Nathan's 2nd Check-up

It was Nathan's second check-up with his pediatrician yesterday (January 26, 2015). Our appointment was at 9am so we were already at the parking of Misericordia Community Hospital at around 8:35pm. Thankfully, the weather was still "good" (approximately -2 degrees). It's really hard to bring the baby out when it's too cold and/or snowing.

It was still early but the parking lot near was already near full. I saw this sign and told Ford to park there. He was hesistant and we 'debated' for a moment:

FORD -- Pang-expectant mothers lang yan oh!
CES -- Haler, nakita mo naman may picture ng dalawang bata! Pwede yan sa may baby.
FORD -- Eh expectant mothers nga lang ang nakalagay.
CES -- Sus, eh di sasabihin ko buntis ako! Saka haler, wala namang security guard na sisita noh!

Yep, unlike in the Philippines, there are no roaming security guards here in Edmonton/Canada. People act on the virtue of trust. Imagine yourself paying the parking fees all by yourself, without any one checking if your declared time of stay at the parking lot is true or not?

After paying $4 for a one-hour stay, Pod put the ticket on the car's dashboard. Para sa random checking daw. Pero parang wala pa akong nabalitaang Security na nag-check haha!

Anyway, back to Nathan's check-up.

We were called by the nurse just a few minutes after the receptionist has checked us in. Since it was already our second time there, we already knew what to do. We have to undress Nathan because his whole body will be 'scrutinized' by the doctor.

Whenever we are out, it's Ford who is in charge of Nathan. He's the one carrying him, feeding him, changing his nappies, and dressing/undressing him. And my role is just to take pictures, lol!

The nurse first weighed Nathan. He is now almost 6 kilos! Big boy daw. I am so happy! I am relatively 'big' woman and I of course want my baby to be big too!

After weighing, his height was measured. Whew, almost 60cm already! Ford is only 5'9 and I am hoping that our son gets taller than he is. Kahit kasing tangkad lang ng mga brothers namin na around 5'11.

Nathan has a big head as well. His head circumference as of yesterday is 40cm.

After the routine weighing and questioning of the nurse (like how much milk we are feeding him now, or if we have other concerns for the baby, etc.), we were directed to a room where we will wait for the doctor.

Ito ang practice dito. The doctor doesn't have his 'own' room where he solely checks his patients. In a clinic, maraming rooms at doon pinapupunta ang mga pasyente para antayin ang mga doktor. Each room is complete, may mga exam bed, chairs and tables, lavatory, hand sanitizer, tissue, etc.

Just like Nathan's first check-up, the doctor was late again. He came at around 9:40am na yata. Haha, we were worried about the parking. We only paid for an hour. Oh well, kasalanan naman ng doctor noh.

If we choose another doctor/clinic, hindi na kami magbabayad ng parking. But then I like Nathan's pediatrician na. He was assigned to us before we left the hospital (noong nanganak ako) and I kinda like him. Aside from being a specialist, he really checks on the baby thoroughly eh.

The doctor confirmed that Nathan is indeed a big boy. He just talked fast (with an Indian accent) so I didn't get everything that he said. Pero may minention siya that Nathan belong to the 70-75th percentile sa weight o height.

He asked us if we have any special concerns on the baby. To be honest, wala naman. He is feeding well and has not been sick. He was also immunized last Thursday (January 22) and so far wala namang side effect.

The doctor then proceeded on 'inspecting' Nathan's body. Meron siyang kasamang residente kaya iyon ang kinakausap niya at hindi kami. We felt relieved every time he would say "normal" (pronounced as 'nermal' haha!) sa bawat body part ni Nathan na tinitingnan niya. Nakakatensyon talaga pag check-up ng anak mo, feeling mo mahihimatay ka kapag may hindi magandang mapapansin ang doktor.

We were so thankful when the doctor finally told us that everything is fine and that he has no concern for Nathan at this time. Our next appointment with him is after two months na (on March 19).

Ford and I are so happy. Our son is in good health and is growing normally. Keep it up, Nathan! We love you and we are so proud of you!

Gestational Diabetes Session @ Misericordia Hospital

August 20, 2014 (Wednesday). Ford dropped me off at Misericordia Hospital - Mother Rosalie Building at around 7:30am for my "Gestational Diabetes Class."

The Reception for Diabetes Education Center was still closed. I was asked to come at 8am and I didn't want to be late (I'm always punctual in appointments). I also didn't want my husband to be late for work.

I waited on this 'lobby' nervously. Who wouldn't?

I've been surrounded by so many informational materials on diabetes. I was already disinterested. I've already done my homework on diabetes since last year, when we rushed my mother to the hospital due to very high blood sugar. My mother has been on insulin since then.

A little after 8am, I was called by a nurse for weighing and some additional personal information. I was told that there will be eight of us in the "Gestational Diabetes Class." They don't usually have that many in a class, she added. I felt a bit of relief. Misery indeed loves company.

After asking me several questions, the nurse instructed me to go to the restroom and wash my hands as we will be doing some finger pricking later on.

When all the eight girls have been weighed and interviewed, we were finally directed to the "class room."

Yung mga box agad ng glucometer ang bumulaga sa amin! Nangingig ako. Takot talaga akong magtusok. The good thing though is that the glucometers were given to us for free (ito talaga ang maganda dito sa Canada). We were asked though if we have extended health insurance. Only one out of eight has none and she was given a different brand. I have no idea why. Could it be that the test strips of that brand are cheaper?

Nurse Kristy started the session by giving us some handouts and explaining to us what Gestational Diabetes means. Of course we already knew that. Lahat naman kami nagbasa na online.

Now the most dreadful part was the pricking. As usual, pumalpak ako. We pricked twice and in those two times I failed to put enough blood on the strip. I wasted two strips tuloy.

Pricking though was not that bad. Medyo masakit syempre pero tolerable naman.

By the way, my numbers were 4.4 mmol/l and 4.7 mmol/l. Very normal, yebaah!

We were instructed to do a 6-times-a-day pricking for two days before meeting with the Specialist the following week.

After the nurse, it was the dietitian Benedikte's turn to talk about diet and meal plans. She's given us several reading materials as well.

As expected, most of the foods she's discussed were not applicable to my food preference. I really wished we had a one-on-one session with her. Oh well, magsasariling-sikap na naman ako.

A med tech from the laboratory also came to test our blood sugar kaya tinusok pa rin kami sa braso. They wanted to check the consistency of results to that of glucometer's. Para daw accurate. I was thankful kasi Pinay uli ang med tech. So far, wala pang med tech na kumuha sa akin ng dugo na hindi Filipino. I feel comfortable with them eh.

After the class, we proceeded to the Reception again to get an appointment with the Specialist. I am scheduled on August 28 (Thursday) at 1:30pm.