Our Baby is Moving!

Lei told me that our baby is moving the whole day while she is at the office. She said that she can feel the movement. She can even pinpoint where our baby is during his/her rest times.

My Mom told me that that movement is normal and it means that Lei’s pregnancy is going well.

Lei also reported feeling “itchiness” inside her womb. Her office mates attributed the itch to the hair that covers our baby.

I think that Lei’s co-workers are correct. According to Lei’s Mother Book (or Pregnancy Book), our baby should be covered by fine hair since he/she is already in the 4th month development stage. That hair is known as lanugo and is normally shed in later stages of our baby’s development.

We are yet to hear our Ob/Gyne’s comments regarding our baby’s movement but I think that our baby is doing well.

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Image courtesy of Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Fatherly Advice: What to Do When You Lose Your Cool

Being a good husband requires great amount of patience. As we all know, marriage is not purely a fun ride. There will be problems or disagreements or petty quarrel or even a big war with the wife. The virtue of patience will be very helpful in avoiding all of these.

There were times, however, that we lose patience. I admit that it happened to me a few times already, especially now that Lei experiences mood swings due to her pregnancy.

Some people would say that it is fine to let out our temper a few times because we're just humans. These people are correct but we can (and should) strive to be better humans (and husbands).

Here are some things that you can do when you lose your cool:


Say “I am Sorry”

Saying “I am sorry” should be the first that you should do. Apologize to your wife sincerely. Practice the virtue of humility and tell her that you are in the wrong.

Your wife may not immediately accept your apology but what's important is that you apologized.

Pray 

Another person that you should apologize to is God. He expects you to act as a good husband because it is part of your solemn marriage vows at His altar. Pray to God for forgiveness and also ask Him to help you to be a good husband.

Aside from praying to God, it is also good to pray to our heavenly intercessors (a.k.a the Saints). I personally pray to Saint Joseph since he is known to be the best father and husband that ever lived. You can also pray to other saints that you want. I also suggest that you pray to your guardian angel for help.

Reflect on What Happened 

You should also think about what caused you to lose your patience. Was it entirely your fault? Did your wife did something that displeased you? Think about what happened objectively. Don't let your anger or other emotions cloud your judgment.

Talk about It with Your Wife 

Big wars between husband and wife do not occur spontaneously. It is a result of little disagreements or petty quarrels that were not resolved. These little things accumulated in the heart and was left there to fester.

To preempt the big wars, you and your wife must resolve the small quarrels. Don't be afraid to open the line of communications and talk about what happened. However, you must do this prudently and with humility because doing otherwise might spark another confrontation.

Practice and More Practice 

Being patient doesn't come overnight. It requires, like other virtues, continued practice. To be a more patient husband you must become a patient employee, and a patient father, and a patient jeepney passenger, and a patient MRT rider --- in short we should practice patience in all areas of our lives until it becomes a habit.

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There are other things that you can do when you lose your patience with your wife but what I posted here are the vital things.

Always remember that there will be friction between you and your wife. It is painful (and at times will wound you deeply) but you must make your love grow bigger than all the problems that will come. Love your wife and honor your marriage vows.

Saint Joseph, model of good husbands, pray for us!

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Image courtesy of holohololand / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Patron Saint (and Prayer) for Expectant Mothers

We Catholics have prayers for every occasion and patron saints for every cause, even the odd ones. If you lose something, pray to St. Anthony de Padua. If you’re being bugged by wasps, you can ask the intercession of St. Friard. Probinsyanas can have St. Germaine Cousin as their intercessor.

Pregnancy is a serious matter. Many women experienced difficulties and some perish because of it. For this reason, it is very important that the pregnant woman and her husband seek the help of God. An added bonus for us, Catholics, is that we can seek the help of saints in heaven.

Let me reiterate that we don’t pray to saints as if they were gods. We pray to them for intercession because they are close to God. They are like friends who plea to God on our behalf.

Bonnie Way listed 7 patron saints for pregnancy, childbirth and motherhood. The most popular, of course, is the Virgin Mary. The next popular patron saint for pregnancy, based on Internet search, is St. Gerard Majella. His intercession is sought by pregnant women because of the miracle that occurred after he prayed for a woman in labor.

So, aside from the Virgin Mary, I will also ask the intercession of St. Gerard for healthy pregnancy and safe labor of Lei.

Here is the prayer to Saint Gerard that can be recited by expectant mothers:

O great Saint Gerard, beloved servant of Jesus Christ, perfect imitator of your meek and humble Savior, and devoted child of Mother of God, enkindle within my heart one spark of that heavenly fire of charity which glowed in your heart and made you an angel of love. O glorious Saint Gerard, because when falsely accused of crime, you did bear, like your Divine Master, without murmur or complaint, the calumnies of wicked men, you have been raised up by God as the patron and protector of expectant mothers. Preserve me from danger and from the excessive pains accompanying childbirth, and shield the child which I now carry, that it may see the light of day and receive the purifying and life-giving waters of baptism through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Husbands and loved ones of expectant mothers can use this prayer too. Just replace “me” with the name of the expectant mother and “I” with “she”.

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For more saints with odd patronages, please visit the Aggie Catholic blog.

Image of St. Gerard and the prayer came from Our Catholic Prayers.com