week 16: discussion of Oscar Results

Shortest wait for gynae today!
Was given a mask because I'm coughing and feeling congested.
Dr Poon walked in with a smile at 10.50am, our appt was at 10.30am with a patient before us.

He took my blood pressure (borderline) and asked how i was feeling, if i was eating well etc.
He went on mentioning that my weight is not increasing fast enough.
I'm standing at 42.5kg now, thats a 100g increase since my last appt 3 weeks ago.
Its not like i don't want to eat, i'm dying to! Appetite is not great and if I'm nauseated, i can forget about food for the rest of the day.
I'm still throwing up as of last week; is my morning sickness ever gonna get better?
His target for me is a gain of 500g by the next appt. WHAT?

Ultrasound scan revealed baby's in good health, all growing accordingly. He stopped giving us the length (head to rump) because as it starts to get more cramp, it will be harder to measure baby's length. He did take notes/length of the baby's limbs, neck, head, torso etc. And of course he let us listen to the precious heartbeat. I always smile when i hear buttercup's loud heartbeat.

This week, buttercup's hand is covering his/her genitals, so Dr Poon couldn't get an accurate reading of the gender. Not surprisingly, baby is sleeping face down, thus the awkward downward facing ultrasound photo below:

He did mention my placenta is a little low-lying but it should move up during the pregnancy.
We went on to discuss the Oscar test which we passed with flying colours.
Age risk is 1:725, and for the other Trisomy 13, it is about 1:<10000 nbsp="" p="">Bloodworks reflected good results for hep B, HIV, glucose and haemoglobin.
Praise the Lord for His hands upon our pregnancy and for this little miracle in my womb (: Just immensely grateful and thankful every single day.

Noticed my gums are bleeding these few weeks, and some bumps on both my arms.
And the hairy belly. Hormones are hard at work!

Because of the haze, I'm coughing and feeling congested.
Dr Poon prescribed Fluimucil, Dequalinium and Duro Tuss Forte for me.
Hopefully it clears up soon cause I'm so done coughing. Not only does it affect my sleep, my head becomes super heavy. And more medication??? No thanks.

This trip is costly because we signed up for the antenatal package $939.46:

package $800
medication $78

This is what Dr Poon King Fu offers in his clinic as of 2015:

So it will be 3 weeks interval per checkup till the 28th week, then it will be fortnightly. Then weekly.
Looking forward to seeing buttercup grow grow grow!

Dr Poon King Fu Review

I wish we had known about Dr Poon earlier.
A good friend Amy recommended us to him recently.
He was so reassuring, friendly, and he made us feel comfortable immediately.

Today marks 7 weeks (8 maybe), its always +5 -5 approximately.
Praise the Lord we saw growth, development and heard the heartbeat.
God is so so so good (:

Dr Poon answered our questions patiently, he explained what i should avoid, how the husband can take care of me, i just feel so assured to have him taking care of me now. Grateful and thankful God directed us to the right doctor and friends.

Its better to make an appointment in advance because i got rejected 2 weeks ago. Their schedule was full for the day and i got turned away. Made an appointment to see him at 1045, saw him only at 1115. Wasn't too long a wait but i was super kanchiong to see the little one!! Technology and clinic environment is standard, ultrasound photo turned out very clear. He also checked my Blood Pressure and stomach before the scan. Dr Phua did none of these. I would think there's more privacy as compared to Dr Phua at Kovan.
Dr Poon delivers at Mount E Novena too, so we are definitely excited!!

Dr Poon makes his morning rounds at the hospital before stepping into clinic after 10am.
Some waiting is expected if there are emergencies at the hospitals.

Bottom line, we highly recommend Dr Poon. He's godly, confident and thorough with his explanations without much promptings. I could tell he was equally as happy when he scanned me this morning, he even said Thank God and smiled when he saw the little one. Which made me extra happy to know my doctor is optimistic like we are.

Below is a breakdown of our 1st visit (excludes GST):

Consultation: $80
Scan: $60
Urine test: $5
Medicine: $5-7

I would say it slightly on the pricer side for a neighbourhood clinic.
Almost like Dr Kowa charges over at Mount E.
But we do feel like we are in good hands this time.
Lord, please continue to bless Marcus in his ministry and career so we can afford the checkups :b

As of today, i really detest durians and meat.
Bloatedness and morning sickness continues but it seems much better already.
I experience extreme fatigue on some days. But not a problem since i don't bake on a daily basis. Im positively sure i have a baby bump, its still flat-looking but i feel the difference already. When you are more tone, its harder to see a bump. Will provide a baby bump photo on my next entry after my 10th week checkup. Stay tune!

Update 26 Feb 2016: Dr Poon King Fu is honestly our best decision ever (:
Mention my name (Shanice) if you are going to visit him.
He will be extra extra extra extra friendly with you haha

Standing on the promises of God

And so i have been sick for almost 3 weeks now.
1st week: 1-7 Sept 2014 was nauseousness and lose of appetite.
2nd week: 8-14 Sept 2014 was still nauseous and i couldn't eat much though on good days i managed to take a full meal. Craved for coke and anything cold. There was excessive burping and bloated-ness. Took the husband's advise and when to see a GP, which he diagnose me with lazy stomach/stomach flu. I remember sleeping my week away..
3rd week: 15-21 Sept 2014 though i was much better, it was unstable. I experienced frequent nauseousness and food aversion. I can no longer stand the smell of garlic which i used to love :( in fact, i found everything smelly. Opening the fridge was a horror and a terrible assault to my nostrils.
4th week: 22-29 Sept 2014 Am starting to move around more and less bed-ridden. I begin to stomach my meals better though the bloated-ness is there all the time.

As seen, we got suspicious because i've missed my period for 2 months and the symptoms are so similar to being pregnant. Having PCOS, missing my periods wasn't uncommon. Decided to get a pregnancy test strip kit from Guardian. I got Marcus to purchase the cheapest in the market. I mean if my hCG level is high, any kit works. This particular kit cost about $8 for 2 testers.

27 Sept: the positive result showed up very quickly on the strip. My heart nearly raptured. I was so happy, same time doubts entered almost immediately. Sure a not? I mean, yeah we agreed to try for a baby but i didn't think it was going to be easy because of irregular periods, it was tricky to calculate when my body is ovulating. I decided to test again the next morning.

28 Sept: yet again another obvious positive result. It was quick. Happened within seconds although the box said it could take up to 5 minutes. It wasn't a blur line or faded line. It was clear, 2 lines meaning its positive. I am pregnant!

29 Sept: Went to the nearest gynae clinic for confirmation. We saw our baby's head and rump, heard her heartbeat loud and clear (160 per min). It was such a special moment for us. She is 8 weeks as of today, measures 1.68cm and is expected to arrive on the 11 May 2015. Was certainly a very touching moment for both of us. We are so thankful for this precious gift and life planted inside me (:

Jubilee baby (: (:
Praise the Lord!
We did receive prayers for a baby during prayer meetings and from individual church friends, we also prayed for God to bless us with a child when the time is right. Though we are not rushing to start a family, i feel defeated every time my period don't come. It can only mean i can't track or plan for a baby. But God reminds me to seek the Giver, not the gift. I had to trust and wait on Him to restore my health.

Even before we head to the gynae this morning, i had defeating thoughts of whether the sac is in the right position, whether the heartbeat will be picked up by the gynae and if i will carry her to full term. I want to bring all these negative thoughts to the foot of the cross and declare life and blessings over the little one growing inside me. I want to focus on the good promises of the Lord and also count my every blessings. I want to claim a healthy pregnancy, in Jesus' name. I want to surrender all my fears and concerns unto You, i want to speak life, protection and love over the fetus. We praise God because this baby is wonderfully and fearfully made by Him!

God has blessed me with a loving and selfless husband even though i barely deserved it. The past few weeks have been awful but he did everything to make me feel better. There is so much to be thankful for.. God continued to grow and develop the fetus even when i couldn't eat or drink much the last 3 weeks. I'm so glad i will be done with the 1st trimester in 4 weeks time.

We praise God for watching over our precious peanut and continue to trust that He will guide the development of this precious life. God is faithful! Always and forever.

“Being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father.”