Baby Kaitlyn

So on 17th Dec, I went for my weekly check up. I was 39 weeks and 2 days pregnant. Upon doing the usual urine test, I noticed some pinkish spots. I mentioned it to the gynae, and she said, "Ok, let's see if you are in labour." So she did the usual VE (which I totally hate) and after prodding for about half a minute, exclaimed, "Oh, she's in labour. 2 cm." And the next thing I knew, I felt water tricking down my legs. She had burst my waterbag. Next thing I knew, I was on my first wheelchair ride to the labour and delivery room. Then the usual shaving, enema, passing motion and changing into the hospital garb. Only this time, I had to do all these while dripping with water.

"Can I get an epidural now?" I asked. The nurses got my requested anaesthetist and she came down within half and hour. The pain was still very much bearable.

"Painful or not ah?" I asked. "The last time, the contractions were so bad I couldn't feel the epidural being administered."

"If I tell you it's not painful, I will be bluffing la." the very motherly doctor replied.

It was quite painful la, but nothing compared to the contractions though. And then Ron and I started our wait for our second born.

"The second time round, it will be faster and easier. Don't worry." That's the typical reply I get from people when addressing my fears of labour pains and the aftermath.

My second time round took five hours (the first was four and a half).

My epidural this time somehow did not fully work on the right side (the first time it worked fully on both sides).

The second time round, I started crying 4 hours into labour and needed the gas as additional painkiller. "You don't cry la. Wait you cry you cannot breathe, cannot push how? the nurse asked. " I check how come so painful ok". She checks and then says, "Oh! No wonder la! 8 cm already!"

Then another nurse comes in and says, "You want to try to push? What for you breathe and breathe gas. Just push and get baby out la."

"I cannot push la. I can feel on the right side you know. Wait pain." I said

"No la. Now I press like that not pain right? That means not pain la." she said

"Then I push wait Dr Tan come and sew I can feel also cos I can feel on the right side!" I said

"No, not pain la." she said.

Tsk. How can be not pain????

In any case, Dr Tan came in not soon after and baby was out at 315pm.

So here's the latest addition to our family, Baby Kaitlyn.

34th Week Update

Just had my 34 week update today.

I've put on 300g in 2 weeks, but someone has outdone me! The baby has put on 500g and now weighs 2.3kg, The last check 2 weeks ago, she was 1.88kg. I did a check and kieran was about the same weight at the same time. But this one is girl you know, how come so big?

Anyway, the blood test results for Protein S is low, so I'm likely to have to start jabbing again at 36 weeks. Am so NOT looking forward to that.

39th Week Check Up

At my 39 week gynae visit on 6 August (Thur), Dr Tan instructed me to stop my Fraxiparine jabs and get admitted the next day to be induced. I have heard that induction is generally more painful and takes longer than if the contractions come naturally or one's water bag bursts, so this kind of scared me a bit.

Me: Being induced would be more painful right?

Dr Tan: But you have opted for epidural on demand what.
(Means painful la, I think)

Me: And induction takes longer than waiting for it to come naturally?

Dr Tan: Yes, generally. So how, you want to wait or induce?

Me: I think induce la. It's quite uncomfortable already.

The thought of it was enough to scare me. What if my labour lasted for more than 20 hours type???

Beanie at 36 weeks

Remember my post on the pig specimen? I felt just like it today. Did a culture test to ensure that I'm bacteria free. Don't like it when the probe things through strategic parts of my body. Then the gynae's finger went in to check (on dilation I think). After which, she said, "No sign that baby is coming yet."

WHY NOT COMING YET? FASTER COME CAN?

From 2 weeks ago, I've put on a mere 100g. Yipee!!! This didn't quite please RT though. Think he seems to think that I should constantly put on and on and on. Tsk. Never put on means baby not growing. Which I told him was not true. And which the gynae confirmed. Despite me putting on 100g, the baby had put on 400g, weighing 2.75kg at 36 weeks. "Baby will be at least 3kg at full term." Dr Tan said. I think I might just die lor.

My gynae visits have become a weekly affair. A sign that the bean is gonna sprout soon. Which is quite scary. The labour. The contractions. The tear and stitches. The mess. The engorgement.

Sometimes I wish I were a man. Pregnancy and childbirth is seriously not fun at all. Those who rant and rave on nothing but its goodness.....seriously need to go to Woodbridge.

Pig Specimen

RT and I went for the hospital tour organised by TMC. I don't really have much choice as my gynae only delivers there.

After the tour, I'm convinced that pregnant women are treated just like pig specimens.

They put you in the observation ward till you're ready to deliver. "What is ready?" I asked. "When the doctor says you're ready," came the very unsatisfactory answer. Can you imagine three to four contracting, dilating screaming pigs within the same room? I think it's horrendous.

Then, after you deliver, they tag you, tag the baby, and then wheel you back into the room. (Similar to how they tag pigs by the red chops) I saw this lady being wheeled into the rooms. I think she must have just delivered (most prob by C section). She was still konked out, looking 6 months pregnant! I think that is horrendous too.

The things that happen to a pregnant body. IS. JUST. HORRENDOUS.

And what has TMC become? A Premier Deluxe Hotel? They have 12 tiers of rooms. And believe it or not, a single bedder is ranked 10th. Must be something to do with being listed and having to answer to shareholders.

RT, The Jabber.

Today was the first day we had to administer the Fraxiparin jabs ourselves. As the doc could not find sufficient fats on my abdomen to jab, she suggested we do it on my thighs.

I tried doing it myself but just couldn't get the needle in. Phobia I think.

RT took over and did quite a good job of it. No bruise or lumping. Though there was some blood. Which RT claims is probably from me still pinching onto the area while he was injecting the vaccine in. "Eh tomorrow you don't look or pinch the flesh for me. Just leave it to me ok?" he said. But if I don't look what if i get a shock upon the needle going in and flinch?

It's not that painful really. Just that the thought of having to push 1cm of the needle into my flesh is quite sick.

Here's a pic of just part of my buy uber expensive daily jab supply I'll be taking from now till we meet Beanie!

34th Week Update

It was a good thing I decided to take leave for today's check up, because I got my blood test results back and had to see a haematologist for my possible Protein S deficiency.

Beanie, at 34 weeks, weighs 2.35kg. Two weeks ago, he was 1.8kg. 500 g in 2 weeks seems quite abit, especially since I have another 6 weeks to go. But baby's doing well, so nothing to worry about in that aspect.

After reviewing Beanie, Dr Tan gave me my blood test results and I went on to Mt E to see the haematologist. She explained the situation about the consequences of Protein S deficiency, the precautions that can be taken, etc etc.

To cut the story short, I had to make a decision of whether I wanted to take the daily jabs or continue with the oral medication. "It's a 50-50 chance" she said.

My dilemma comes in because the source of my current low Protein S count cannot be determined. Pregnant women generally have a lower count. So my lack of it could be inherent or pregnancy-caused. Which I currently do not know as I did not take a test prior to my pregnancy. Doc's advise was to get tested once and for all 3 months after delivery, so that we would know for sure. "So please, try not to get pregnant again within 3 months of your delivery" she said. I don't think that is a problem though. (How some get pregnant so fast after delivery beats me, you know.) Anyway, as RT was out of town, she told me to go back and consider if we wanted to proceed with the jabs.

Honestly, which kiasu parent living in this part of the world will decided AGAINST it? Who wouldn't want the peace of mind knowing that you had done all you could to prevent the worst from happening?

So without even consulting the husband, I already knew what our decision would be. So I fixed for another appointment for this Saturday to pick up the jabs and learn how to administer the jabs.

I Think The Bean Can Hear!

Last Thursday was Beanie's 32 week check up.

As per the usual routine, I stepped on the scales to weigh myself and was quite pleased that I had put on a mere 200g since 2 weeks ago. The last time i weighed, I had put on 2.5kg in 4 weeks! Bear in mind that Dr Tan has mentioned that the ideal weight to put on in a month is 1.5-2kg.

So when I went in, she said, "Oh! You only put on 200g in the last 2 weeks?"

And I very proudly replied, "Ya."

"But then again, the last month you put on quite a bit!" she continued.

Then she measured Beanie and concluded that he was now about 1.8kg. The last check up, he weighed 1.6kg. Which means, all the 200g I had put on went to him! :))

She continued the scan and reached his face and said,"There. You can see the eyes and that's the mouth. If he's cooperative, he will show you his tongue."

True enough, a few seconds later, the mouth opened and out came his tongue. So cute la. So perhaps, he CAN hear. Better watch what I say now.

Everything else was good and fine.

Dr Tan then proceeded to prepare my admission letter.

Dr Tan: So Purples, we will go for natural delivery?

Me: Natural meaning no epidural?

Dr Tan: Yes

Me: Oh. I think better have epidural la

She chuckles and says, "But you will have the gas and pethidine jab."

Me: But it's very painful without epidural right?

Dr Tan: No la. 70% of women don't opt for epidural.

(Pause).

Dr Tan: Ok, I will put it down as "KIV on demand". Then you see if you can take the pain. If you really can't then you ask for epidural ok?

Me: Ok.

But I think I will ask the minute contractions hit me.

After the check up with Dr Tan, it was to the phlebotomist to draw more blood for my Protein S test. This time, it was just 4 tubes. But she decided to take 5 just in case. :S

I just hope I won't need to do the daily jabs.

Baby Names

I finally figured out how to include a "baby name poll" on my blog. Not quite the ideal one (I wanted one which shows the results on the same page) but still alright I guess.

We've narrowed the alternatives down to Julian and Kieran.

Which in your opinion, is better? Take a vote ya? The poll is at the sidebar.

The Fruity Phase

Sounds all sweet and nice huh? Well not quite.

After my gynae check up on Thursday, I decided to go for a prenatal massage. My first one. RT's concern is that they will massage the tummy and will cause unnecessary distress to Beanie, so he's been urging me to just do the leg massage. Mum's concern is, "What if they massage and the baby's head turns and the baby is breech again?". Honestly, I think they know what to do la.

Halfway through it, I asked the Indonesia masseuse, "I very gomok hor?" To which she replied,"Never mind la. Pregnant gomok is ok. After that you do post natal then ok already."

She continued massaging and then added, "Now the body like banana. No shape."

That's the first i've heard that's been used to describe the pregnant body. Banana? Come to think of it, it does resemble a banana la.

Then just yesterday, Ms Anyhow saw my "Banana Body" nickname on my msn and went, "After Beanie comes out, it becomes pear you know!"

Tsk. But she has a point, doesn't she?

As I'm typing this, the next phase following the after-delivery-pear-body just hit me.

Papaya? At certain parts of the body, after breastfeeding that is. Something they don't tell you when they advocate breastfeeding and all its merits.

Beanie's 30 Week Update

30 weeks. Just another 10 weeks or less to go. S.C.A.R.Y.

At 30 weeks, Beanie now weighs about 1.6kg. And his head has turned down already. "But of course it could always turn back again." the gynae said.

Which is better, I wonder. To have a breech baby and be left with no choice but to opt for a C-section, or to have the baby properly engaged head down, have a natural birth, AND still be able to opt for a C-section. I love the thought that the C-section is over in a jiffy with no ten or twenty hour labour, but I worry about the healing process. Natural delivery takes longer (save for some lucky ones) but the healing process is faster. The episiotomy scares me though. How can anyone get cut down there?? Tsk.

And then there's the question of epidural or not. I think just take la. I'm not one of those fanatical mothers who "NEED to feel the pain to really experience motherhood". As it is, I'm already not one of those mothers who LURVE being pregnant. And I'm glad I have friends who feel the way I do. Makes me feel a little more normal.

Anyway, we'll see what happens when the time comes.

Oh. I did mention that he's now about 1.6kg right?

Now i'm wondering where all the other 8.4kg went to. A whopping 8.4kg is no joke leh. Plus I still have 10 more weeks!

Beanie's 20-week Check Up

The detailed scan on 30 March showed that everything was in place, normal and growing well.

"Hands here, the right and here's the left. Both kidneys here. The lips, top and bottom. The four chambers of the heart. Here's the left ventricle, and here's the right. And here we have the right atrium, and the left. Brain developing well, we can see the mid section. And the spine, developing well. The pulmonary artery. The aorta. You know the sex? It is very obviously a boy. Good. Baby's of average size and growing well thus far. Still in breech position but that's normal at this stage."

Honestly, I couldn't make out half of the things the gynae was seeing on the scan. The most distinct was the spine. The scan from this angle makes my baby look like a dinosaur.

Anyway, I'm glad I'm already at the halfway mark of the pregnancy.

The terrible first trimester is over. No more nausea and reduced lethargy. No stretch marks...yet. No pigmentation....yet. No water retention...yet. Each day I get my colleague to check out if any varisose veins have developed on the back of my legs. None yet, she says. I have about 3 more weeks before I enter the third trimester. I'm hoping and praying none of these will set in.

As at 30 Mar, my baby weighed 357g and I've put on 5 kg. Bleah. I've never weighed so much in my life.

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.