doctors

Little pebble you are now 25 weeks! The book, “Pregnancy From Preconception to Birth” says that you now weigh 23.5 ounces and you are about 13.5 inches long. There’s no air in your lungs yet, just amniotic fluid, but you’re making movements that look like breathing.  You’re getting some baby fat too! As this happens, your wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out. You’re also growing more hair.

Mommy has persistent carpal tunnel syndrome.   This means that she’s been feeling pain in her fingers, hands, and wrists for some time now.  The book “What To Expect When You’re Expecting” says that this condition is common in people who regularly perform tasks that require repetitive motions of the hand.  It is also common among pregnant women.  This is because the carpal tunnel in the wrist through which the nerve to the affected fingers runs, becomes swollen during pregnancy.  The resulting pressure causes numbness, tingling, or burning.

The book “Pregnancy From Preconception to Birth” gives the following advice to those experiencing carpal tunnel syndrome.

1.       Don’t sleep on your hands.

2.       Hang your hands over the edge of your bed at night

3.       Shake your hand until the pain or numbness reduces.

4.       Flex your wrists and fingers regularly throughout the day.

5.       Dip your hands in ice cold water/apply an ice pack.

6.       Massage from your hands and wrists upward.

7.       Avoid jobs that require repetitive hand movements.

8.       Eat a well-balanced diet to avoid excessive weight gain.

9.       Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.

10.   Eat 5 portions of fruit, salad, and vegetables daily.

11.   Have a small amount of protein every meal.

12.   Get wrist splits from the pharmacy.

Mommy has tried everything except the wrist splits as these will be difficult to manage when she’s at work.  Her doctor said that the pain will go away once you come out from Mommy’s tummy.  In the meantime, we just need to go slowly little one as sudden motions of Mommy’s hands make her wince in pain.

Maybe when you grow up little pebble, you can become a doctor and come up with a remedy to treat those who have the same problems as Mommy.  Can you imagine how many people you will be able to help out if you can come up with a fool proof remedy for carpal tunnel syndrome without undergoing surgery?

I am reminded of a doctor who would be celebrating his 151^st birthday today if he were still alive (He died a long time ago, little one. He was shot on 30 December 1896 when he was just 35 years old). His name is Dr. Jose P. Rizal. He is the Philippines’ national hero.  Rizal was a very smart boy.  He learned to read quite early and grew up speaking and writing in 22 languages! He painted, sculpted, was great in sports, and wrote poems and books.

What is outstanding about Rizal is that he did not keep his knowledge and learning to himself. During his time, the Philippines was under Spanish colonial rule and the Filipinos experienced great hardships. Rizal, through his writings, encouraged the Filipinos to free themselves from the Spaniards. He proposed reforms without violence.

When Rizal was caught by the Spanish and exiled in Dapitan (this is a remote area in the Philippines), instead of pitying himself, he spearheaded reforms in the village by helping little boys to read and write. He also acted as village doctor and healed people and taught them how to take care of themselves better so they stay healthy and strong.

But you know what’s very special about Rizal little one? It is said that he became a doctor because he wanted to help his own mommy. She was having problems with her eyes and she couldn’t see clearly anymore.  Imagine, he could have become a lawyer, an engineer, or a world famous painter.  But he chose to become a doctor and in this way was able to help not only his mommy but also a whole lot of other people.

Filipinos all look up to this man. Every town, municipality, and city in the Philippines has a monument honoring Rizal.