When Anas, my firstborn, reached the age of 2, I told my husband I’m ready to have another baby. We were never on birth control. I thought the process will be as easy as the first one. After a few months, I noticed my period came irregularly. There are months when Ms Flo didn’t come to visit.
I then went to see my gynaecologist at Darul Ehsan Medical Center (now Avisena Medical Center) and she diagnosed me with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. She advised me to eat healthily and exercise regularly. She also prescribed me Duphaston, a medicine that contains progesterone and Metformin, a medicine to control blood sugar levels.
I needed a second opinion. I went to see another gynaecologist and he directed my husband to do a sperm test, which came back normal. I also did a pelvic exam, and he confirmed my diagnosis. He also explained that secondary infertility is normal.
At the end of the consultation, he requested me to do an HSG exam at a clinic in KL city centre. The HSG procedure had me take a medical leave from my office. I never had bad period cramps before, but the exam gave me the same side effect.
After 2 months, I noticed that I was late for 2 days. It was Christmas and coincidentally I kept a Clear Blue in my drawer. Unbelievably, I was 5-6 weeks pregnant! My husband and I were in shock. It feels like the first time. There are so many people we need to share the great news!
We went to a private GP and the doctor referred me to a public hospital due to my high BP. I was kept for monitoring from 11 am to 5 pm! Not my intention to offend but it was a pretty bad experience for me. At the end of the day, the doctor referred me to Klinik Kesihatan for my monthly checkups, if there was a baby.
I had my first pregnancy checkups at a private GP. This time I needed to get my prenatal checkups at the Klinik Kesihatan. I never knew their services were very efficient. Well, in my experience, the nurses were.
By 8 months, my pink book was very thick with papers because I needed to write down all my BP readings every day. I had a yellow sticker that indicated that I needed O&G supervision.
Unlike the low-risk pregnant mothers, my checkups were usually twice a month. I also started checkups with my gynae at Avisena Women’s & Children’s Hospital on my third month of pregnancy.
At a weekly check-up with my gynae, at 35 weeks, my BP was quite alarming. I was put in the labour room for monitoring. But this time, it was more comfortable and very peaceful. I requested to go home in the evening because I still have some work that needed to be done before my maternity leave.
In the next week, I was again wheelchaired to the labour room for BP monitoring. But this time, I needed to deliver my baby as he was in distress. I was told by the anesthesiologist that I might be staying a couple of nights in the ICU due to my condition. Then I was asked to fast before my surgery.
I gave birth just a little after sunset with full anaesthesia. He was put in NICU, and I was put overnight at the High Dependency Unit (HDU). After 3 more nights, I was discharged, without my son.
I needed to come back every day to feed him. He was in the NICU for 11 days before being discharged. The days I came to see him was very overwhelming. Seeing him on the machine saddened me.
When I was pregnant with my firstborn, I was finishing up my master’s degree. I was preparing for my Viva. During the early months, the doctor suspected I have Placenta Previa and asked me to go slow.
But I was travelling from Damansara to Shah Alam for my Master’s classes. I didn’t have any cravings and I was enjoying every bit of my pregnancy. There were no major complications except for a mild BP level.
But with the second pregnancy, I was working at a production & event company. Being pregnant should mean less physical (and heavy) works and more desk jobs.
But not in this industry. We were having TV shows and major events which needed me running around and walking down the stairs. I must admit, I was exhausted. I was cranky and moody almost all the time.
It was one roller coaster ride with this one. Like people always say, every pregnancy will never be the same. Just like how different siblings are, too. Though with the ups and downs and two caesarean scars, I told my husband I’m ready for a third when my second is only 18 months old.
Then pandemic hits… My husband believes it is best for us to wait because having another baby during this trying time would be very risky. Plus, I’m still controlling my BP with medication. And now (September 2021) my son is 2 years 2 months.
This article is written by VIP Parents, Mawaddah Mohamad for theAsianparent Malaysia
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