Waiting for Bea

It was a long and complicated nine months for me.  I was considered as a high risk pregnancy because of my hyperthyroidism.  I had a total of four doctors looking after me: my OB (Dr. Madelende Ang- De Joya), endocrinologist (Dr. Josephine Raboca), cardiologist (Dr. Amor Lauro) and perinatologist (Dr. Ramon Reyles).  Since my health card does not cover pregnancy related cases, imagine our gastos with blood tests, consultation fees, ultrasounds, etc.

It was Tim's bday, Feb 26, 2010 when we had our first check up after getting a positive PT.  I was nervous and excited at the same time. Dr. De Joya requested for an ultrasound to confirm the pregnancy, however, the result was negative.  The only sign of pregnancy was the thickening of the uterus lining, there was still no sac.  I was really disappointed, I was hoping to see something -- anything -- that would prove that I am pregnant.  My OB explained that maybe it was too early to detect anything.  She asked me to come back after a week for a follow up check up.  We left with a heavy heart.  We didn't make any announcement because it was not yet confirmed.  We didn't even tell our families what we're going through (except for my sister who I called first when I saw the positive PT).

After one week, we were back at Patient First, Glorietta waiting for our turn.  My OB requested for another ultrasound and during the procedure, I remember feeling anxious and nervous again.  I was hoping for good news.  Super kinukulit ko ung nagtake ng ultrasound to tell me what she sees. Syempre ayaw nyang magsalita and hindi daw sya pwedeng magsabi ng result. I was asking her over and over again until finally she told me.. "Mam, ayan po ung sac". I was close to tears upon hearing those words.  Finally, we have confirmation that I am indeed pregnant.  Too bad Tim was not in the room to see our "baby".

After the ultrasound, I went back to my OB and she then confirmed that there was indeed a sac, HOWEVER, there was still no heartbeat.  Again, she told us it may still be too early to detect one and she asked us to come back after a week for another ultrasound.  Another week of waiting.  I volunteered to go on bed rest for that one week of waiting.  I wanted to be sure that baby will be alright.

After a week, we went back for another ultrasound. Super kulit ko dun sa technician to tell me if may heartbeat na ba. As in pagkalagay pa lang nya nung device sa loob ko (TVS), tinatanong ko na sya and to let me know agad.  Lying there, I was really nervous because I've been praying so hard for this baby.  Then I saw the technican adjust something in the monitor, I asked her what it was.  She smiled and told me, "Mam, may heartbeat na po" and then let me look at the monitor.  At that moment, I felt tears in my eyes.  This is it!  Nakabuo na kami ni Tim! Thank you Lord!Ü With that, I asked a lot of questions: Isa lang po ba talaga? Hindi ba twins? (hoping ako talaga.. hehehe), Nasa sac ba ung baby? The techinican patiently answered all my questions.

When I went out of the room, deadma look pa muna ako.  Tim then asked me how was it and I cannot anymore contain my excitement! With a big, big smile on my face, I told him that I already saw our baby and they were able to confirm the heartbeat. Medyo na-sad sya kasi he was not able to witness it, kaya puro tanong din sya saken.

From the start, I never that it would be a smooth sailing pregnancy for me -- because of my hyperthyroidism.  I was not on medication when I found out I was pregnant because I made sure I was in good health when I got married.  I talked to my endocrinologist that we will be trying to have a baby after our wedding and since my lab results are all normal, I don't want any medicines in my system (mahirap na baka masama sa baby!).  Dr. Raboca (my endo) agreed, so kahit maintenance ko, wala!  When I got a positive result on my pregnancy test, I immediately scheduled a check up with her.  Na-feel ko kasing nagpalpitate ako and not because Im super duper happy with my pregnancy.  True enough, when we got my lab result - super hyperthyroidism ako!  Hindi man lang, a little above normal ung pagtaas ng hormones ko, pero super super taas.  Hay.  I was really hesitant to drink any type of medicine. I repeatedly asked my endo if PTU (my medicine) is safe for the baby.  Sabi ni endo, oo naman.. baket ko bibigay sayo if hindi? (tama naman), but still, I had to ask if pwedeng wala na lang. She said, ang taas taas ng result mo, nagpapalpitate ka pa, tapos ayaw mo ng gamot? Hay. Meaning, no choice ako.  I had to research PTU online and read that it is really the medicine given to pregnant women.  I had to call my OB to tell her the bad news about my hyperthyroidism and to ask again (for the nth time) if it is okay to take PTU.  I had to make sure that I will not be doing any harm to our baby.  Di bale na lang na ako ang mahirapan, wag lang magkaron ng bad effect ung gamot sa kanya.

Good thing that when we had our CAS for our baby, everything was normal - from the size of her haid, to the number of her fingers and the position of her internal organs.  Yes, I made sure I asked if the organs are where they are supposed to be.  Nakahinga na kami ng maluwag ni Tim when we passed this stage.  Our baby is normal and growing beautifully inside my tummy.

However, it was really a struggle for me to lower my heart rate to the average level.  It was really the worst time for my hyperthyroidism to act up.  Since I was on meds already and still my heart rate goes above 100, my OB referred me to a perinatologist and a cardiologist.  So Tim and I went to both clinics in Makati Med.  The perinatologist decided to increase the dosage of my PTU since he thinks the lower dosage is not working anymore (I requested the lowest possible dosage from my endo) and that is why my heart rate is not decreasing.  The cardiologist gave me additional medicine to control my heart rate. Hay, more medicines??? Eh ayaw ko nga ng PTU, tapos dadagdagan pa? But all doctors assured me that the medicines that they gave me were safe for me and my baby.  I was also ordered to have a ECG and doppler test to make sure there are no other problems with my heart (good thing they both have negative results).  My OB added that at this stage that the baby is doing well, I need to think of my own health.  Hindi daw pwedeng bigla na lang akong magcollapse at himatayin dahil hindi na kaya ng heart ko ung bilis ng heart beat ko -- OMG, heart attack pala ito.  So being the good patient that I am, I strictly followed all their instructions and before I know it, my heart rate improved and went back to the average range.  Dun ko na-feel na may difference nga ang average heart rate sa bilis ng heart rate ko dati! Hindi na ko laging kinakabahan!

As I was going to the last trimester of my pregnancy, my OB informed that she will be leaving the country for a training.  What??? Pano ako??? She said, she will be endorsing me to another OB which holds a clinic in Makati Med.  She looked at her calendar and she said, I can give birth while she's away, but if my baby goes out as scheduled, she will be here on my 39th week and will be the one to assist me.  She referred me to Dr. Chotangko who is also a sonologist.  When we first met her, sabi ko kay Tim, parang ayaw ko sa kanya kasi mukha syang masungit. Hindi sya ung makwento and machicka type like my original OB.  We considered looking for another OB and I even asked friends and relatives for referrals.  However, since I was considered a high risk patient, we decided it would be best to stay with Dr. Chotangko since my original OB has given her my history already.

On my 38 weeks, I had my check up with Dr. Chotangco and still 1cm pa din. Ano ba yan! Halos everyday na akong nasa Megamall - kabisado ko na nga ung mga tinda dun, pero 1 cm pa din?!? At this point, super inip na ko. I feel like a bloated penguin (penguin talaga naisip ko kasi parang pernguin na kong mag-walk!), masakit na ung back ko and parang ang bigat na ng tummy ko.. and gusto ko na talagang makita ang princess namen.  Dr. Chotangco advised me to get an ultrasound and blood test in preparation for giving birth.  Since she is a sonologist as well, sya na ang nag-ultrasound saken and she said, normal pa naman ung water level ko, pero nakaikot ung cord kay baby. Okay lang naman daw un kasi 38 weeks pa lang and pwede pang ma-alis un. She assured me that I don't need to worry about it. Nakita nya siguro na mukha akong nagpanick about sa cord.

Since I know that my original OB is coming back, I sent her an email asking her exact date of arrival here in Manila and telling her that I am still pregnant.  She told me na ako na lang ang natira sa mga pasyente nyang buntis na nirefer nya kay Dr. Chotangco.  I told her, sya talaga ang hinihintay ng baby ko.   She told me we can meet on Thursday and since ayaw pa talaga nyang mag-clinic, ako lang daw ang i-meet nya to check on me.  She said she'll inform me na lang kung saang clinic kami pwedeng mag-meet since ayaw nya pang pumasok sa Patient First - and that was our last check up.  My next post will be about giving birth to Bea!Ü