I was all psyched up for my doctor’s appointment this week because I’m hoping to find out if it’s a boy or a girl…
With passport in hand and a note that I’ll need the letter for flying soon, we went back to the VIP Maternity Hospital.
They couldn’t find my personal folder (containing my medical booklet, blood test results, ECG tests, ultrasound scans) but later found that it’s with the business development manager. Huh?
Anyway, I was:
- weighed - 67.5 kg (yikes, I’ve put on 10 kg and I’m just about halfway there!)
- checked for blood pressure – 100/63 (normal although slightly higher than previously)
- given a blood test – pricked TWICE by a harried nurse who said my vein woldn’t co-operated and then apologized when I yelped OUCH! at the second jab.
- measured and prodded at the ankles for signs of water retention (risk of pre-eclampsia)
- given a hearing on the Doppler again – baby’s heartbeat is strong at 140 bpm 
- sent to another floor for the ultrasound scan – Anyone on an ego trip will love the way my name is displayed on the board because mine had “VIP-xxxx” while others had “xxxx” LOL
The ultrasound technician was quite stressed because she had at least 5 more patients to see before lunch. When she read the special letter requesting that she help to identify the gender, she asked me if I had a boy or a girl. Then she asked what I’d hope the second one would be.
On hindsight, I should have just said, “I’d be happy if it’s a boy or a girl”. Instead, I said “a girl”. In the end, she said it looks like a girl so I asked if she’s 100% sure but she laughed and said even the doctor couldn’t give that guarantee.
We were sent back to the doctor’s office who said that everything looks normal. Before that, she’d asked if we wanted the Down-Syndrome test but we declined. Now, I wonder if we should take it…would it help if we knew or would it only make the rest of the pregnancy a miserable experience if we knew something?
Update: Found a great overview of ‘Screening for Down Syndrome‘.
Girls, the blood tests only show the % of risk you’re in. If you’re in a high risk category, the amniocentesis i.e. a long needle inserted into your pregnant belly can confirm if the baby has Down-Syndrome.
Think carefully ok because there’s risk of:
a) harming the baby and
b) a miscarriage.Is it really THAT important to know? For us, we’re so thankful to God for being pregnant!
I’m asked to return a few days before our flight home as she’ll only issue the letter then. Yikes, I’ll have to bring the little rascal along because he’ll be on summer holidays then and Hubby doesn’t want to take leave for it O_O
We went for a nice buffet lunch and Hubby gently asked if I was psyching myself up to believe it’s a girl because I wanted a girl. That’s when I realized that I’m being such an awful Mum just because I want to buy pink clothes and other girly stuff…
You see, I’m just itching to go on a crazy summer shopping spree here but until I know its gender, I can’t really buy any new clothes. For now, he is gonna be the lucky fella with new t-shirts, pants, shoes and socks! He’s growing like a weed too that I’m buying 4 year old clothes for him.
I’m also dying to spend my Paypal money on cloth diapers and other baby stuff LOL. I wanted to get some make-up or skincare products for myself but as I couldn’t find online shops accepting Paypal I may open an al-Rajhi account to convert the USD into MYR…
As you can see, I’ve made a ‘paradigm shift’ to one that’s more open and positive i.e. I’m just going to focus on having a healthy and happy baby
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
I was talking to Hooi Ling and we are curious to see how you look like. Photo please?
If you are too shy, then just take a photo of the ‘hump’, we can do some predition on the gender.
hey… at 19 week still can’t see??? I was at 16 week when I went for mine and so happened Lil’ Bun was clamping his legs together so tough luck for us to see! Hopefully we can get a glimpse end of this month before we go to KL. Oh yeah, we are doing the blood test too and if we can’t see anything clear about the down syndrome thingy, we will go for that amino test since I am above 35…
Enjoy your pregnancy! As for me, getting pregnant again within the near future is not an option because my hubby is not keen to have a second child, plus our current status of financial committment does not allow so. Oh…how I miss those pregnant days!
P/S: “S$mile” means I have clicked your ads.
time slowly flies sooon you will deliver….
Glad to hear all is well…
do update us more….
take care
Good on you
As what I told my hubs (and myself), having a girl would be a plus but who says having a boy means you’re being short-changed? Both are gifts from above.
so, there’s possibility it’s a girl?!
…having the down syndrome test is really up to you. i did mine although hubby didnt want to coz i just needed to know (not that i wld do anything about it). but i heard my colleague regretted big time doing the test coz it came out positive and the whole pregnancy was a huge worry and in the end, the baby was normal.
don’t worry abt the shopping bit for baby, there’s still time when baby comes out although as a parent of 2 girls, it makes buying for the 1st one so much easier (since knowing the 2nd one can wear it later!
)…but i do remind myself how i felt receiving hand-me-downs when i was a kid so i do buy new ones for no. 2 as well.
and u shld get a dslr cam leh…i mean, u do want to get one eventually rite?! i’m getting one soon and i do kinda regret not getting one before no.2 came out. anyway, if u can really get one now, think about it. tk care and hope 2 c u in penang?!
We opted for the First Trimester Scan (OSCAR); a combination of blood test and ultrasound using some special software to detect the chances of DS baby. It’s non invasive and apparently much more accurate than the Triple Blood Test. But this is usually done in the 9-11th week. Having the test, simply means you are better prepared – mentally. You can read up, seek advises, etc before welcoming the baby. As you know once the baby is here, there’s simply too much to handle, let alone reading up on DS etc.
When is your next appt? I wish you’ll have a girl too. Good luck and take care there ya
actually u can just charge your purchase to your credit card,and then link your credit card to paypal. i sometimes transfer paypal to citibank credit card to clear my expenses. better rate compare to al-rajhi.
I didn’t do the blood test as there is a risk of miscarriage (that’s what the doc said). Anyway, glad to hear you’re having a good appetite and will be back to Malaysia soon.
when can know boy or girl?
KGC – The little girl’s back, eh? What make the two of you cheeky chipmunks think I’m gonna flash my stretch marks to the whole, wide world??? Good try
Angeleyes – Ya but I’ve moved on obsessing over gender. All the best with your tests. Thanks for the link which I’m gonna check out for my fav brands!
Alice Phua – Nice to see you again. Hope you get your wish in future. Err…click only when attractive ok? Nanti I kena ban by the abang G ler…
Chanel – Oh ya time sure flies and I’m getting scared thinking of the big day again
Paik Ling – Nice thought. I love the way you talk finance LOL!
Syn – I don’t want to be like your colleague alright. It’s much easier (and cost-savings) if it’s a boy again but so many cute, girly clothes are tempting me here
Will get the DSLR alright, just not now.
Etceteramommy – Good, practical points. But Hubby feels I’m already such a worry-wart, I’ll be a complete basket case if I found out anything. My Mum also thinks if it is, then it IS whether I find out now or later…
Chinnee – Thanks for this great tip. Gonna save me the hassle of opening up a bank a/c just for paypal, not that I’m getting a lot also. Offsetting a credit card balance is easy.
Immomsdaughter – Hmm…what you mention sounds like an amniocentesis, which I’ll never do either. I’m scared of coming back to Malaysia coz I know I’ll balloon up after wolfing down the nasi lemak, char koay teow, chee cheong fun, chapati, thosai, roti canai, wantan mee, ikan bakar, mee udang, Hokkien mee. See? I’m virtually putting on weight already LOL
Lil Prince – You should be able to tell by Week 16 but it really depends on whether the baby will open the legs or not
I found out he was a boy at Week 20.
wei! congratulations leh!!!!!!!!
btw, i am using SE W902 and i love it since it already has most of the functions except for Wifi. but i am contented with it!
Remember I told you about changing gynae and hospital mid-way through this pregnany? It has something to do with Down’s Syndrome test. I didn’t want to blog about it earlier but will probably do so once baby arrives safely and healthily.
And yes, it doesn’t really matter if it’s a boy or a girl, as long as he/she is healthy.
YEAH, a healthy baby is more important than the gender!
Wen – Wei…I don’t know the gender yet lah LOL You’re a Sony Ericsson fan too eh?
A Mom’s Diary – Good thinking. I’m sorry if that gynae made you worry. That’s why my Mum and Hubby are always against any testing. They always say, “Trust in God!” Have faith, ok? LOL, said this hopeless case.
Hui Sia – Oh yeah!
friend have her baby on public holiday and cost her $12K here.
KittyCat: OMG!!! I was lucky the first time…hope we’ll be lucky again.