Today, 31st March 2008 - I’m already admitted into the hospital.

Oh… I’m not blogging from the ward.

Actually, I’ve wrote this post earlier and edit the time stamp so that my writing is automatically posted today. Setting a post for future posting is just one of the little benefits of using Wordpress.

Back to the hospital story.

My doctor has already informed me that due to my case (of having Placenta Previa Major), I need to be admitted into the hospital right after my 34th week of pregnancy.

He did a bit of calculation and today is my 34th week. So, I was asked to check-into the “sterilized hotel room” (hospital ward) as soon as possible today.

You see, with Placenta Previa Major (the placenta @uri blocking the cervic), after 34th week is very-very critical time.

I could have a major bleeding or I could have a premature birth.

Major bleeding is absolutely dangerous for me because I have a low-level of red blood cells. And, premature birth could cause the placenta @uri to come out before the baby (causing the baby to be lacking of oxygen).

Both, could be fatal to the mother and the baby.

So, I’ve to be in the ward for monitoring. No more office works for me… yeay!

Hmm.. I wonder whether the hospital ward area has an internet cafe of some sort? He..he..he… it could be bored not to blog, right???

Anyway, will keep you update when I’m out of here!!

p/s I’m not sure when I will be discharged. My due-date is still one month away. It could be earlier, though. Pray for the safety of me and my baby, please?

Birth what?

No, this is not a typo-error. I’m really talking about a birth ball.

You see, I got to know what is a birth ball during my HypnoBirthing classes with Wai Han, a certified HypnoBirthing Childbirth Educator.

Well, a birth ball is actually just a normal gym ball. But since it is widely used in Europe and America during pregnancy and labor, it is called as birth ball.

Having a birth ball at home from early pregnancy really helps me a lot. I’m using the ball to replace the chair while watching television and reading books. And, it’s a great tool for doing light exercises too.

How I really love to sway back and forth on the birth ball… ha.. ha.. ha.

You see, it helps ease my butt and back pain too!

Here are some the uses during pregnancy.

1. In the last month of pregnancy pregnant women find it easier than a chair or couch to get up and down from.
2. It encourages pelvic mobility.
3. It allows the mother the freedom to rock her pelvis, change her position and shift her weight for comfort.
4. It encourages baby descent as the mother remains sitting in an upright posture taking advantage of gravity.
5. Sitting on the ball helps keep the baby well aligned in the pelvis.
6. The ball encourages pelvic relaxation by conforming to the mother’s body similar to a water mattress as it provides perineal support without undue pressure.
7. Sitting on the ball encourages rhythmic movement as the mother sways or rocks back and forth while sitting on the ball.
8. Ball use is also helpful for strengthening lower back for those with chronic back pain.

During labor, a birth ball allows the mother to have the freedom to shift her weight and support her pelvic region for greater comfort during labor.

It also facilitate fetal (baby) descent in cases where labor may not otherwise be progressing.

So, get one now!

Oh… you can get a birth ball at Tesco, Carrefour or Giant. The price is only around RM30 - RM50 each and comes with a small hand-held pump.

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Here are the updates of my pregnancy since week 17.

1) 13th December 2007

Appointment with Klinik Kesihatan @10 am. We reached the clinic too early at 8am and have to wait quite sometimes for our turn. The procedure at Klinik Kesihatan is somehow fixed.

First, take a queue ticket at the front counter and clip your Buku Merah with the small slip. Put in the box according to your appointment time (8am, 9am, 10am, 11am etc).

Then, the nurse will call and give back the Buku Merah. Go to the lab for urine test.

After the urine test, weigh yourself and then wait for your ticket number to be displayed on the screen.

Then see the nurse for interview/advises, fundal length measurement, breast check, baby’s heart beat check and blood test for hemoglobin.

After all these, only then you can see the doctor for ultrasound and final checkup.

NOTE:

My hemoglobin level still low at 8.5. The nurse gave me Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Vitamin B, Calcium Lactate and most importantly, Ferromed - to increase my red blood. My placenta is still lying low (seems it is completely blocking the cervic). Baby is growing well and healthy!!

2) 18th December 2007

Appointment with Hospital Sungai Buloh @9 am. Another cycle of urine test and ultrasound. Doctor said to wait until 28th weeks to see whether the placenta has move up. If it is still low, I need to be prepared to have bed rest in hospital for the rest of my pregnancy!!

Huwaaaa! I don’t want!!!!!

3) Appointment with Klinik Kesihatan is now schedules once in two weeks. Better get the earliest appoinment at 8am LOL!

4) 28th December 2007

Appointment with Klinik Kesihatan @9 am. Urine test - normal. Blood test showed my hemoglobin dropped a bit from 8.5 to 8.4 despite taking the Ferromed pills that caused me constipation!!

I was quite depressed because I’ve been forcing myself to eat a lot of high-iron food and iron pills that irritate my stomach BUT no improvement at all in my hemoglobin level. What was wrong?

The nurses (yes, nurses not doctor) debated on what to do. Alas, they took my blood again for further blood test to find if there is any abnomalities with my blood. The blood sample is sent to Hospital Tunku Ampuan Rahimah, Klang. Result will be known during next visit.

Hmm.. I believe the Ferromed pills that I took were not absorbed by my body because I consumed it with Calcium Lactate which is a Calcium supplement. Calcium is known to hinder iron absorption!!!

Now, I take Ferromed on empty stomach with Vitamin C in the morning. And, Ferromed with Ribena juice (contains lots of vitamin C)and eat oranges with dinner at night. And, take Calcium Lactate with milk at 3pm every day. Seems that my strategy is working because my stool no longer turns black due to non-absorption of iron. And, I no longer constipate.

I also eat a lot of high-iron food such as red meat, green vegetables, dried fruits, crab soup and cockles.

Hopefully, my hemoglobin level will rise to 12 during the next visit to Klinik Kesihatan!!!!

Thursday, November 22, 2007

I went to see Dr K at LPPKN again on 20th November 2007. My pregnancy is now about 15 weeks plus.

As usual, the nurse took my weight and blood pressure. And, some blood for blood test. I was asked to go to the 10th floor for urine analysis and the blood test.

The lab girl handed me the result of my test and I was a bit concern when I saw my Hg count dropped from 10 to 8.5. This looked not good ;0

And, it was really not a good news. My hemoglobin level (red blood) was so low and I was diagnosed as having moderate anemia. Meaning I don’t have enough iron in my body to produce red blood.

Another issue was my placenta was lying so low, very near to the cervic. And, the baby’s head is on it as if it is its pillow. My baby’s progress is great, measuring 8.9mm at 15 weeks.

Due to the low lying placenta and low hemoglobin level, Dr K decided to discharge me a month early from LPPKN. She issued a letter to my choice of hospital for further ante natal care and delivery.

The low lying placenta can cause bleeding. The bleeding will not harm the baby but it is fatal to me because my red blood is so low.

I need to eat more iron fortified food to increase the level before my next appointment at the hospital.

Some research on internet regarding low-lying placenta reveals that this is common for pregnancy under 7 months. And will normally corrected itself as the womb grows.

—-

A low-lying placenta is not an uncommon finding on second trimester ultrasound scan. As many as 15% to 20% (one in five to six) of pregnancies have a low lying placenta. Fortunately, only 5% (one in 20) of these remain low lying at 32 weeks and only one third of those are low lying at term (37 weeks). After 28 weeks, a low lying placenta is known as placenta praevia.

The vast majority of pregnant women will have their placenta issues resolved by the time labour starts and will not have any problems.

—-

So, what should I concern is to increase iron that is necessary to produce more red bloods because the baby is taking the iron from me.

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Now I’m in the second trimester already. And, I’m so happy!

However, new pregnancy complications start to emerge. I got flu, cold and mild fever a few days ago. And, yes - sore throat and cough.

I was struggling to breath when sleeping because both my nostrils were blocked with thick mucus. And, I felt really bad because I can’t take any medicine to clear them up!

Except for some Vicks Vaporub and Vick Inhaler - which do no good - there was nothing else that I can do.

When the cold and flu went away, I got these terrible itchy rashes all over my belly! My belly now is swollen red with little bumps/bristles. Almost every night I woke up feeling the urge to scratch and scratch!!

I tried not to scratch but sometime I scratched in my sleep.

My husband bough me a medicated powder and I applied it on my belly. What a relief. The itching stops but not completely. It will come again and I starts to pour more powder on my belly. And, later I felt my belly skin so dry and tensed up.

Oh my God! Help me please.

Luckily, a month ago I bought a C-Mama Healing Salve by EarthMamaAngelBaby from an online store. The box said it can heal surgical wounds, strech marks, burns, existing scars, inflammations and RASHES. I originally bought the salve for my leg scars.

So, I applied the salve all over my belly. Amazingly, the itching stops. And, my belly skin feel moisturise again. But, sometimes I felt a burning sensation on certain parts of the skin. It is as if the salve is acting to heal the rashes.

It has been a week since I suffered from the itchy rashes. And, it has been two days since I applied the healing salve. I thinks my belly looks better today. It is written on the box that it will take 2-4 weeks for rashes to be healed.

Ooh.. that long eh? But, 2-4 weeks is better that having to suffer the extremely itchy belly for the next 7 month, right?