Zita's birthday!

As of today, my girl is 3 months 2 weeks 4 days old. *Phew* What a hard time going through the previous weeks and more to come! Hopefully everything will be going smoothly in no time!

Okay, here's my share of birth story:

On the 5th March 2012, I woke up as usual for night trips to the toilet, and backed to sleep at about 1am. Not long after the sleep, I woke up with some cramp.

Since this is my first pregnancy, I have zero knowledge on labor pain. I continued with my sleep, waken up a few times due to the cramp until 4am, when I finally suspect it is the labor pain everybody talking about.

The cramp was 30 mins apart initially, went down to 20 mins by 5am, so I went for my bath, packed my luggage, ate some bread, and head to the hospital.

My scheduled appointment to the gynae was on the very day (for those who follow my blog will know that we need to wait in front of the clinic around 6.45am to get the front numbers), so we decided to wait and get our number before heading to the labor room for check up - in case it was a false labor pain.

By the time I get my number at the clinic, it was 8.30am, the cramp was 8 mins apart. Hubby and I went into the labor room, checked and being told that I was already 3cm dilated! Wow, so fast?

I was then changed into a green piece of hospital clothes in preparing for labor. After shaving, and "move my bowels", I walked to the nurse telling her I need "epidural for labor". She advised me not to take it as she claimed that my labor process won't be long. Well, I have great fear for labor pain so I insist to have it.

Then, I was directed to wait on the bed in the labor room, waiting for the anesthesiologist for the epidural. Before that, my gynae, Dr. Diva came in to burst my water bag to speed up the process. The nurse popped a needle in my hand for drips, and put 2 roundish device on my tummy - one is to monitor fetal heartbeat, one is to monitor my labor pain level.

Then, comes the anesthesiologist putting in the needle for epidural, that's a bit pain involved but I bet it's nothing compared to the real labor pain!

Then, the nurse changed the drips to induce the process of labor.

Meanwhile, hubby sat beside my bed, and me, of course in the bed, waiting...... My legs are getting heavy until "no feeling"!

1.45pm, the nurse announced that I was 10cm dilated! Due to the side effect of epidural, I was shivering not because of fear nor cold.

2pm, Dr Diva arrived. Then, push, push push, and vacuum.

2.17pm, Zita meets the world!

Oh, if you ask me how pain is labor, I will tell you, it's painless! But I'm feeling dizzy and vomiting until 6pm - when I insist the nurse to contact Dr Diva. Dr Diva came but he claimed that it is related to the epidural, thus I have to refer back to the anesthesiologist, and the anesthesiologist didn't make an appearance but had instruct the nurse to give me a shot to cure the dizziness. The dizziness didn't went off right away, but it is diminishing and was all gone when I woke up next morning.

As a conclusion, giving birth is not scary at all!

Anytime

Yesterday, we went for another check-up.

Everything appears to be good, baby head has slightly engaged. However, the blood cord is still loosely wrapped around her neck, which doctor confirmed will do no harm to baby if she is to be deliver naturally.

During the initial scanning, my gynae was shocked to see many tiny hairs through the screen, and he claimed "Wow, so many hairs!". The hairs are floating straight up! Thus, she will be born with thick black hair!

As of 9 months 1 week 2 days of gestation age, my baby girl's weight is 3.05kg - should be a plump girl!

Finally, my gynae announced that "It will happened ANYTIME!!!". And the waiting game starts!

Glucose tolerance test

During previous visit to my gynae, I'm ordered to do a glucose tolerance test to check whether I'm suffer from gestational diabetes.

Well, I optioned not to wait until next visit to Dr. Diva to take the glucose tolerance test. Hubby drove me to his clinic to get the blood test form and we went BPLab the next day for the test.

Let me get some explanation about the glucose tolerance test for the Internet:

Most healthcare practitioners routinely recommend a glucose screening test (also called a glucose challenge test or GCT) between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy to check for gestational diabetes, a high blood sugar condition that some women get during pregnancy.

What is gestational diabetes?

Gestational diabetes (or gestational diabetes mellitus, GDM) is a condition in which women without previously diagnosed diabetes exhibit high blood glucose levels during pregnancy (especially during third trimester). It is widely accepted as a disease only in the United States; there is some question whether the condition is natural during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes is caused when the body of a pregnant woman does not secrete enough insulin required during pregnancy, leading to increased blood sugar levels.

Gestational diabetes generally has few symptoms and it is most commonly diagnosed by screening during pregnancy. Diagnostic tests detect inappropriately high levels of glucose in blood samples. Gestational diabetes affects 3-10% of pregnancies, depending on the population studied, so may be a natural phenomenon.

As with diabetes mellitus in pregnancy in general, babies born to mothers with gestational diabetes are typically at increased risk of problems such as being large for gestational age (which may lead to delivery complications), low blood sugar, and jaundice. Gestational diabetes is a treatable condition and women who have adequate control of glucose levels can effectively decrease these risks.

Women with gestational diabetes are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (or, very rarely, latent autoimmune diabetes or Type 1) after pregnancy, as well as having a higher incidence of pre-eclampsia and Caesarean section; their offspring are prone to developing childhood obesity, with type 2 diabetes later in life. Most patients are treated only with diet modification and moderate exercise, but some take antidiabetic drugs, including insulin.

Women treated for gestational diabetes, generally have smaller birthweight babies, leading to other problems, such as survival rate of premature and early births, particularly male babies.

My report is out and I just got it from the lab.

Fasting blood glucose: 70 (Normal: < 100mg/dl)
1 hr PP blood glucose: 119 (Normal: < 200 mg/dl)
2 hr PP blood glucose: 61 (Normal: < 140 mg/dl)

Fasting urine glucose: Negative (Normal: Negative)
1 hr PP urine glucose: Negative (Normal: Negative)
2 hr PP urine glucose: Negative (Normal: Negative)

Haemoglobin (Hb): 12.4g/dl (M 12.5-17.5 F 11.5-15.5)

The report shows I'm not diagnosis with gestational diabetes!

The blood cord is out!

I almost forgot to blog about my 7th month check up. It fell on the date which marked my 7 month 1 week 2 days pregnant!

That's a good news to celebrate!

Everything's good - baby's blood cord no more around her neck and she had turned her lil head down for the time being. However, my weight shot up 4kg in 5 weeks time which my gynae was quite concern about - he kept telling me to control my diet! And since my father had diabetes, my weight shot up, and baby is a bit fat, I'm ordered to do a pregnancy diabetes test in the next visit! *Sigh*

Anyhow, hubby and I were at great joy knowing that the blood cord is out of baby's neck!

Cord around the neck

To date, I'm 6 months 2 days pregnant.

On today's appointment to Dr. Diva's clinic, hubby and I reached hospital by 6.55am, thinking that we could probably get the first or second number. However, there were 3 preggies ahead of us! So we queued at number 4.

Even we got number 4, we waited until 11am for our turn - doctor came in a bit late today.

This time around my weight gained is ok - 1.5kg only. The gynae was pleased with it. Same goes with the protein level in my urine.

Then, we proceed to the ultrasound scanning. My gynae again showed us my baby's heartbeat which beats at 143bpm, and her hands and feet. And he switched to 4d scanning, showing my baby covering her face with her little hand. Thus, we can't get any photo! She moves a lot before going into doctor's room, but she didn't make any movements during the scan. Does she knows we are scanning on her?

Overall, the gynae was satisfy on everything except that the cord is still around my baby's neck as what we seen last appointment. He opened up a screen which shows the blood flow of the cord, and told us the cord is loose around the neck, not to worry. And he said may be the cord will be eased when the baby's head turn down in my later pregnancy.

Later, a nurse handed me a paper and teach me how to jot down my baby's daily movements. She said I have to be aware if baby doesn't make much movements. If the baby doesn't move for a day, I have to go straight to the delivery department for a check-up.

I didn't really feel worry about the cord around the neck at first, but after the teaching from nurse, I started to feel worried!

4d ultrasound

Our girl @ 5 months 2 days

I have request for a print-out from the gynae after scanning. We could see clearly while scanning in 2d and 4d ultrasound, however the picture came out a bit blur. This is a 4d real time print-out.

There shows baby's hands, legs, body and face. She is sleeping during the scan. No movement!

I could see the 3 lines which confirm baby gender, thus it's confirmed my baby is a girl!

It's a girl!

On this visit to the gynae, the finally got to know the baby's gender.

The gynae spread some jelly on my tummy and started to scan. My baby's legs opened wide, and the gynae said "There's nothing between the legs." Which means, "It's a girl!"

Before the visit, all elderly guessed boy while the result came out girl. However, for hubby and me boy or girl doesn't matter. The gynae's ultrasound system is very high-tech where it shows very clear outcome, thus the probability of wrong gender prediction is very low. To confirm girl, the ultrasound should show 3 lines between the legs. This time around, we didn't see the 3 lines, so next appointment we should look out for the 3 lines to double confirm our baby's gender.

Other than that, the gynae also check out other features for the baby - everything was good and the baby weights 163gm. The gynae also counted all fingers and toes!

The gynae told us that our baby girl is very healthy!

I'm 4 months pregnant!

Wow! After 4 months of traditional chinese medicine treatment, and a trip to Bangkok, I am finally pregnant! I'll be reaching 4 months pregnancy within a few days.

I was very grateful to sensei to have treated me well with tcm. I believe I could conceive nicely this time around with the help of tcm. Without tcm, I wouldn't reach here. The sensei could tell that I'm pregnant when I was 3 weeks pregnant!!!

Nevertheless, it has been tough at the beginning of the pregnancy as I'm having the usual possibility of miscarriage. I was spotting and even bleed a bit in the first trimester and with my previous histories of miscarriage, it makes my possibility of miscarriage even higher.

I was given a shot to stop bleeding during the first visit to the gynae and withdrawing blood every few days to ensure the hcg level is doubling every 48 hours. Compared the first and second time hcg level, it wasn't good - not doubling. My gynae told me to rest and give it a chance.

Then comes the third blood test, not doubling as well! However, bb heartbeat appears on the screen during ultrasound and other facts shows good. *Relieve* The gynae was happy with it!

Backed at home, I continued with tcm combined with folid acid and Duphaston prescribe by gynae. And most importantly, I almost stay home for 2 months.

During my 3rd month's scan, my bb appears to be very active - moving its hands and legs. My gynae keep telling us, "It's a very healthy and active baby!".

4th month's appointment falls on the coming week, baby gender may shows! How excited!

Continue

I'm feeling great, no more tired since yesterday.

Just back from the Chinese medicine practitioner shop. The doctor said I'm a bit better. Now that I'm backed with 3 packs of Chinese medicine and some tablets which are to be finished in a week's time.

Take a break

Since we are going for trips on April and May, we are going to have a break in between - to avoid ruining our trips with pregnancy and also skip the problem of giving birth during CNY.

We have paid a visit to a Chinese medicine practitioner (I'll call her as a doctor) last Sunday. The doctor is a women whom is recommended by a friend since a friend of her who is having the same problem as me had successfully carried a baby to full term twice with the help of the doctor. Without choice indeed, I have to go for a try!

According to the doctor, all my internal organs (心肝脾肺肾) are weak - all weak (全虚). Everything is running in a slow motion. It is rather hard for me to carry myself properly, don't think of carrying a baby! However, the doctor told us she had already helped many women like me, my advantage is to be able to come to her when I'm still young - 27.

I was given 2 packs of Chinese medicine and some tablets which are to be finished in 2 days! It gave me a shock hearing that all the medicine were to be finished within 2 days. Nevertheless, I've made it.

After taking the medicine, I felt extremely fatigue as if I haven't sleep for years. Thus I sleep a lot!

We went back on the 3rd day. The doctor again took hold of my hand to check the beating. Came back with an answer - too weak until not able to amend (虚不受保). *Sigh* Yet she claims that she is able to cure me. And she advices me not to think so much, just leave it to her.

This time around, we went home with 2 packs of Chinese medicine and some tablets which are to be finished in 4 days. Now, it has come to day 3. I'm still feeling fatigue but not as much as previous.

Okay, I'm going to make it through.

Another miscarriage

Okay, it was all over by this time.

The miscarriage happened on the 6th week into pregnancy. I had every symptom: fatigue, nausea, increase appetite, tender breast....... yet it ended up another miscarriage. Hubby and I had done our very best trying to prevent it to happen, but to no avail.

It's a natural miscarriage since I option not to take d&c. It took a month to complete the entire miscarriage. It didn't get me into painful cramp, just as a normal period with extra long time to end!

A whole new year just begins, everything will be fine and I'll be fine too! A new pregnancy will be on the way coming to me soon!

A check-up at the fertility centre

As mentioned earlier, hubby and I decided to make a trip to KL to the Tropicana Medical Centre to look for Dato' Dr Colin Lee - the well-known fertility consultant.

Before we travel to KL, I've made a booking of appointment through phone, and I was told that the doctor's appointment of that particular day was very full If I go on that day, I'll have to wait for some time before meeting the doctor. Since the doctor will be on leave soon, we have to wait!!!

We arrived at the Tropicana Medical Centre by 9am after breakfast. We've done registration immediately, and waited for 30 minutes before we were called into the consultation bay. A consultant were there to ask about our history and explain what the doctor may do to investigate our issue. The consultant was very friendly and detailed in every explanation.

Right after the consultation, we were sent to another part to do sperm test. Everything was done by 10am. We were to be back 2 hours later for the report and to meet the doctor for further consultation.

We went Ikea to have something to eat, walk around and then go back by 12.30pm.

Again we waited for 30 minutes.

Dr Colin had hubby's sperm test report in his hand and briefly told us that the result is normal. Then I was being scanned and told that my womb is okay too. (Their machine is really advanced compared to Ipoh's, I can see my womb very clearly, and it's very nice. LOL!) Without further discussion, Dr Colin set another appointment date for me, to do Laparoscopy, Hysteroscopy and D&C. I tried to ask if we had other options but Dr Colin told me this is the only way to further investigate.

What is Laparoscopy?
Laparoscopy and advanced infertility specialist training in microsurgery have literally transformed the way many gynecologic and other surgical procedures are performed. The laparoscopy is usually accompanied by only minor discomfort. The laparoscope can be indispensable to the fertility evaluation because it allows the fertility specialist to view the reproductive organs. Many conditions such as endometriosis or pelvic adhesions can be treated during the laparoscopy.

What is Hysterocopy?
The hysteroscope is a small tubular “telescope” like device that is inserted through the vagina and into the uterus. The uterus is filled with carbon dioxide or another media such as sterile saline causing it to expand. The physician can often clearly visualize conditions such as fibroids, polyps, or congenital uterine abnormalities. If hysteroscopy is performed in an operating room, treatment can usually be performed at the same time (operative hysteroscopy).

What is D&C?
The gynaecologist opens (dilates) the cervix with instruments called dilators, and then inserts a hollow tube through the cervix. Suction is applied to remove the retained tissue.

Once walked out from the doctor's room, we discussed about it. Hubby decided not to go for that surgery. Though it was said to be a minor key-hole surgery, but we don't think we need to. May be it's just the timing, we will try on our own without any medication. Not until a year after this, I will consider having myself being cut!

We didn't wait for long throughout the consultant, can't understand why they told me doctor's schedule is full for the day! The total bill come out RM483 for the consultation and sperm test. Expensive huh? But at least we know, from the basic scanning and testing, we are okay. Keep on trying, we will have our child sooner or later! Gambateh!!!