A New Beginning

So I went to Egypt and became a mummy.

This is a long overdue post simply because for the most part of my first trimester, I was practically horizontal (read: in bed) and feeling nauseous. Worst part is, the nausea comes with hardly any vomit. I sometimes wonder if it's actually better to vomit. And 'morning sickness' is a definite misnomer as it really doesn't just happen in the mornings.

Anyway, some updates on the Beanie (till we name him, it's Beanie)

8 Weeks
The first gynae check up was at 8 weeks.
With it came the usual scan and checks AND a THREE HOUR WAIT that nearly killed RT and me!!!! Anyhow, the scan revealed a sac (so for sure it's not twins!) and what was supposed to be the foetus, but honestly, we couldn't figure anything out except for the heartbeat.

12 weeks
Then at 12 weeks, this is what we saw. Much more defined than the 8-week scan.

So cute right?

The 12th week check up came with the Oscar's test - a test mainly to test for the probability of Down's and Edward's syndrome, among others. As I expected the routine urine test, I had actually tried holding my bladder till it was time to take the test. So when I went in and the sonographer said, "Oh, your baby's position not correct to take the neck measeurements. You go drink another glass of water and come back in 20 minutes ok?" "Oh and don't pee ah!" she added.

Don't pee? I really needed to pee you know.

Anyway, I complied and decided to go for the blood tests first. Here's the conversation between the phlebotomist and me:

P1: Oh, I need to draw a lot of blood from you, you know.

Me: Ya I know. And I think my veins are quite hard to find right?

P1: Hmmm, yea you're right.

So off she goes to get help from her colleague.

P2: Ok let's take a look at your veins. I need to collect 9 tubes of blood.

Me: 9??

P2: Ya cos you got a lot of tests to take.

Me: Ok, just try not to 'orh-chae' the arm ok? Cos I face the same problem every time i donate blood or draw blood- they can't find the vein.

P2: Oh don't worry la, won't orh-chae one. You donate blood before ah? Then should be ok.

Hmmmm. Means what ah?

So she managed to draw the 9 tubes of blood. From BOTH my arms. Cos midway, the blood stopped flowing in one arm. When she was done I was back at the sonographer's and thankfully, Beanie was in place for her to take the measurements.

And then I finally peed.

16 weeks
After that horrifying 3-hour wait, we decided to schedule ourselves for the last appointment slot. Unfortunately, we were still subjected to a 1 hr 45 minute wait. Can die I tell you. One of the things I really hate is waiting.

The check up took less than 10 minutes.

Dr Tan: Everything looks good. Placenta is positioned well and baby is growing well. Your baby is 157g.

Me: 157g?? But I've put on 3 kg!!

Dr Tan chuckles and says, "Now you know what to do. Walk more."

Ya I know there's the placenta and all but still!

I told her about the rash I'd developed on my tummy and was told to stop using the stretch mark cream as it sometimes causes more problems than help.

Stop using? Then kena all the stretch marks how?? Tsk.

Seriously, the physical changes pregnant women go through can be quite horrendous. Bulbous noses, protruding belly buttons, swollen feet/face, acne breakout. I've seen them all during my looong waits at the gynae. These women come in all shapes and sizes. Scary.