The Hurdle

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I’m just an ordinary Singaporean woman, married at the age of 26 in 2013 and hope to have a complete family. However, we were trying to conceive (TTC) for a year and most couples should have been pregnanted within a year. Thinking that there’s something wrong, we went for a fertility checkup and I was diagnosed with PCOS. 

So what’s PCOS?

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a problem in which a woman’s hormones are out of balance. It can cause problems with your periods and make it difficult to get pregnant. Most women with PCOS grow many small cyst on their ovaries. That is why it is called polycystic ovary syndrome. The cysts are not harmful but lead to hormone imbalances.

Unfortunately, I fall in the 10% of women population who has this issue. I was told I can still conceive but in tougher ways such as oral medication, IUI, IVF or ISCI.

I was fortunate I knew this issue early and discussed with my family and friends. Most of my close friends and family members were very negative with assisted reproduction initially as the reason I recevied before going IVF was I AM STILL YOUNG TO TRY NATURALLY. However, I managed to persuade them that we tried natural means like using clomid or IUI but it didn’t work. Even though IVF is a huge risk, but I AM YOUNG to start with as the success rate below 30 years old is 56%.

After some persuasions and educating them on assisted reproduction, my parents and friends agreed to support me for IVF treatment and hubby was very positive about it. 

I am not embarrassed or ashamed to hide this as infertility may not be a reason for not having a kid and perhaps God is testing our determination. This is not what I chose to be infertile and there’s ups and downs to handle. 

I wanted to share with readers or woman who are also having fertility problem of what they will face and will be going through.

 

 

Week 8+ Symptoms

I always thought singleton pregnancy symptoms will not be as bad as twins pregnancy symptoms. I’M WRONG! My symptoms thus far at week 8 1) nauseas whole day 2) evening period is the worst. I will need to standby a basket and vomit at least once or twice to feel better 3) poor appetite. I feel I have anorexia. After eating, I will puke it out. The meal size has been small. It’s like 2-3 table spoonful of rice that I can swallow per meal. 4) weight loss. Sounds like free slimming programme and I’ve lost 2-3kg so far. 5) craving for sweet and spicy stuff. Ginger made me feel better. Yesterday I found out that I can eat more if I add green chili, which was soaked in sweet vinegar. Fruits are my friends and I tried to take plums, apples and papaya as much as I can. 6) spotting and discharge have been on n off. Went to get a jab at the hospital but spotting came back 1-2 days later again. 7) poor complexion. My face turned rough and there’s many white heads on my back. I’m praying hard I will have a healthy baby and its growing well despite my viral infection and poor appetite. Please grow more my little gummy bear! Can’t wait to see you! 😊

27 months pp – Day 37 BFP!

My cycle is now normal at 32 days cycle. I guess the confinement I did 2 years back was worth it. I did 60 days of confinement and had lots of rest during that period. Here’s the timeline and symptoms so far27 Aug 2018 – first day of cycle 15-16 Sep 2018 – should be ovulation period but we did not do anything as I was hoping for a girl28 Oct 2018 – I had cramps and saw pinkish discharge during a one time wipe. There’s more discharge than usual too. I though menses was around the corner. 2 Oct 2018 – no signs of menses so I tested since it’s already CD 37 or predicted DPO 16!! It was BFP. 4 Oct 2018 – I still feel some discomfort so I tried on a digital pregnancy kit and it indicated 2-3 weeks pregnant, which is 4-5 weeks pregnant from my first day of menstrual cycle. 5 Oct 2018 – went to polyclinic to get referral letter and this is what was tested only. Anyway, I have also booked an appointment with Dr Tan HH on 12 Oct 2018. This time round I’m keeping cool and decided to visit gynae later as i don’t really feel painful enough to really need go see him. If it’s a chemical pregnancy again, AF should appear before seeing my gynae. This time round, I don’t feel sharp pain, which may eliminate ectopic pregnancy but here’s some of the symptoms and hope it’s progressing well. Bloated – felt like 5 months pregnant and I have people giving up seats for me. Colleagues are also asking if I’m pregnant. Spells of nauseous – it’s not strong enough to feel like I wanna puke but still there’s some feeling of disgust. Easily hungry – these days been eating 4-5 meals rather than my usual 3 meals. Craving to eat sweet tasty food. Vivid dreams – been dreaming of weird things like octopus dashing out from the sink drainage system. White/Transparent discharge – its on and off showing increasingly more discharge at times especially in morningsSore boobs – so sore that it cannot be touched. Insomnia – I felt tired easily but I still wake up to pee and settle my boys but I can’t go back to sleep!

TTC? #3

Ever since the early loss at 15 pp, my menstrual cycles went hay-wire. It took me 6 months to have a regular 33 days consistent cycle back recently. It’s a blessing that I did my confinement after birth well and now I am back to regular cycles easily. The question here now is should I start to TTC naturally again? Let’s let nature take its course 😊

Biochemical Pregnancy at 15 months pp

I found out I was pregnant again naturally on 7 Nov 2017 when my last menses was 3 Oct 2017. 


Following a few days, I still feel the above test kit wasn’t right so I bought a digital clearblue kit to try on 10 Nov 2017, Friday. It indicated 2-3 weeks pregnant! I was so happy but I have on and off sharp pain on the left pelvic area so I immediately booked an appointment with my gynae. 


The following day, my gynae told me he can’t find any signs of pregnancy through the scan so he requested for blood test. I took blood test on the Saturday and following Monday morning. 

On Monday, results showed my HCG level was depleting from 208ug to 77ug so it’s a sign that I was pregnant but the pregnancy would be terminated. I was so devastated after knowing this. Hope I can get good news again if I got the chance. 

Post Delivery – The Conflict that has no ending 

I guess I have no where to rant and I’ve been feeling depressed since birth not because of taking care of my twins but it’s cos of my mil. 

My hub came from a single parent family. Before I’m married, we hardly interact and when we meet, we are very polite to each other. When I got married, that’s when things started to appear. In my wedding, she did not fork out any cash as my dowry came from our joint savings account since we are financially independent. After my wedding, we still gave her back money to cover her expenses on Ang bao, food, jewelleries she bought for me and her makeup fee. 

During my 3-4 years of marriage, I always stay in my room and when she started to say something I don’t like, I’ll knock my head and walk away. Before I’m pregnant, she kept asking when is she going to have grandchildren. When I got pregnant, she did not have the intention to take care and after knowing I’m having twins boy, she decided to quit her job to take care. The real drama started in July. 

1) I was taken care by my mom for the past 8-9 months during my pregnancy most of the time. My mom accompanied me with most of the checkups as my hub was busy with renovation. I went home nearer to the date I’m moving to new house. It was also very near my EDD. She told me her son had been so busy with the renovation and packing the house and he was very 辛苦. Since I was said that I didn’t help out, I started moving up and down to pack things and supervise my maid to do things. I even squart and bend when I should be bed bounded. Eventually, my LOs were not developing well with not enough rest and I was admitted to hospital. 

2) We intend to move house quickly as my CL and maid would not have proper environment to take care of my sons in the smoking environment at home and since she quit her job, we wanted to rent the room in her house for her extra pocket money. It was a decision both hub and I agreed. She moved in with us and I thought our relationship will be closer. We told her that if she rent the whole house, she will have to pay income tax and if she rent rooms, she will need to pay utilities bill. She chose to rent rooms and we respected her decision. However, she told others I insisted of moving out quickly and retain a room at her existing house so she can have backup plan to get out of my house and still have place to stay. 

3) during my hospital stay, she was very nice to help to cook for some of my meals and assist hub in moving house. However, when she visited me, she will nag on how messy her house is and how hub was busy getting things done while she thought I was happily enjoying life in the ward. My worries went up on top of worrying my unborn LOs health with many CTGs and scans done each day but I nicely told her I’m ok if the house is not ready in time and I can stay with my mom when CL has not come. My parents also helped out in preparing babies arrival by collecting blessed items and moving baby cot. 

4) After birth, she continued to cook healthy food and sent to me in the morning which I really appreciate and she told me she was also new in taking care babies after not taking care for 30yrs. With the nurses help, they taught how to bath and take care babies but when the nurse is teaching, her attitude of learning was not there (look up and down but not seeing what nurse teach) and she said old version was not like that and she wanted her way. I told her we need to learn new techniques as it’s different from past especially with the umbilical cord still intact. However she don’t seem to get it and insisted her way. That’s when my worries and anxiety came on whether she can help. 

5) after we were discharged, elder LO was having jaundice and my wound was painful hence painkiller was my best friend. As CL was not around, she told us first few days, baby has to sleep with us for “bonding” purpose. I wanted my boy to be with me too so regardless how tired and exhausted I was struggling with the painkiller effect and pain, I’ll still wake up at night to pump and do night feeds. Hub did night feeds too and we ended up falling sick. She saw us having difficulties handling babies and I MADE HER SON SICK, that’s when she initiated to take care. 

6) Here’s the rest of the timeline happenings 

18 Jul (discharged 3rd day) – MIA whole day without telling us where she go n did not cook dinner when we sent elder to hospital for admission due to jaundice. She though we are going shopping but she also know I can’t eat outside food. she did not tell us her whereabouts and did not return until 11+pm.  

19 Jul – she said “I EVEN MORE TIRED” infront of my parents after she got the time to meet friends and watch drama. Its as if I din do anything and don’t feel tired. Hub and I were doing most of the night shift. 

20 Jul – she ask me to quickly clean baby face after tanning my boy so she can bath him. Then my boy was very impatient so he kept moving and crying. She saw it and was not happy so scolded vulgarities. After which, she explained she is scolding the AIR. 

21 Jul – she told my untrained maiden  sit on round stool with no support and let her feed my boy without close supervision and she went to nap. We let her take care of my boy overnight and I warned her my boy will not sleep at midnight so she can just ignore and let him sleep on his own. Instead, she carried him walk around the house and slept at 1am so she missed the 2am feed. Luckily hub woke up to feed. 

22 Jul – my mom came over to help out. When she was cooking, my mom bathed my boy. Then I realised my maid did not on the heater so the water in tub was cold but later I saw her adding hot boiled water. When I ask her how she prepare warm water as I scared she used cold water to bath my boy and I knew my maid not the careless kind, n she shoot back “this is your own house. You should know everything”  

Evening, when we brought younger one back, she told us to put both in her room and complained I was not taking care babies when I told her my plan of Hub n I take care of younger one whole maid and her take care of elder one. She did not even think properly before taking actions. 

23-26 Jul – CL came and she went MIA even more often until tues I saw all her clothing were not in the room anymore and she told Hub she would be staying one night at hm… Before that, she told Hub she got intention to go back work. I got no objection but her reason for not able to take care our babies was she can’t see properly but she wanted go back to work. I really wanted her to get her rational right as her eyes were weak and should be resting at home even though she don’t want to take care of my boys. Don’t use such excuses just to go back to work. Eventually, we mutually agreed she can go back work after my sis PSLE or her operation. She told us she will help us with the expenses but we totally don’t need. Later on, she told everyone she went back to work cos we did not give her money.  

27 Jul – she came home as she will be going to polyclinics wth babies for checkup. She also told hub to go back to work beforehand so he did not apply leave. Then she shocked us by telling us she’s going to start work on next Monday! Hub was angry n wanna discuss further but I stormed in n told hub “ok nvm… We settle ourselves.” She was angry and pack up and just left house when she did not think that her grandsons needed to go polyclinic the next day. I’ve apologized my straight forwardness but she was still petty and pick on everything I do. Her nasty words had hurt me so much that I just want her to get out of my life. 

I do address her when I see her but don’t expect more from me. This is the minimum I can do to respect. Her demands for me to treat her like mom while she treat me like shit and keep saying nasty things will only push me further away from her. That’s not the way to gain respect. If so, LHL would have do the same and our country would not prosper. 

I came to a state where I just feel like I don’t want to see her for the rest of my life so I can be sane enough to move on and take care of my boys. However, this is impossible and I’m not sure I can tolerate till when. Will things get better? 

My Birth Story

On week 35+0, growth scan detected that my younger boy’s amniotic fluid was low and blood flow resistance went higher thus my gynae wanted me to deliver almost immediately. As it was just borderline lower than normal and non of my boys hit 2kg, I insisted to wait till week 36. Hence, I was admitted for close monitoring over CTG. After enough rest and a rescan, everything was back to the original state. Finally, when I pulled through 10 days of waiting, I delivered via elective csect on 13 July 2016 morning. My gynae did not deliver me as I was a subsidized patient so he got his colleague to do the operation for me. My elder son was out at 2.2kg and he was discharged with me on the same day. However, younger son was only 1.7kg hence he stayed in SCN for a total of 11 days. My bill – 13k (5k gov sub, 8k medisave, no cash payment)Elder son bill – 2k (1k gov sub, 1k medisave, $48 cash payment)Young son bill – 15k (downgraded to C, 13k gov sub, 2k medisave, no cash payment).

IUGR follow up

Both my boys have been diagnosed asymmetrical IUGR after week 30. Twin A has milder issue so far. 

So what’s IUGR? 

Babies are diagnosed with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) if they appear to be smaller than expected — specifically, if an ultrasound indicates that their weight is below the 10th percentile for their gestational age. This commonly happened in multiple pregnancy. 

For more information, visit http://www.m.webmd.com/baby/iugr-intrauterine-growth-restriction

Apparently, didi has greater effect on normal head growth with smaller abdomen. 


I’ve been running to both NUH and KKH for follow up. 

At NUH, I’m doing more on scans and CTG monitoring. Each blood flow scan and consultation cost $88 while CTG will be $35 after government subsidy. 

At KKH, I’m seeing my own gynae for follow up and recently, he hardly charge me consultation fees since I’m seeing him on weekly basis. He’s actually my relief pill as each time I had consultation at NUH, I felt like I’m going to be on gg be chopping board soon. On the other hand, comfort from Dr Tan HH was great as he predicted the delivery week which I can look forward to. 

So far, results for my bubs have been improving and blood flow was back to range but close monitoring is still needed especially for didi. Hope they are doing well inside and enjoying their stay inside me. I’ve been talking to them and bed resting to let us relax. 

My scheduled csect is brought forward from 20 July to 13 July as babies are expected to be out by week 36 since they will be matured by then and placenta is predicted to deplete. 

Week 27-28 – Threathened preterm labour 

Nearer to the end of week 27, I visited NUH clinic G for the purpose of my babies blood flow issue as I couldn’t downgrade at KKH to subsidized patient. During the consultation, I thought it’s just normal follow up and close monitoring for blood flow. I told the doctor I was having frequent cramps since the day before. Immediately, the doctor put me on CTG monitoring. Then they detected contractions. 

Immediately, I was brought to labour ward for close CTG monitoring. The team of doctors came in and checked for dilation, swipe test and gave me oral pills (nifedipine) to slow down the contractions as I was contracting every 2-3 mins and I thought it’s just normal cramps. There was no sign of bleeding or dilation yet I was still given steroid jabs in case I need to deliver that day. 

I was not allowed to eat from 10am until 6pm. In the evening, the next shift of doctors came in and idiotic sarcastic Senior consultant, Dr Lim Min Yu, was on duty at labour ward.  A few years back, when I was diagnosed with PCOS, he was the one who keep prescribing me with clomid and even wanted to double the dosage when I was having side effects. 

Then when I was having emotional roller coaster at the labour ward, he brought in his team of Kakias and started to say some grandfather stories. The conclusion was to transfer me back to KKH because in case of labor, there would not be enuf incubator in NICU for babies. I broke down when I heard this kind of stupid excuse and felt they just wanted to get rid of me due to high risk pregnancy case. 

Guess what? When I’m back at KKH,  I had whole night of monitoring and when they are transferring me to normal ward, the beds for me are FULL. I chose C ward as the estimated bill per baby in case of labour in NICU for 100 days was $40,000. When I was pushed to C ward, surprisingly there was air cooler and it wasn’t as hot as I thought. However, it was a noisy environment as there’s babies crying, people snoring and a Malay family who always raise their voices. 

Anyway, I was discharged on the 3rd day as I don’t feel comfortable at C ward and my contractions were stabilized. 

The bills have not been mailed to me yet. 

Week 27 – blood flow scan

Results were getting worst as baby 2 blood flow resistance get higher and his weight was almost out of the range. 

Baby 1’s weight – 1000g 

Baby 2’s weight – 800g 

I was kind of devastated and stress over their weight management. So I got some advices from Dr Tan to get subsidized rates until nearer to my delivery date. 

As I was a subsidized patient at NUH, I called for an appointment to continue as subsidized patient there and planned to return to KKH when everything is stabilized. 

Total duration: 3hrs

Total bill – $300 

Week 25 – blood flow scan 

This was the first blood flow scan and to my horror, my baby 2 had shown blood flow resistance and was prompt to IUGR. 

Baby 1 weight – 750g

Baby 2 weight – 580g 

As Dr Tan HH was on leave, I was advised by a resident Doctor that there’s nothing that can be done at the moment except of be closely monitored.

Perhaps worries are never ending since before pregnancy. As we have come so far, we are not giving up and trying to find some remedies to help our babies. I started to eat more especially avocado and durian so I can try to gain more weight and hoping they grow well. 

   

 

Total duration: 2hrs 

Total payment: $200