I took half a day's urgent leave yday afternoon. No particular reason. I just thought that I should rest and I think I made the right choice. After I reached home, I basically flopped in front of the TV. After an hour of brainless staring at the square box, I hit the pillow only to wake up 3 hours later. I think it is my body's way of telling me that work should halt.
I had been feeling pretty down recently. Work is piling, my legs are swelling, I feel so clumsy and I am forever tired. On top of that, I had been plagued by dizzy spells and I noticed that my blood pressure (BP) is climbing. During the last visit (33rd week), proteins was also detected in my urine (another symptoms of pre-eclampsia). When I get dizzy spells, I panic cos I am not sure if it is bcos my BP has climbed too dangerously high. All I can do now is to pay more attention to make sure that Lil Shauna is active. With all these, I cant help but wonder if my body is able to tahan until the 37th week. At times, I really hoped that Lil Shauna would come soon.
Then, this morning, I read from the forum that a June MTB has popped on 2 May 08. Her EDD should be closed to mine but she started dilating about a week's ago. Her bb is only 34+week and 1.8kg. The beautiful princess is staying strong but it really hurts to see a plug set into her tiny hand, bruising it badly and a feeding/ breathing tube going into her. Hopefully, she would reach the 2kg mark and be allowed to go home with mummy soon.
Later in the afternoon, my boss called a colleague who has popped yday morning. We received a pix of her little prince this morning. Oh boy, he is really chubby and cute. To my amazement, her bb boy weighs 3.8kg!! My immediate reaction was to turn to my tummy and tell Lil Shauna to jia you. She is barely half of gor gor's weight now. 
Look at baby Ian's chubby cheek! Orhh.. isnt he sweet?? :)
Then, I met a colleague who has just returned from her maternity leave. She gave birth to a healthy 3.2kg bb boy just 3 months ago. She commented that I looked so different (I think she's probably trying to say that I look fat. Sob). She appeared to have lost all her pregnancy weight. Oh, her feet looks so skinny now. She suffered badly from water retention in her 3rd trimester too.
With all these, I suddenly found my determination again. It is just another 4 weeks to go. Lil Shauna will have to go through alot more suffering if she is to come out now. Of course, I am still counting down, willing the days to move faster.
Pls pray for strength, for my body to be able to sustain Lil Shauna until the 37th week and most importantly, for my BP to remain stable and I will not be plagued by dizzy spells.
Mummy Lim
We went for our routine medical checkup this morning. The moment we were there, some bb's heartbeat monitoring device was strapped onto my tummy and I was restraint onto a bed for a good 30 mins. Because of the restricted blood flow to the uterus (found out during the doppler test), the doctor wanted to ensure Lil Shauna's well-being and one way is to listen and record her heart beat.
Lil Shauna's heart beat was amplified through this small machine and it sounded exactly like horse racing! I was told to press on a button should I feel Lil Shauna's movement or experience contractions (as if I know how contractions really feel like). So, I was lying on the bed, listening to the monotonous horse racing sound and trying to stay awake (cos i need to press the button mah). Wosh, the sound of Lil Shauna's heart beat really has a lullaby effect on me. I resorted to giving thanks to God, to talking to Lil Shauna, to singing to her while constantly looking at the watch and counting down to the last minute. All these while, dear Daddy Lim was happily sitting on the couch in the waiting area, reading magazines.
At the end of the 30 mins, the nurse came in to check on me and commented that only the heart beat was captured. The machine has failed to capture any contractions that I experienced. Aiyo... She tried meddling with the machine but to no avail. Finally, I was let off the device and bed. Oh boy, it was so torturing. They did ask me if I wanted to try the monitoring again (for another good 30 mins). Errr.. do I look stupid to them? Nooooooo.... Anyway, the doctor is more concerned about Lil Shauna's heartbeat.
We were then seen by the doctor and he explained that Lil Shauna's heart beat is steady and strong. He then started pressing my tummy here and there and happily declared that Lil Shauna's is definitely growing. Hehe. Lil Shauna was put on the screen and her measurements were taken. Sadly, the scan machine at his TMC office is unable to give an exact weight. It only shows that Lil Shauna weighs between 1.6kg to 2.1kg or an average of 1.8kg.
The doctor was glad with Lil Shauna's progress and so are we! He said that we will keep Lil Shauna until week 37th and she could likely hit 2kg! By then, if the heart beat is still strong and steady, there's enuff amnio fluid to sustain her and she is still growing well, we might even keep her until the 38th week! Seriously speaking, I wasnt too thrilled to hear the last part. With the elephant legs, bigger tummy, constant piling work load, 37th week sounds more than ideal to me. However, I know Daddy Lim will be happy to keep her in my tummy for as long as possible. Anyway, I shall stick to what's best for Lil Shauna. :)
The next visit will be 2 weeks down the road. By then, I would be in the 36th weeks. I suspect I will be hooked to the device again. -.o" Meanwhile, I have to make sure that Lil Shauna is moving. Yeah, I am counting down!
Mummy Lim
The giddy spells followed me to the 3rd trimester, just as I guessed... However, this little discomfort is nothing compared to the trial that is to come.I noticed that my blood pressure (BP) has been climbing. It climbs a little higher with each visit. I read about pre-eclampsia, which is the escalating of BP and it is both harmful to the mummy and the bb. If not monitored or controlled, it might lead to stroke (for the mummy) and death within the womb (for the baby). During the 28th week checkup, the doctor commented that Lil Shauna is a little slow in terms of her growth and he notices my climbing BP too. She weighs only 720g when she should be at least 1kg. The doctor started cautioning us about the possibility of poor growth for Shauna and also pre-matured labour. I was put on BP medication and was closely monitored. The doctor also reminded us about the importance of the baby's movement and to rush to the A&E department should there be no movement detected over a period of time.At 29th week, Lil Shauna weighs only 900g and at 30th week, only 1kg when she should be at least 1.4kg. The doctor then ordered a doppler test at the 32nd week, which will test for the blood and oxygen flow from me to Lil Shauna. The doctor was hoping to keep her in my womb until the 34th or 35th week and advised that she should be taken out via C-section if she's not growing inside the womb. Indeed, we were upset. We shared the news with our prayer warriors, those uncles and aunties who had been praying for Lil Shauna through her amazing journey. We prayed hard too. I prayed that God will be kind and help Shauna to attain at least 1.5kg and be able to stay inside the womb until the 34th or 35th week. Even then, we know that she would need to spend a long time in the NICU/ incubator, which will mean expensive medical bills. We prayed for the same thing for a few nights. Then one day, I decided to be bold and asked God to help keep Shauna inside until week 37th so that her lungs will be fully developed and hit the 2kg mark, so that she only need to spend minimum time in the NICU. During the doppler test, Shauna was indeed far off as compared to the other babies. Her weight and abdominal circumference stands at the 5th percentile. It was also noted that there is restricted blood flow to the uterus, which suggested the poor growth. This restricted blood flow resulted in my high BP! All the while, I thought that it was my high BP that leads to restricted blood flow to Lil Shauna, thus her poor growth. Little did I expect the contrary. In fact, I was still feeling guilty for developing high BP! The most amazing thing is that Lil Shauna though small, weighs 1479g, which is almost the 1.5kg that I had prayed for initially. The doctor also said that he hopes to keep Lil Shauna inside until week 37th ~ 38th! By then, she might have crossed the 2kg mark! Although it was no great news that Lil Shauna is small (well, she has big parents), my heart leaped at the result. God had just shown His realness. :) The doctor reminded again about the need to monitor Lil Shauna's movement and I am probably going for another doppler test at 36th week. Today, I am in the middle of my 33rd week and I will get to see Lil Shauna on coming Saturday. :) Had been praying that she will grow big and strong and I am counting down to the day of her arrival!God is good! Amen!Mummy Lim
It felt like a big achievement to cross on to the 2nd trimester. Afterall, I read that preggy ladies enjoy the 2nd trimester most. This is when the face, skin and hair start to glow. The morning sickness is a passé and we are not too big or heavy to move around. All these descriptions from the books & magazines perked me up already. Hehe. I went for my triple trip in my 15th week. It is basically a blood test to check for genetic defects such as Down Syndrome and spinal defects. With no family history and giving birth before the age of 35, many women breezed through the test and I expected that for myself too. The blood test was simple, the nurse drew 4 tubes of blood and I was sent home to wait for the results. A few days later, the nurse called me in the morning to inform that the doctor wanted to see me pertaining to the test results. Usually, the nurses would deliver good news cheerfully over the phone. The nurse was unwilling to reveal more and insisted that we see the doctor for clearer explanation. I dragged through the rest of the day and waited anxiously for the appointment. At the clinic, the doctor explained that the test results show high risk for both DS and spinal defects. The doctor suggested for an amnio test, which is an invasive test and posed a slight risk of miscarriage. I was scheduled for the test a few days later. While waiting, Daddy Lim and I tried to remain hopeful. Though we chose not to confront the situation, we were both silently asking ourselves on our decision should Lil Shauna really turn out unwell. I went for the amnio test as scheduled. A long thin needle was poked into my tummy to withdraw 20ml of amnio fluid from the bag that protects Lil Shauna. When the needle was inserted, I could see from the screen that Lil Shauna was kicking at the needle. Like Mummy, she doesnt really the needle too. The procedure was swift and I was sent to another room for a detail scan to rule out spinal defects. It was during that scan that we found out that our beloved little bundle of joy is a little princess. That also marked the start of our shopping spree for pink clothes, pink booties, pink mittens, pink swaddle, pink this & that.. haha. The test result was due for release in 2 days' time. I couldnt sit still for that 2 days. We prayed hard and people around us prayed hard for us as well. On the day that the result was out, I refrained myself from calling the clinic for fear of hearing bad news. However, after several hours of waiting, I couldnt take it anymore and ordered Daddy Lim to call the clinic. Hehe. He did and called me back shortly to deliver the good news that baby Shauna is perfectly fine. :) However, I am Thala minor and Daddy Lim has to go for a blood test. Daddy Lim cleared the blood test easily and we looked forward to the arrival of our precious princess. God has been real to us. In fact, very, very real. He reminds us constantly that He is in control and throws us in various situations to remind us so. Just 2 weeks after the amnio test, I started spotting. Fearing that it might be triggered by the amnio test (possibility of miscarriage, remembered?), I was sent back to the clinic. Thankfully, Lil Shauna is alright, under God's mighty protection. It was also in that same week (19th week) that I started to feel Lil Shauna in my tummy. They felt like muscle twitch. Hehe. I proceeded on with my 2nd trimester, hoping to glow as the book describes. Strangely, towards the end of the 2nd trimester, I was plagued with giddy spells, breathlessness, discomfort, etc. In fact, I thought I felt better in my 1st trimester. Hmmm, I was sure that those books & magazines were lying. I wondered then -what more 3rd trimester can bring. Mummy Lim
Following the "mission" trip, we were both hopeful and desperate. Afterall, that was our 10th month trying & 5th clomid (medication to help ovulation) attempt. Before the trip, we had decided that should mission still fail, we will seek a 2nd opinion and maybe consider artificial means.
A few days before my menses was due, I experienced painful cramps, which were not uncommon after I went on clomid. After enduring for several days, I decided to go on pain killers but to do an urine test first to make sure that I was not preggy.
I proceeded with the test with ease and familiarity and watched with anxiety as the negative line appeared. My heart sank... Tears started forming and I started asking God why (doesnt this sound too familiar? Heehe). Just as I was about to throw the test kit away, I saw this really faint positive line forming. Viola!! I couldnt believe my eyes and couldnt give thanks enuff! Like any 1st time mummy-to-be (MTB), I saved the test kit until Daddy Lim came home to show him. The used test kit felt like a Picasso master piece then. Haha. We were both excited and over the moon. However, little did we know that pregnancy is not as simple was what was portray on the TV.
Re: 1st scare
The cramps sustained its intensity and frequency. Fearing that it might be an ectopic pregnancy, we went to the doctor. At the clinic, the scan shows no evidence of pregnancy. Arrangement was made for me to undergo a detail scan and blood test. After several days of anxious waiting, the detail scans shows a tiny sac sitting in the right place. With that, I was put on many jabs and medication, attempting to secure the pregnancy. I visited the clinic every other day for jabs but the scans still picked up nothing. The doctor was hopeful, but warned us that by a certain date, if the sac was still not visible, it would mean that the pregnancy had terminated itself. During that period, my emotions went on a roller coaster. At times, I trusted thay God will deliver His promises and remain hopeful. Yet, I was badly hit by reality and was lined with fear and anxiety. We mobilised many prayer warriors. Daddy Lim was my pillar and he was full of encouragement. We prayed often for God to sustain Lil Shauna and I saw my Daddy Lim grew in faith. :)
Finally, after many prayers, encouragements, jabs & medication, we saw Lil Shauna appeared on the scan as a little dot. Our heart leaped with joy. But, it was just the beginning.
Re: 2nd scare
I proceeded smoothly with the pregnancy (or so I thought). My appetite was wonderful. I often felt hungry and could stomach all my food. Other than the occasionally dizzy spells, morning sickness was non-existent. Then, almost to the end of the 1st trimester, I experienced bleeding while at work one day. I was shocked when I saw the toilet bowl filled with blood after easing myself (opps, sorrie for the details). Unfortunately, Daddy Lim was outstationed too.
I rushed to the clinic, eager to ensure Lil Shauna is safe & sound. I prayed hard for God's protection and was really worried that God would take Lil Shauna away from me. Didnt the statistics say that 1 in every 5 pregnancy ended in miscarriages and it often takes place in the 1st trimester? I scared myself silly but was glad to see Lil Shauna's strong & steady heartbeat + active movement at the clinic. I was ordered bedrest & given 5 days of MC.
With that marked the end of the 1st trimester. God is kind, gracious & protective. However, we also realised His cruel sense of humor that keeps us at the edge of our seat. Why? You will find out soon. :)
Mummy Lim
