I just came back from my prenatal check-up. It was a long-awaited visit since I have been complaining on these pains that I feel from my lower back, to my tummy, down to my vaginal area.

The doctor’s face changed from a smiling one to a frowning one while dong her tests on me and that really pressed my panic button. She then asked me a series of painful questions, starting from the simplest one to the rather complicated issues.

* How do you go to work everyday? - I take the tricycle, there’s no other mode of transportation.

* I see, that’s very bumpy I guess? - Very.

* Your office is on the first floor? - Nope. On the 3rd. I take the stairs everyday.

* Oh. You need a support belt then, have you bought one? - Uhmmmm… does it cost much?

* Around 500-2000 pesos, depends on the style and brand… - Ok, ouch!

* But well, you need one. - I’ll think about where to get the money then (fake smile)

* And you have to stay at home too, 3-5 days, complete bed rest. You can do that, right? - Well, it’s holiday tomorrow, and there’s no work on Sunday, that makes it 2, sigh… I guess I’ll have to be absent from work on Monday.

* And don’t forget, complete bed rest (emphasis on complete). Your husband should take note of that ok? - Uh-uh… Husband? Now that sounds trouble.

* Why? Where is he? He has to take care of you, you’re on your 8th month, you’re almost there. - Errr… I told you already Doc, I guess… I’m alone, remember?

* Literally alone? But that can’t be, someone has to take care of your needs while you’re resting. - I’ll find someone (another fake smile)

* This is serious ok? If you want, my assistant can recommend a medical person to be with you for 10 hours a day. - Ahhh, I’ll be fine doc (What? How can I afford that?). I’ll find someone. (yet another fake smile)

That ends the Q&A section which marks the start of the “preaching” section. I like listening to her advice though, gives me a little hope when I’m feeling so down and hopeless.

Ok, time to go home now and time to think of this another frustrating day. Remember, Stress Buster #2 - Have a Good Cry. I guess I’m gonna do that again tonight. Ok, breathe in, breathe out…

What’s the Matter

A fun weekend escapade with friends on a Saturday night? Not possible. Latest Job Performance Evaluation? Flunked. Christmas vacation? Canceled. Mood? Absolutely pissed.

What You Should Do

Every now and then the best way to let off a little fog of frustration is to write it out. Grab a piece of paper (or that Garfield notebook on your drawer) and your favorite pen and spend 20 to 30 minutes writing about what’s going on (that means, anything!). Don’t be anxious about spelling or even grammar; just write anything and everything that comes to your mind. Keep going until you reach the 20-30 minutes cutoff (and that’s even if you can sense that you have been using the same words over and over until something else comes to mind).

Why It Works Magic

Novelists call this strategy “free writing,” but it isn’t confine to professional writers alone because it can help “free” anyone from a bad mood. Yes, the keyword there is “free”. It feels good to be released from a prison of frustrations. Many studies have shown that jotting down stressful events can help alleviate the stress because getting it out on a piece of paper helps to get it out of your brain.

Mommy has been a member of the Mylot community for a year now. She has found great friends there. Friends who don’t have the heart to judge her, friends who are willing to understand her, friends who will be there even with the distance, even if its virtual. They are friends who will stay, no matter what.

I can feel that Little Nicholas is so happy that her Mommy has found great friends out there. He seems like kicking with great joy everytime Mommy reads beautiful words expressed by his Mom’s friends.

Take for example the discussion that Mommy started yesterday. It’s about starting this blog and of course, Mommy’s pride in making it known to the world that my Little Nicholas is coming and will definitely complete Mommy’s life. Mommy’s got so many responses, all of which are beautiful and full of encouragement and inspiration.

Maybe Mommy has been being negative about things lately due to the bad and sad things that had been happening in her life. But look at all the positive and nice words she got from her friends! I say, Mommy is rejoicing with Little Nicholas indeed for the overwhelming support and love from Mylot community.

Again, Mommy and Little Nicholas want to thank all the sympathetic and thoughtful people in Mylot, for all their protection, encouragement, and even vindication for Mommy’s present situation as well as for Little Nicholas’ upcoming delivery.

You just don’t realize how much all of you means to us.

Turn It Off

Do you check your blog comments and email every five minutes? Do you sleep or half-sleep with your mobile phone turned on and just less than a foot away from your face? If your answer is a BIG YES to one of these questions, it’s time to unplug.

For one night, (just for one night) proclaim your room as a completely technology-free zone. Meaning? No internet, no television, no mobile phone (c’mon, that OFF switch wasn’t there for nothing). Get lazy and loll on that bed or do that with a book you’ve been meaning to read. Maybe you can start on that creative project you’ve wanted to work on for a long time too.

Regular technological intrusions and radiation-information overload sometimes prevent us from focusing on anything and even keep our nerves on the edge. Just letting it go for one evening will help us return to our natural state of calmness. I guess an evening wouldn’t be that difficult, right?

What’s the Matter

While online one night, getting busy, typing like crazy on your blog, you notice that one “anonymous guest” paid your blog a visit and tells you nasty things about knowing you and that you don’t deserve to be a mother and that your baby will suffer for having you as a mother. Yup, he/she practically branded you as a Bad Mother and he/she’s got the nerve to even broadcast that on your own blog! Tears start welling up in your eyes.

What You Should Do

Go for it. Have that cry. We all need a good cry sometimes. Flop down on your bed with a box of Kleenex and let it all out; all your frustrations, all your anger and your bottled pains (Just don’t overdo it and get depressed over the matter or else the baby will suffer). Talk to your baby while crying. Tell him/her that Mommy’s just having a cry and there’s nothing to worry about. You can even feed the weeping with a tearjerker like Romeo & Juliet, Titanic and Phoenix and Griffin from the video store.

Why It Works Magic

Studies show that most women feel better after crying. Why so? Because crying is a good emotional release. Yup, the truth is, many scientists say that tears contain stress hormones and crying gets them out of your body. For each tear you cry, imagine that a problem gets washed away. Now with some of the negativity out of your system, you can finish your blog — and start deleting all those nasty comments.