Like what I've said on my previous post, I got scared and have doubts whether to take this antibiotic or not. It took me 5 days before heeding to my doctor's advise. I got scared primarily because I don't take any medication when I'm pregnant since I'm thinking about the harmful effects my unborn baby could get by doing so. But neglecting the infection can be more harmful to the baby if not treated immediately.

According to emedtv.com:

An Overview of Using Amoxicillin During Pregnancy

Amoxicillin (Amoxil®, Moxatag™) is a prescription antibiotic. It is usually considered to be safe for use during pregnancy, although the full risks are not currently known.

Amoxicillin and Pregnancy Category B
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) uses a pregnancy category system to classify the possible risks to a fetus when a specific medicine is taken during pregnancy. Pregnancy Category B is given to medicines that have not been adequately studied in pregnant humans but do not appear to cause harm to the fetus in animal studies.

When large doses of amoxicillin were given to pregnant rats and mice, the medication did not cause any problems. Studies have shown that amoxicillin crosses the placenta (to the baby) in humans, but it does not appear to cause problems. Although amoxicillin has not been systematically and adequately studied in pregnant women, case reports and surveys seem to suggest that amoxicillin does not increase the risk of birth defects or miscarriages.

However, since amoxicillin has not been adequately studied in pregnant women, it is possible that it may have negative effects that are not currently known. Therefore, a pregnancy Category B medicine should be given to a pregnant woman only if a healthcare provider believes that the benefits to the pregnant woman outweigh any possible risks to the unborn child.

Anyway, yesterday I turned 16 weeks. Finally 4 months preggy :). My tummy is showing obviously and my appetite is better. The other week I underwent urinalysis and my OB found out that I had Urinary Track Infection which shouldn't be neglected according to her. She prescribed Amoxicilin which I need to take 3 times a day for 7 days! I got scared because I know it's an antibiotic. At first I was hesitant to follow her prescription. I waited 5 days before finally giving in. That was after I was convinced that amoxicillin is safe for me. I googled it, get enough information and asked opinions from fellow mommys . I am now on my 3rd day of medication.

Here's an info about Urinary Track Infection according to American Pregnancy:

A urinary tract infection (UTI), also called bladder infection, is a bacterial inflammation in the urinary tract. Pregnant women are at increased risk for UTI's starting in week 6 through week 24.

Why are UTI's more common during pregnancy?

UTI's are more common during pregnancy because of changes in the urinary tract. The uterus sits directly on top of the bladder. As the uterus grows, its increased weight can block the drainage of urine from the bladder, causing an infection.
What are the signs and symptoms of UTI's?

If you have a urinary tract infection, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:

• Pain or burning (discomfort) when urinating
• The need to urinate more often than usual
• A feeling of urgency when you urinate
• Blood or mucus in the urine
• Cramps or pain in the lower abdomen
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Chills, fever, sweats, leaking of urine (incontinence)
• Waking up from sleep to urinate
• Change in amount of urine, either more or less
• Urine that looks cloudy, smells foul or unusually strong
• Pain, pressure, or tenderness in the area of the bladder
• When bacteria spreads to the kidneys you may experience: back pain, chills, fever, nausea, and vomiting.

How will the UTI affect my baby?

If the UTI goes untreated, it may lead to a kidney infection. Kidney infections may cause early labor and low birth weight. If your doctor treats a urinary tract infection early and properly, the UTI will not cause harm to your baby.

How do I know if I have a UTI?

A urinalysis and a urine culture can detect a UTI throughout pregnancy.

How is a UTI treated?

UTI's can be safely treated with antibiotics during pregnancy. Urinary tract infections are most commonly treated by antibiotics. Doctors usually prescribe a 3-7 day course of antibiotics that is safe for you and the baby.

Call your doctor if you have fever, chills, lower stomach pains, nausea, vomiting, contractions, or if after taking medicine for three days, you still have a burning feeling when you urinate.
How can I prevent a UTI?

You may do everything right and still experience a urinary tract infection, but you can reduce the likelihood by doing the following:

• Drink 6-8 glasses of water each day and unsweetened cranberry juice regularly.
• Eliminate refined foods, fruit juices, caffeine, alcohol, and sugar.
• Take Vitamin C (250 to 500 mg), Beta-carotene (25,000 to 50,000 IU per day) and Zinc (30-50 mg per day) to help fight infection.
• Develop a habit of urinating as soon as the need is felt and empty your bladder completely when you urinate.
• Urinate before and after intercourse.
• Avoid intercourse while you are being treated for an UTI.
• After urinating, blot dry (do not rub), and keep your genital area clean. Make sure you wipe from the front toward the back.
• Avoid using strong soaps, douches, antiseptic creams, feminine hygiene sprays, and powders.
• Change underwear and pantyhose every day.
• Avoid wearing tight-fitting pants.
• Wear all cotton or cotton-crotch underwear and pantyhose.
• Don't soak in the bathtub longer than 30 minutes or more than twice a day.

Hope this will help us get informed preggy moms!. And remember that we should not neglect if we had this infection.

Last Saturday was my scheduled OB visit. And guess what? We finally heard it's heartbeat! The doctor said, the baby is doing fine and the heartbeat is normal. If it's a boy or girl, she can't tell yet, but we're really happy that we finally heard him/her. There's something in me that say's "this is really real, there's really a life inside me!"

Anyway, my morning sickness seems to be subsiding all the more. I experienced an instance of throwing up but still I feel much better compare before. My tummy is getting bigger. Can't wear my uniforms anymore. Maybe it's time to shop for clothes. haha! Also, I haven't gained weight. I even lost 3 kilos from last month's check up. Maybe because I'm not eating so much because of morning sickness.

The baby is good, I'm good! That's good to hear.

Have you experienced being a frustrated unsatisfied online buyer? I have a friend who was a frequent online shopper and she said getting disappointed is inevitable in online shopping. She told me that one time, she purchased an item for her son online and was expecting to receive the same product featured on the site but lo and behold, she received the item not in good condition. She was so disappointed.

It’s a fact that risks comes along with online shopping. That’s why we shoppers should be a wise buyer, as in doubly wise compare to regular shopping. Because in online shopping, specially if you’re shopping for delicate items like jewelries, you can be deceived with the pictures if you’re not keen and wise. A lot of online shopping sites out there are tricky. But I know one site that really helps online shoppers. They even give their shoppers tips and buying guides specially when purchasing watches or jewelry items.

Shopwiki does only give it’s shoppers a complete list of items in a singles search. It also protects them from being schemed or hoaxed by providing them valuable information and guides for their shoppers. So when it comes to online shopping, put shopwiki on top of your list in searching for items online.

I know that you can actually watch some movies online, even recent ones but I haven't tried it. Not until yesterday.

I was intrigued with the film, "The Proposal" so I checked if I can watch it online. And luckily, I found this site: Moviesss.com. But there's only a limited time to view the film. After 72 minutes of watching, you'll have to wait another 52 minutes for the movie to reload. Also the copy is not digitally clear. And because I don't like waiting too long, I checked for other sites and found this one: vioku.com. The copy is not clear as well, and the film was divided in three parts but it buffers much faster and I was able to watch it uniterrupted. Also, unlike other sites, there's no ads and other gimmicks for one to watch a film like answering surveys, being a member so one can log in, etc.

In short, I was able to watched and finished "The Proposal" thru the internet.

Some movies that are being uploaded in the internet are not the original copy. In short some are just recorded in theaters. The only benefit of watching it online is to see if it's okay and if you'll get your money's worth if you intend to watch it or purchase the original dvd copy.

"The Proposal" is one hilarious, must see movie that I'll make sure to get the original dvd copy.

I didn't experience any throwing up for the past 4 days. Whew! That's quite a relief for me. I'm thankful that I've already passed my first trimester, and now entering the second.

According to some articles I've read, 13 weeks pregnant has less miscarriage threats. Thank God!. Anyway, so far, I've not yet measured my belly yet but it's already showing the world that there's something inside it. Haven't check my weight as well, my bad. But my appetite is slowly becoming normal, I can now eat without having to feel like throwing up after.

And here's what Babycenter.com says on my pregnancy at 13 weeks:

Your baby is now about 6.7cm long from crown to rump and weighs nearly 23g – about half a banana. Your baby now has sucking muscles in her cheeks, so when you poke your stomach gently she will feel it and start rooting – that is, act as if she's searching for a nipple.

If you're having a girl, she now has approximately 2 million eggs in her ovaries; she will have only a million by the time she's born. She'll have fewer eggs as she gets older, and by age 17, the number will have dropped to 200,000.

As for you, the fog may be lifting, so to speak. For many women, the side effects of early pregnancy – frequent urination, intense fatigue, nausea – diminish sometime in the second trimester. Your uterus (womb), while large enough to announce to onlookers that you're indeed pregnant, isn't so huge that it gets in your way. Even though birth is months away, your breasts may already start making colostrum, the fluid that will feed your baby for the first few days before your milk comes in.