It was 1.30am when I woke up from the C-section. Hubby was by my side at the Close Monitoring Ward. I felt so relieved when he told me baby was delivered safely.
Baby was born at 12.08am on 24th Jan 2008. He only weighed 1.6kg at birth with a height of 42cm only. He was really small due to prematurity at 35weeks. He had to stay in Special Care Nursery till he reached 2kg mark before he could go home.. Despite his prematurity, he had apgar score of 9 out of 10 at birth and showed good sign of health.
I was happy that I finally delivered my baby safe and sound. Really great to realise that we were still alive with all the helps from the doctors and nurses. Happy that my baby could stop suffer from my illness.
But, sadness came to me soon after I was transfered to the normal Ward that afternoon.. Seeing other mothers carry and feeding their newborns, I missed my baby. As I had a C-section and due to my illness, I couldn't get down to bed to visit my newborn. Sad that I could only talk to my elder son through phone as he's still young, worrying he maybe vulnerable to the germs in hospital, he's not allowed to visit me at the hospital. He cried during our chat, he missed me and insisted me to go home. It made me to have feeling of guilt.
All I could do then is to pray hard that baby be alright so he could go home soon. & I could recover soon too.. I was so badly swollen after the delivery. My fingers, arms, face, legs and even toes. I could hardly bend my joints or move around. My ex colleagues and friends who came to visit me had a shock to see me in such swollen state (I was 44kg before getting pregnant, 58kg at delivery). Doctor said it would take weeks to reduce swelling..
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Most "Adventurous" Day
Why is it the most adventurous day...?
Remembering I just had my referral letter from my gynae early that morning on 23rd Jan 08, after the checkup that very day, I went back my parents' place to rest, so that my family could help me to babysit my elder son at the same time.
As ordered by the gynae, to have full bed rest, I didn't go down of the bed other than going to the washroom... So all I can do, only NAPS.
Since 2nd trimester, frequent urination was considered common for me. But, I started to feel strange by the evening. I kept have thinking of having diarrhoea as my tummy was cramping, as if turning and tossing every half an hour. My first thought was I could have eaten wrong food.
The pain started to get more intense... Could it be real labor contractions...? I only experienced Braxton Hick contractions which are fake contractions that only occur a couple times in a day. But, the contractions I had this time was almost once every 10mins... It was around 7pm+.
My parents were still on their way back home from work. & I never experienced real contractions before so I was in a dilemma if it's going be a labor. So I continued to wait and monitor... By 8.30pm, the pain area stretched from tummy till whole hip area. This time, I confirmed it's really REAL contractions. However, I'm still very calm, not feeling afraid or excited yet. I called my mother to tell her about the pain and symptoms, her answer was "Aiyo, why only say now, you are going to give birth!"
They rushed home and I got my bag and letter ready. By the time I reached KKH, it was almost 10pm. I went to the reception, the nurse asked me "Why?" When I replied I had contractions every 5mins and 35weeks pregnant, she got alert and got someone to send me to the delivery ward immediately.
My hubby accompanied me throughout.. I had CTG for baby's heartbeat rate, it showed baby doing well from the contractions. But good things don't last, my blood pressure raised to 200plus. I started to feel giddy. The nurses sensed that it's not right, they called for the doctor. The doctor did an ultrasound scan on my baby, it showed baby started to have lesser movements and heartbeat rate going down. There was a sign of lack of oxygen for both baby and me. I was put on with oxygen mask. I started to be incoherent, my contractions were sooo intense and it came once every 2-3mins. It was really really painful.. I opted for natural birth, but I was only 1cm dilated.
My blood pressure continued to raise, when the doctor realised I had preeclampsia, other 2 doctors were called in to examine on me. They had discussions and planned to give me an emergency C-section to prevent our conditions from worsening. So I asked for an epidural C-section (only lower body can't move but in awake situation). It's so urgent that all the nurses and doctors rushed into procedures just to get me op. It was already 11pm+. By then, I felt so weak and seeing the worried faces of the doctors, nurses and hubby's, my only thought was "Save my baby".
The "funny part" came during this delivery process. The anesthesiologist and nurses tested on my reactivity just before I was pushed into the operation theatre. Oh No! I could raise my leg. He said to me in a nervous tone, "I'm sorry, you have to go to sleep, we don't have time, it's really an emergency case. We have to deliver the baby as soon as possible." In the theatre, they wanted everything fast but turned out to be a mess. They dropped things and couldn't find this and that. Though the contractions pain was killing me, I told them to keep calm. & soon, I was really into deep sleep.
Remembering I just had my referral letter from my gynae early that morning on 23rd Jan 08, after the checkup that very day, I went back my parents' place to rest, so that my family could help me to babysit my elder son at the same time.
As ordered by the gynae, to have full bed rest, I didn't go down of the bed other than going to the washroom... So all I can do, only NAPS.
Since 2nd trimester, frequent urination was considered common for me. But, I started to feel strange by the evening. I kept have thinking of having diarrhoea as my tummy was cramping, as if turning and tossing every half an hour. My first thought was I could have eaten wrong food.
The pain started to get more intense... Could it be real labor contractions...? I only experienced Braxton Hick contractions which are fake contractions that only occur a couple times in a day. But, the contractions I had this time was almost once every 10mins... It was around 7pm+.
My parents were still on their way back home from work. & I never experienced real contractions before so I was in a dilemma if it's going be a labor. So I continued to wait and monitor... By 8.30pm, the pain area stretched from tummy till whole hip area. This time, I confirmed it's really REAL contractions. However, I'm still very calm, not feeling afraid or excited yet. I called my mother to tell her about the pain and symptoms, her answer was "Aiyo, why only say now, you are going to give birth!"
They rushed home and I got my bag and letter ready. By the time I reached KKH, it was almost 10pm. I went to the reception, the nurse asked me "Why?" When I replied I had contractions every 5mins and 35weeks pregnant, she got alert and got someone to send me to the delivery ward immediately.
My hubby accompanied me throughout.. I had CTG for baby's heartbeat rate, it showed baby doing well from the contractions. But good things don't last, my blood pressure raised to 200plus. I started to feel giddy. The nurses sensed that it's not right, they called for the doctor. The doctor did an ultrasound scan on my baby, it showed baby started to have lesser movements and heartbeat rate going down. There was a sign of lack of oxygen for both baby and me. I was put on with oxygen mask. I started to be incoherent, my contractions were sooo intense and it came once every 2-3mins. It was really really painful.. I opted for natural birth, but I was only 1cm dilated.
My blood pressure continued to raise, when the doctor realised I had preeclampsia, other 2 doctors were called in to examine on me. They had discussions and planned to give me an emergency C-section to prevent our conditions from worsening. So I asked for an epidural C-section (only lower body can't move but in awake situation). It's so urgent that all the nurses and doctors rushed into procedures just to get me op. It was already 11pm+. By then, I felt so weak and seeing the worried faces of the doctors, nurses and hubby's, my only thought was "Save my baby".
The "funny part" came during this delivery process. The anesthesiologist and nurses tested on my reactivity just before I was pushed into the operation theatre. Oh No! I could raise my leg. He said to me in a nervous tone, "I'm sorry, you have to go to sleep, we don't have time, it's really an emergency case. We have to deliver the baby as soon as possible." In the theatre, they wanted everything fast but turned out to be a mess. They dropped things and couldn't find this and that. Though the contractions pain was killing me, I told them to keep calm. & soon, I was really into deep sleep.
The Rare Disorder in Pregnancy - Preeclampsia
What is preeclampsia?
Preeclampsia is a complex disorder that affects 3 to 8 percent of pregnant women. A woman is diagnosed with preeclampsia if she has high blood pressure and protein in her urine after 20 weeks of pregnancy.Preeclampsia can range from mild to severe, and it can progress slowly or rapidly. The only way to get better is to deliver the baby. (how lucky I am, I had the severe case of preeclampsia)
How would preeclampsia affect my health and the health of my baby?
The more severe the condition and the earlier it appears, the greater the risks for you and your baby. Most women who get preeclampsia develop a mild version near their due date, and they and their babies do fine with proper care.But when preeclampsia is severe, it can affect many organs and cause serious or even life-threatening problems. That's why you'll need to deliver early if your condition is severe or getting worse.
Preeclampsia causes the blood vessels to constrict, resulting in high blood pressure and a reduced blood flow that can affect organs throughout the body, including the liver, kidneys, and brain.When less blood is being delivered to your uterus, it can mean problems for your baby, such as poor growth, too little amniotic fluid, and placental abruption (when the placenta separates from the uterine wall before delivery).In addition, your baby may suffer the effects of prematurity if you need to deliver early.
Changes in your blood vessels caused by preeclampsia may cause your capillaries to "leak" fluid into your tissues. This results in swelling, known as edema.When the tiny blood vessels in your kidneys leak, protein from your bloodstream spills into your urine. (It's normal to have a small amount of protein in your urine, but more than a little bit can signal a problem.) -- (I had this problem too)
What are the symptoms of preeclampsia?
Preeclampsia can come on suddenly, so it's very important to be aware of the symptoms.Call your midwife or doctor right away if you notice swelling in your face or puffiness around your eyes, more than slight swelling of your hands, or excessive or sudden swelling of your feet or ankles.Sudden swelling is caused by water retention that can also lead to rapid weight gain, so let your caregiver know if you gain more than 4 pounds in a week.
Be aware, though, that not all women with preeclampsia have obvious swelling or dramatic weight gain — and not all women with swelling or rapid weight gain have preeclampsia.With more severe preeclampsia, you may experience other symptoms.
Call your caregiver immediately if you have any of these warning signs:
=Severe or persistent headache
=Vision changes, including double vision, blurred vision, seeing spots or flashing lights, sensitivity to light, or temporary loss of vision
=Intense pain or tenderness in your upper abdomen
=Nausea and vomiting
=Severe or persistent headache
=Vision changes, including double vision, blurred vision, seeing spots or flashing lights, sensitivity to light, or temporary loss of vision
=Intense pain or tenderness in your upper abdomen
=Nausea and vomiting
Symptoms can vary from woman to woman, and preeclampsia can occur without any obvious symptoms, particularly in the early stages.Some symptoms of preeclampsia, such as swelling and weight gain, may seem like normal pregnancy complaints, so you might not know you have the condition until it's discovered at a routine prenatal visit. This is one of the reasons it's so important not to miss your appointments.
Hope this brief summary of this illness can let you learn more.. If you want to know more about this illness, here's a link with more details
The Bad News
It's my usual routine checkup at my gynae's when I was 34weeks preg.
Strangely, I was tested to have high blood pressure this time when I usually had low blood pressure during pregnancy. & the second strange thing that happened was, I don't have glucose in my urine BUT I was tested to have protein during urine test. Thirdly, my weight raised soooooo much that the nurse who's taking down the record had a shock too. For past months, I normally had only 1kg gained monthly, but this time I gained 4kgs in 2weeks time. That's when all the worries and problems started to arise...
I had to go back for another round of tests 2days later. It was Worser.. My blood pressure was still so high and my protein level raised too.. That was the time gynae notified me about the risks that may occur if both continue to raise... It would affect my baby's growth inside my womb. So I was prescribed medicine to keep my blood pressure under control.
4days later on 21st Jan 08, I was referred to another gynae. My blood pressure was still high, and the bad news came. My protein level was 4pts out of 5 (5 as most dangerous level). & I gained another 4kgs from my last checkup.
The gynae confirmed I had preeclampsia. He was really worried about both baby and myself. Advised me to have an emergency operation if possible. Because of the protein leakage, it showed I started to have a kidney failure. & baby was scanned to have stop growing. But I was only 34wks+ preg, so I opted to monitor for a few more days, hoping pressure and protein level will go down with the help of medication.
Somehow, things didn't go on smoothly during my next visit to him which was 2days later on 23rd Jan 08. I gained another 1kg within 2days. My blood pressure and protein level continued to rise. Worser news that there's an increase of Urea Acid in Kidney. This time, the gynae was really worried and he frowned so much. He was afraid I may had fits or heart attack. Told me to have total bed rest to reduce the chances of those sudden attacks. & he prepared a referral letter to KKH for me just in case I feel unwell or start to feel giddy.
Strangely, I was tested to have high blood pressure this time when I usually had low blood pressure during pregnancy. & the second strange thing that happened was, I don't have glucose in my urine BUT I was tested to have protein during urine test. Thirdly, my weight raised soooooo much that the nurse who's taking down the record had a shock too. For past months, I normally had only 1kg gained monthly, but this time I gained 4kgs in 2weeks time. That's when all the worries and problems started to arise...
I had to go back for another round of tests 2days later. It was Worser.. My blood pressure was still so high and my protein level raised too.. That was the time gynae notified me about the risks that may occur if both continue to raise... It would affect my baby's growth inside my womb. So I was prescribed medicine to keep my blood pressure under control.
4days later on 21st Jan 08, I was referred to another gynae. My blood pressure was still high, and the bad news came. My protein level was 4pts out of 5 (5 as most dangerous level). & I gained another 4kgs from my last checkup.
The gynae confirmed I had preeclampsia. He was really worried about both baby and myself. Advised me to have an emergency operation if possible. Because of the protein leakage, it showed I started to have a kidney failure. & baby was scanned to have stop growing. But I was only 34wks+ preg, so I opted to monitor for a few more days, hoping pressure and protein level will go down with the help of medication.
Somehow, things didn't go on smoothly during my next visit to him which was 2days later on 23rd Jan 08. I gained another 1kg within 2days. My blood pressure and protein level continued to rise. Worser news that there's an increase of Urea Acid in Kidney. This time, the gynae was really worried and he frowned so much. He was afraid I may had fits or heart attack. Told me to have total bed rest to reduce the chances of those sudden attacks. & he prepared a referral letter to KKH for me just in case I feel unwell or start to feel giddy.
Second pregnancy
When I was tested positive for pregnancy at the clinic, the foetus was only 3weeks old.
Just a couple of weeks later, due to some emotional issues and too much exertion of strength, I had spotting (bleeding). I went to KKH A&E for a scan and realised it was a threatened miscarriage. I had to take jab and medicine to make my womb and foetus stronger in order to pass through the 1st trimester.
For the next few months, everything went so well and under control that my gynae said it's a good pregnancy. I didn't put on too much weight though I had really scary appetite. I had to eat every couple hours & even during midnights. So meaning, all were being absorbed by my baby. & my EDD (Estimated Due Date) was 23rd Feb 2008 and ultrascan showed a Boy.
It's finally the third trimester. My tummy was still so small that people couldn't figure out if I'm really pregnant. After working non stop daily for continuous 1.5months, I realised I'm already 32weeks pregnant. So I stopped all work and hope I could cover all those sleepless nights I had before giving birth. & also to get all necessities prepared for the arrival of the newborn..
But I was wrong... ...
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Brief introduction
Hi all...
It's my pleasure knowing all of you and thank you for being here with me...
Hope it's not too late to share my experiences with you especially to women planning to have a baby or those who are already pregnant.. It's never too late to learn..
I'm a mother of 2 boys now.. Elder son, Kieron Kok Zi Hua, will be turning 4yrs old on 30th May 2008. My younger son, Kayden Kok Zi Ming, will be 2mths old on 24th Mar 2008.
I had truly ups and downs having my 2 sons but am really grateful to have them with me.
Opps.. Forgot to intro the father of the 2 princes, Jason. Hehe..
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