Spotting again

I'm now 21 weeks. These two days I have pink spotting. I wasn't as panicky as the last time. Maybe partly it's because I can still feel baby's movement. She is still quite active and responsive when I sing and talk to her.

I called Dr Poon's clinic this morning but the nurse said that he is only free to see me at 3.45 pm today. I posted my situation at SMH facebook and Jois and AJ recommended me to go KKH O&G straight away. And so I went.

The doc's name is Sharimala, an Indian. I took special notice of her name because she did pap smear for me and it was so damn painful. She is so rough. I felt raped. Or rather, I feel like a gold mine and she just digged and digged. I told her I just did pap smear (by Dr Chen in Feb 2011) but she still wanted to do for me. She said my cervix is bleeding, and my pregnancy is fine as the blood doesn't come from the womb. I told her about the history of my spotting. She said this time round the bleeding could be different from the previous times.

She also used a doppler to listen to baby's heartbeat. She mentioned that the heartbeat is fine. Then the nurse gave me an injection and Doc asked me to continue to eat my utrogeston these few days. She only wanted to give me one day's MC but I asked if she can give me Monday too and she said okay. Consultation charge is $60 (considered cheap for a first time walk-in as compared to Dr Chris Chen). Total bill $130. I think it's okay because she did so many things for me.

Hubby called from Hong Kong and asked me to take care and don't think so much. I'm really feeling okay. I guess after eating the utrogeston, I will feel drowsy and sleep early tonight. Hubby will be back in the wee hours when I'm asleep.

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On Saturday, after lunch I suddenly felt a flow from down under. Went to the toilet and check. There is a clumpy, thick yellowish cum brown/red blood clots of discharge. It was quite gross. I took a picture of it - just in case, I need to show gynae. I told Hubby about it too and he said he wants to look at the photo. He described it as tau hway texture.

I was rather worried and went to google. Some of them said that it's the mucus plug and usually in the last trimester but I'm only 21/22 weeks. Thankfully, no more of such discharge and I'm resting at home. Didn't dare to go Baby Expo and stayed at home to rest.

Hospitalised at Gleneagles

And I had another round of red bleeding in the noon. Was chatting with Michelle over msn and she said that I have to call KKH immediately.

I dialed the general line and asked for my friends' recommended gynaes. But they are all not available. The earliest slot they can see me is in March! Then I asked for any other consultant who is available the soonest. The nurse said she doesn't think so and advised me to go to KKH A&E immediately. I explained to her that I don't really want to because the A&E doctors are not experienced (plus I heard that they are just graduate doctors and don't know anything). But she said, it's better than not doing anything. Your condition is critical.

I decided to try and call Dr Christopher Chen from Gleneagles. This is the doc that is last one my mind because he is VERY expensive and Gleneagles Hospital is the most expensive hospital la. But my baby is my priority. I called up.

I explained my situation. Thankfully, the nurse told me that I can come down at 3 pm on the same day to see Doc. They don't call him doctor. They call him Professor. I bathed and prepared facial wash, lotion, sunblock, panty (just in case I have to be warded) and I took a cab down.

Hubby couldn't be with me because he was tied down at work. I was very scared. While I was talking to baby to be strong and hang on to me, I cried to myself. I also said a prayer and God will protect both of us.

When I got there, I was surprised at the size of the clinic and how posh it looked. It's not a clinic. It's a center! (looks like 4-5 units combined)

I immediately thought about my poor pocket and how empty it will be. Finally I saw Dr Chen. He is extremely detailed when he asked me questions. Then he examined me and said that the bleeding is from the uterus. He said he couldn't treat my case as an outpatient and let me go home. I have to be warded otherwise there is a risk that I may lose the baby. I also noticed that I have some discharge of blood clots.

The nurse took 2 tubes of my blood and gave me a prosterone (spelling?) injection at my other side of the butt. I had to be wheelchaired to do the hospital admission. I won't be able to walk and will be bedridden (eat sleep poo pee on bed) When I was alone in the ward, I secretly went to the toilet to pee and the nurse 'scolded' me for being naughty. (The toilet is just 3-4 steps away from my bed!).

The next day I went for radiology test to do the Nuchal translucency screening. The report was out within a day. Baby is okay. Heartbeat is 169. I have 3 pages of detailed scans and one page of report. The baby is fine (measuring 7.6 cm) and doesn't have down syndrome. The bleeding seems to come from the placenta. I asked doctor whether it is serious. He said that the situation is under control and I will get better. He prescribed me Valium to relax my womb and to make me go to sleep and not worry. I just googled and realised that it's a drug to control anxiety and for calming agitated psychotic patients. I need to see Dr Chen again on 2 March to see whether I should extend my hospitalisation leave.

Btw, Doc Chen said that I am 14th weeks and my EDD is 30 August but according to Doc Poon I'm 12th week and my EDD is 7 September. Hmm???

Anyway, the bleeding stopped. And I begged doctor to let me go home. I am still on hospitalisation leave but just staying at home to rest. I shouldn't be at the computer typing this for too long. I'm going to rest on bed again.

Gleneagles food is horrible. I couldn't eat and there is one occasion I felt weak at my knees and almost fainted because I didn't eat and nurse drew 4 tubes of my blood. Luckily, I was wheelchaired all the way and I'm always lying down (otherwise I sure faint). I was always looking fwd to my parents or Hubby buying me outside food. Hubby apologised that he is very busy at work and couldn't be by my side while I was in the hospital.

The injection and the medicine probably made my skin condition very bad. I suddenly have an outburst of pimples at my chin area. I have never felt so ugly in my life before. But Hubby said it doesn't bother him. So grateful he said that to comfort me.

It's lunch time now, but Hubby is so busy at work. I dare not even call him for a chat. Last night I cried when I was explaining to baby that Papa is busy at work but he cares for us. I miss Hubby alot. Everytime when I wake up, he is off to work and when I am about to sleep, he is still at work. During office hours, I dare not sms him or call him to disturb him.

But all in all, thank God for His protection and comfort over us.

Last minute to the gynae

Yesterday evening, there is still some red blood after I urined. The toilet paper has red traces and I told Hubby (when he is back from work) that we need to see Doc Poon again.

Doc Poon gave me a higher dose of injection (of An Tai Yao) at the buttocks. He said that if he injects my arm, it will be too painful. Then he changed my Duphaston to Utrogestan as I really dislike taking the latter, it makes me wanna puke all day long and I just couldn't eat because I will be so sick.

Doc Poon also said that baby is well and active. This time at the ultrascan, I can see baby's facial features more defined. Baby has eyes, nose, ears and mouth. Baby's arms are also very clear. As the baby is moving, Hubby took a video of the scan but some irritating fella from IT company called at 8.45 pm and he couldn't film anymore. He also had to finish the stupid and useless conversation with him.

Anyway, the bleeding is definitely from the womb but he isn't sure why I am bleeding and what causes it. He asked me to rest and if there is more bleeding, I definitely have to come back to him again. I was given one week's MC. [Am i going to get fired from my workplace?]

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Then this morning, around 7.30 am I woke up to urine. There is again another 20 cent worth of red blood and pink blood on the tissue. I showed it to Hubby and he asked me to on the lights to confirm the colour. Indeed, it's reddish.

I am resting and will observe again in the noon. I think this time, I really have to be warded to determine where the bleeding is from for further observation. If Doc Poon doesn't do anything much, I will seek a second gynae's opinion and go to KKH.

I'm still remaining calm and don't want to stress so much. I just lie down on the bed as much as I can to pray, to talk to baby and to use my iphone. Somehow after a while, I always dozed off. I seemed to be sleeping so much. I have never slept as much as now in my life.

A Scare

After eating Chen Mei Er's herbs at 1 pm on Saturday, I had brown spotting around 3 pm. Hubby immediately asked me to rest on the bed (while he played games). I slept from 3 pm to almost 5 pm and went to mass together with my parents and Hubby. We also had dinner at Toa Payoh before heading back home.

On Sunday, Hubby and me went to grandma's place for lunch. Hubby also wanted to learn how to cook red wine chicken from grandma. He did all the learning and writing and observing, while I was lazing on the sofa in the living room. I was also chatting with Jieyi and her mom. After lunch, we went home to rest. (Seems like every weekend is rest rest and more rest). But I found that I have slight cramps while watching tv, so I lay on the bed to rest.

At 3 am this morning, I had lots of yellow discharge with a tinge of pink blood. I was so worried that I couldn't sleep all the way until my alarm rang and it was time for me to go to work.

In the morning, when I told Hubby about my condition, I was still calm and okay. But when I reached office and I told one colleague, she said 'Oh no, what are you doing in the office? You should see a gynae immediately.' And I got really worried.

I kept calling the clinic but there was no answer. When I finally dialed through, the nurse told me that the doctor is only available to see me at 11.15 am. I rushed down to the clinic and waited there. My mom called me while I was in the cab and I broke down even though I tried very very hard to control myself. She asked me not to cry and relax and I told her that I'm very scared.

The taxi driver drove even faster. I supposed he is quite shocked to see a passenger cry in his car. LOL. When I was 3 steps away from the clinic, Hubby called. He could still hear my trembling voice and he asked me to update him. He will take urgent leave to be with me if I need him.

So there I was, waiting for Doc Poon minute by minute. I touched my tummy and I asked baby to hang in there. Couldn't help but to drop a tear. The nurse thought that I had flu. She asked me twice if I am having flu (if so, I can't sit near the other mothers I guess).

I was the second patient to see Doc Poon. Thankfully after the scan, all is well with baby. I feel so happy looking at the monitor and knowing that baby is well and safe. Baby is active, moving around and even sucking thumb. I was laughing when I saw that. My baby is so adorable :)

All the worries vanished in a second and Doc continued to check me and my 'below' but I wasn't thinking about anything already. I was just happy.

Doc inserted a device at my below and he said that I seemed to have an infection. He also inserted a pill there and said that this will help me clear the 'bacteria'. (That's weird, because Hubby and I refrained from intercourse all these while).

Anyway, I didn't tell Doc about the Chen Mei Er's herbs either. He gave me some iron pills, some fish oil and a 4 days mc to rest at home. I was also told to eat my Duphaston. (Arghh, hate this pill coz it makes me queasy and want to vomit all day long).

Thank God all is well. I smsed my love ones and told them that baby and I are fine.

Here I am at my mom's place, resting and lazing around while mom is cutting the onions and preparing lunch and minus away the nagging. LOL. Very very rare that this happens - only when I am pregnant I guess. I shall enjoy this as long as it lasts. Heeeee!!~

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It's the 3rd day of my MC and I have been staying at home all these while. Yesterday I took a 4 hour nap in the afternoon and at night, I can still sleep a 7 hours straight without any dreams. Last night, I noticed the pink discharge again, together with some powdery stuff (must be the pill inserted down there). Then this morning, I saw a drop of red blood.

I didn't panic but went to google 'a drop of red blood week 12 pregnancy' and it seems like there are some people who bled red blood but their pregnancy is fine. I told myself to be calm and I told baby to be well. Let baby listen to some music and pat my tummy and asked baby to be guai guai. If I still see another red spot of blood, I will call the clinic later.

I didn't tell anyone about this, not Hubby, not my mom. Don't want them to be worried. I am more composed this time and I will pray for everything to be good. I picture myself having a successful delivery at the hospital. That's my greatest wish.

My gynae, Dr Poon King Fu

This morning, I had an unusual larger amount of brown discharge. I was quite worried. There is supposedly our company's year end party at 10 am. I didn't attend. I rushed down to Mount Alvernia Medical Center straight. Before that, I told my boss about my situation. [I really hope he keeps it to himself because my condition is unstable at the moment].

Took a cab down from the office. $10. Went to #02-22 and saw Poon's Clinic for Women. The receptionist registered me and I waited for about 10 mins. I saw Dr Poon. He was indeed very gentle (as mentioned in the forums). He asked me about my family history etc and I told him that I took diane35, saw TCM etc. He was indeed very detailed.

The nurse assisted me to remove my pants and panties. And Doctor Poon proceeded to do a scan (on my tummy first). He said I don't have a full bladder and perhaps the sac is too small, it's very natural that we can't see anything yet. He asked me not to worry.

Then he asked for my permission whether he can do a vaginal scan for me. I am not sure whether it'd be a concern because I am having brown spotting under. He said no issues and he did it. Perhaps, he could see that I am shy, he was very gentle, slow and before he did anything, he explained to me what he was doing. I feel that he is patient and very professional. (unlike the previous TPY gynae that I did pap smear, who got impatient on me).

He said that I indeed have a fair bit of brown bleeding but again he assured me, as long as it's not red it's fine. And if I have really bad cramps, I have to call him immediately, and he will admit me to A&E. He said that he can see a little small sac but he isn't sure (again because I don't have a full bladder). And he continued to say that I have a good uterus and everything would be okay and ask me not to worry.

He said he will give me 'An Tai Yao' and a one week MC.

I didn't ask him any questions further. But he took the initiative to tell me what food to avoid, I should not carry heavy stuff and other than going to bathe and have my meals, I should stay in bed most of the time, as much as I can.

Before I left, the nurse asked me to do a urine test. I was told that my urine is normal. Paid $85 for the consultation, plus the scan it amounted to $150. I also paid $46 for the An Tai Yao. I have to see Dr Poon in his Hougang Ave 1 clinic next Wednesday, 5 Jan 2011.

As it was drizzling, I took a cab to my mom's place. $10. My mom was quite worried too. She called me (after I sms her) and she told me to go over for some macaroni soup. Dad and Mom have been extra nice to me this period of time.

And because I was very worried by Doctor Poon's comment ["can't see anything"], I tested the next day just to make sure. Thankfully it's still positive and this time a clearer positive too.