the water. In Suriname we have the best quality water you can get in the world,and drinking water from the tap is something I am used too.But you can't drink tap water here,you have to buy water not only to drink,but when my baby arrive I have to buy "baby water"so those are the things I cannot get used to. I also consider to buy the very expensive "baby water" to bathe myself,because my skin gets dryer by the day,and I am sure I must blame this on the water!

DISCOMFERT

Forget labor pain (for now that is)what about before giving birth, the discomfort of pregnancy.They tell you about getting morning sickness, and dizziness.

But once you start to get bigger and heavier you start feeling that you’ve lost controle of your body. You walk funny, can’t get up by yourself. Sleeping is virtually impossible.Exercises can help. Personally I try some pregnancy yoga.

Most of the time I feel its good for the baby to get into a more comfortable position.I can’t say it removes the discomfort I am feeling.

Don’t get me wrong my baby is not a burden to me, but I think its hard for people to admit sometimes how uncomfortable theY really are when they are in the last stages of pregnancy.

I am so ready to have my baby and get back to myself.But for today I think I will just go to the beach and have a swim, to relax.

"Baby" shopping

Yesterday my husband and I went "baby" shopping. There's not much to find here for a baby."Here" that is in Virgin Gorda,there are only 2000 inhabitants,and the shops are according to the tiny Island. Still we found a baby store and I bought a few things for my baby.In my culture you cannot start to shop for baby items too early.
Because when I was in Suriname a few months ago,I could easily have bought most of my baby items right there. But,my mom warned me not to start too early and we decided that she would fedex the most Items like cloth diapers and othere neccesary baby stuff i just can't find here. Still it was nice to start shopping for my baby.
I bought a babybathtub and a nice pair of baby shoes,and some clothes. When we were done the shop was nearly empty:)I love zwitsal products,but the products seem to be
"overperfumated" gues I must look for a less scented baby product.I will also buy some coconuts to make my own coconut oil,because it can be very helpfull when the baby has a snotty nose or a fever.In Suriname every household must have fresh cooked coconut oil,for many different purposes.Here's a very old recepy when your baby has a fever:

Take two table spoons of coconut oil
crunch two pitts of garlic and mix it
with the oil.Add a teaspoon of vinegar
and mix all together.
Massage it gently on the breast and back
of the baby,and put clothes on for your baby
don't leave her without clothes.

This medicine doesn't smell nice,
especially if you hate garlic.
But it works,it drops the fever.

Sleeplessness

I have a big problem to get to sleep lately,no wonder,my belly gets
larger and my baby needs space.I am not used to sleep only on my right
side,but now I have to,because the moment I turn left,I feel the little
one protesting. Then immidiately I turn to the right side again.That's
quite uncomfortable to me,but I have to get used to it because the
following months it won't get any better.My mom said that these
are the common things of pregnancy.Maybe I should get a better matrass
because the one I lay on isn't excactly new. Maybe a new matrass won't
make much of a difference,but I can use even a little more comfort to
get to sleep!

I’m going to be a mom!

Being pregnant is always a special experience, and surely unique to every one.
Personally, the first trimester was quite uneventful and I was just hoping and praying to pass that stage with no problems. I made sure I took plenty of folic acid. My appetite did fade and I had some moments of nausea. I tried to read as much as possible about the stage I was in and I kept wondering, when I was going to “show”.Entering the second trimester it was not visible that I was pregnant. I could still sleep on my stomach. I don’t even know when I transitioned into a mommy with a belly, but I do remember feeling the baby for the first time:

A flutter on the right side. Early in the morning. And for weeks to come around the same time that flutter would appear again and again, on my right side every time. Around 18 weeks I started to be able to feel the baby very lightly with my hands on the outside of my stomach. I would lie down on my back; because that’s the only way I could feel anything. When I was hungry or right after eating there would be more activity.At 20 weeks I saw “her” move for the first time. Wiggling non stop turning summersaults, while the doctor tried to make out the sex.I finally felt that I had the right to daydream about a real baby a real child. No longer in the earliest stages of development. But I didn’t dare buy anything except maternity clothes. At that time a really started to look pregnant and I was just starting to embrace the feel of a pregnant body. I bought outfits for myself a maternity pillow, and I was worried I would forget things. I bought creams to prevent stretch marks( which I got anyway) and lots of books to read. And after a while I realized that none of that really mattered to me as long as I my baby was ok. The cute outfits couldn’t stay on when I got hot flashes for no reason.I couldn’t care less what I was wearing.( In the house of course). I would hit the shower as much as I could. My back looks like a before picture in a proactive commercial, but It doesn’t seem to bother me at this time. I’m just happy it’s not in my face.I read all kinds of books, but I was either not at that stage yet, past that stage, or the book didn’t cover the topic I wanted to know about (.. Thank God for the internet)I entered the third trimester after a week earlier getting the OK form my OBGYN.I looked at other ladies with appointments. The size of their bellies and I thought how small mine looked compared to them… “ was my baby small perhaps” The doctor felt my stomach and could tell me where the head was. Would I be able to tell if I tried to feel around?, Or would I hurt my baby? I kept asking myself questions, while I went into a baby shop.
I bought some clothes, got home, and opened the boxes.I started to get more and more excited about the idea that someone was going to wear it soon. At 28 weeks It finally hit me,.. She HIT me,..with her fist.Bulging out at me in the middle of the night was a tiny hand, I felt the shape trough my skin. And I just wanted to grab it and hold on to it forever.

I’m going to be a mom!