Pregnancy : 38th Week

On July 10th was another check-up with Dr. Candelario and sudden decisions were made. Because my little one had already reached 38 weeks and knowing the fact that he was still breech, Dr. Candelario scheduled me on Saturday, July 12, for a caesarian section delivery. Since this was an IVF baby and we waited for him for 7 years, Dr. Candelario didn't want to take any risk. Baby was good and ready to see the world at 38 weeks and 5 days.

I was nervous but excited at the same time.

Pregnancy : 36th and 37th Weeks

Dr. Candelario and her family were in the U.S. so Dr. Abalos filled in during my 36th week (June 26th) and 37th week (July 3rd) check ups. She just monitored my baby's heartbeat and vital signs were normal. My baby is still breech though. Dr. Abalos said I could go into labor any time soon, so I should watch for any signs of labor. I'm hoping for my baby to reach at least 38 weeks to make sure his organs are fully developed before he comes out. Also, I wish he would still turn and engage himself properly so I could deliver vaginally.

On July 3rd, there was another patient who has the same EDD as mine. At that time, she was already having small contractions. Dr. Abalos advised her not go to the hospital yet though because it might still take a day or two before she has real labor contractions.

Here's my belly photo at 36 weeks: 

It's getting a lot harder to walk, sleep, and move about at this time of my pregnancy. Most of the time I feel tingling pains somewhere in my right butt cheek. I also started having joint pains and numbness in my fingers, which is normal at this time for pregnant women. My feet look normal though and there's no sign of edema there according to Dr. Abalos. I have bigger appetite although I still try to control myself by eating small meals, consuming more fruits, and limiting my intake of rice. The doctors also advise me to drink lots of water to maintain the right level of amniotic fluid. My baby is still very active and moves a lot, which is a good sign that he is holding up fine. 

While writing this post, I am one day away from my 38th week. 

My next appointment with Dr. Candelario is on July 10th. I'm not sure if she would start doing an internal exam on my cervix, but I'm readying myself for it. 

Pregnancy : 35th Week

Dr. Candelario checked on me and my baby again on June 19th. Unfortunately, the baby is still breech. She said that although there is still a chance for my little one to turn, I should ready myself for a cesarian section especially if I go into early labor. I'm still hoping for my baby to turn though and eventually have vaginal birth.

I anxiously started reading blogs and forums about CS birth to get some ideas on what and what not to do just in case I need to undergo the procedure. 

I'm just glad that my little one stays to be healthy inside me. He actively moves and his heart rate is normal.

It's also the time of pregnancy for me to start walking everyday. Walking is fine, but it has become very difficult for me to get uninterrupted sleep. I pee more frequently and to change sleeping positions is a struggle. Sitting has also become uncomfortable because all the baby's weight goes into the butt and spine, so I have to stand up from time to time and do some mild stretching.

Dr. Candelario advised me to sleep mostly on my left side for better blood circulation in the uterus. She also said that I should drink lots of water to maintain ample amount of amniotic fluid until I give birth.

Next check-up will be on June 25th.

Pregnancy : 34th Week

Happy 116th Independence Day, Philippines!

Today, June 12th, was another check up with Dr. Candelario. Succeeding consultations will be weekly after this until my baby boy is born.

Dr. Candelario did a quick scan of my little one and said that he is healthy, although still in breech. She also said not to worry though and to just wait.

As for me, my blood pressure is normal, which I am very thankful for because I could get away with gestational hypertension. 

It has become more difficult for me to move around at this time of my pregnancy. I was able to watch a documentary about natural birthing entitled "Orgasmic Birth" and I'm impressed with the way the women gave birth. I hope I could do natural spontaneous delivery (NSD) without much medical intervention (induced labor, epidural, etc).

Next check-up will be on June 19th.

Pregnancy : 32nd Week

I got a text message from one of Dr. Candelario's assistants that instead of May 28th, my consultation was postponed to May 30th. Surprisingly, I was third in the long list of patients on that day. 

I asked if Dr. Candelario could do a 3D scan of my baby, but she said it was a little too late for that because the baby was already crowding in my uterus, making it difficult to find a good angle for the scan. I should have done it when I was 28 weeks far along. Oh well...

Dr. Candelario said that my baby was fine. Here's what the ultrasound report says:

-Fetal Heart Rate: 154bpm

-Average Ultrasonic Age: 30w6d

-Ultrasonic EDC: 7/24/2014

-Estimated Fetal Weight: 1,733g

-Presentation: Breech

-Placenta: Posterior high lying, Grade III

I'm happy that my baby is developing properly, except that I'm worried about his breech position. Dr. Candelario said that there was still enough time for the baby to change his position. I'm really hoping for natural spontaneous delivery, so I hope my little one makes it possible by turning around properly.

At this time of my pregnancy, my little one is twice as active than before. It's funny that even when I'm asleep, he moves a lot. It's a very nice feeling though and I'm sure gonna miss it.

My next appointment with Dr. Candelario is on June 12th. I guess I'll be having two consultations this month, and weekly consultations in July until the baby is due. I hope to continue receiving good news about my pregnancy, especially that my due date is nearing.

Only 7 weeks (or so) to go!

Pregnancy : 28th Week

Early morning of April 28th I went to the laboratory for my 2nd OGTT. I and hubby were relieved that the results still came in normal.

I was also scheduled for another check-up with Dr. Candelario. Thankfully, I didn't have to go back to Dr. Solimen because as the OGTT showed, I did not have GDM.

Dr. Candelario did a quick scan of my baby boy. Below is a screen capture of him at 28 weeks.

My baby boy was in breech position though, so I'm hoping that he would position himself properly in time for his birth.

me at 30 weeks far along

As of this writing, I am already halfway through my 32nd week of pregnancy.

Next appointment with Dr. Candelario is on May 28th. I can't wait to see another scan of my baby!

Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT)

Because Dr. Solimen was skeptical about how the OGCT was done on me, he recommended me to do a 75g OGTT, which I did three days after my initial consultation with him. No preparation was necessary, except that I had to fast for 8 hours before taking the test.

The oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) measures the body's ability to use a type of sugar, called glucose, that is the body's main source of energy. An OGTT can be used to diagnose prediabetes and diabetes. An OGTT is most commonly done to check for diabetes that occurs with pregnancy (Source: http://www.webmd.com)

I and hubby got to the lab at 7 a.m., only to find out that it opens at 8 a.m. That meant extended fasting for me. 

As soon as the lab opened, the nurse in charged drew blood from me. This is for the fasting blood sugar test. 

Then she gave me a bottle of 75g glucose drink, which I had to consume within 5 minutes. It was orange and very sweet, but not very difficult to consume. 

After that, I had to wait an hour for the second blood extraction. This was for the 1-hour post 75g glucose test. I wasn't allowed to leave the lab though because using my energy on walking would affect the result of the test. After my blood was drawn the second time I still had to wait another hour for the 3rd blood sample. This was for the 2-hour post 75g glucose test. I was already very hungry, but I shouldn't eat or drink anything, nor leave the lab, until after the third test. Boredom and hunger got through me, I was ready to pass out. Good thing I still made it until the last test.

That afternoon, I and hubby went to Dr. Solimen to show the results.

Although data showed a little bit high numbers, these were still within the normal values. Fortunately, I didn't have GDM. However, Dr. Solimen asked me to do another 75g OGTT on my 28th week of pregnancy because GDM usually "shows up" from that time.

Pregnancy: 23rd week

Back from hiatus...I must admit I was too lazy to update my blog...haha...

On March 25th was another check-up with Dr. Candelario. I was on my 23rd week of pregnamcy. Everything about my baby boy was fine.

-Fetal Hart Rate: 161bpm

-Average Ultrasonic Age: 22w4d

-Ultrasonic EDC: 7/25/2014

-Estimated Fetal Weight: 574g

-Presentation: Cephalic

-Placenta: Posterior high lying, Grade II

I was also due for a 50g Oral Glucose Challenge Test (OGCT) on March 31st. This test is done to pregnant women to check if they have gestational diabetes (or gestational diabetes mellitus, GDM). 

Gestational diabetes is a condition in which women without previously diagnosed diabetes exhibit high blood glucose levels during pregnancy (especially during their third trimester). Gestational diabetes is caused when insulin receptors do not function properly. This is likely due to pregnancy-related factors such as the presence of human placental lactogen that interferes with susceptible insulin receptors. This in turn causes inappropriately elevated blood sugar levels. (Source: Wikipedia) 

When I went to the lab Dr. Candelario referred me to for the test, they gave me a mug of warm colorless glucose. It was very sweet and I had to consume it within 5 minutes. I had to go back after an hour to have my blood drawn. It was already lunchtime then, but I shouldn't eat or drink anything before the blood extraction. I was starving. 

Unfortunately, the test result showed a very high value implying that I had GDM. As indicated in the lab result, the normal value should be between 70 and 110 mg/dl, but mine was 246 mg/dl. 

I went to Dr. Candelario to show the result. She referred me to Dr. Solimen, an endocrinologist for a second opinion. Hubby and I got to Dr. Solimen's clinic on the same day at 4 p.m., but we were already 36th on his list of patients so we got the chance to talk to him after 2 hours.

Dr. Solimen asked me to do another test and referred me to a diagnostic laboratory he was affiliated with. 

Pregnancy: 19th Week...It's a boy!

On February 25th was another appointment with Dr. Candelario. 

Based on the AOG, I was 19 weeks and 1 day far along. Dr. Candelario measured my belly and did a quick scan of my baby. As soon as the the baby showed up on the ultrasound monitor, Dr. Candelario confirmed its gender. We're having a boy! When I looked at the screen in front of me, there was no doubt that it was a boy because I could see clearly my baby's "wang." (^_^) Baby's heartbeat was 148 bpm. I and hubby are getting more excited!

My appetite and taste buds are getting back to normal, although I need to control my eating because I still suffer from heart burn.

These are are supplements I have to take: 

1. Obimin Pluz (multivitamin) - 1 tab daily

2. Hemarate (iron supplement) - 1 tab daily

3. Calciumade - 2 tabs a day

4. Celgro - 2 caps a day

5. Mother DHA - 2 caps a day

6. Similac Mom (milk) - 2 glasses a day

The iron and calcium supplements should not be taken together for better absorption, so I take iron at noon.

I'm glad I'm done with Utrogestan (progesterone supplement) --no more icky feeling down there, finally! 

My next check-up with Dr. Candelario will be on March 25th. I can't wait to see my baby's progress then!

Pregnancy: 14th Week

I took the lab tests required by Dr. Candelario five days before my next appointment with her. Thankfully, the results of the tests were within the normal values.

On January 25th, I and hubby went to Dr. Candelario for another check-up. I was on my 14th week. The following was the report based on the ultrasound:

-Fetal Hart Rate: 146bpm

-Average Ultrasonic Age: 14w2d

-Ultrasonic EDC: 7/21/2014

-Estimated Fetal Weight: 87g

-Presentation: Cephalic

-Placenta: Anterior low-lying, grade 1

As Dr. Candelario was doing the ultrasound, she suddenly said without warning that she suspected our little one was a boy. This got me more excited because I have always wanted a boy for my first child, although hubby wanted a girl. Anyway, it was too early to tell so we just need to wait until the 5th month to be 100% sure. But in the end, hubby and I are praying for a healthy baby no matter what the gender is.

Dr. Candelario did not prescribe any new supplement, so I would still continue to take Celgro, Utrogestan, Folic Acid, and Similac.

me, at 14 weeks far along

Contrary to common belief that baby bump usually shows later in the pregnancy for first pregnancies, I was already starting to show at 14 weeks. 

My next visit to Dr. Candelario will be on February 25th. Can't wait!

Pregnancy: 11th week

On January 4th was my first consultation with a new ob-gyne, Dr. Ma. Nellbvezz Candelario. From what I was told, she is one of the doctors in town that handles high-risk pregnancies. I and hubby chose Dr. Candelario because her family is close to my husband's family. She also handled my sister-in-law's pregnancies.

When we got to her clinic, we were 11th on the list, but 4th in line. We were called into the clinic after an hour. First, Dr. Candelario asked some information about my IVF experience in Kato, then she took an ultrasound of our little one. Hubby and I were very happy to see the baby move every time we do the ultrasound.

At its 11th week, our baby was 4.2 cm long (from head to butt), and the heartbeat was at 166 bpm.

Dr. Candelario recommended me to continue taking folic acid. She also added some supplements like Celgro (protein), Similac (milk). I don't like milk, but I have to endure it for my baby's sake. She also told me to take Utrogestan (progesterone) again until the 5th month of my pregnancy.

She also asked to undergo some tests before my next consultation with her:

-complete blood count

-blood typing

-Rh typing

-HBsAg

-VDRL

-Urinalysis

I am now on my 13th week (based on AOG) and at this point of my pregnancy, I am glad that I still don't have morning sickness or anything unbearable. Acid reflux (heartburn) is the only thing that's making me uncomfortable so far.

My next check-up will be on January 25th. I can't wait to see my baby's development again!