Be careful with what you wish for

"Be careful with what you wish for.." --- These were my husband's words to me after we left my OB-GYN's clinic yesterday morning.

Why, my doctor instructed me to have a BPP ultrasound every week until I deliver!

I knew I've been ranting so much about how badly I want to have an ultrasound again to check on my Baby Chicklet. The last time I had an ultrasound was when I was only on my 18th week (June 12) and with all the recent happenings in my body (colds, throat mucus, gestational diabetes, gas pains, etc), I want to make sure that he is fine.

But a weekly ultrasound starting this Friday (my 30th week)? I find it too excessive, honestly.

The reason for this is my so-called Gestational Diatebes (GD). They want to monitor my baby all the time - which is very good. My concern though is that my OB is not even aware of the 'results' of my appointment with the diabetes doctor. Due to my diet, my numbers have gone down. Plus I would like to believe that I am not really that diabetic anyway. My tummy is not that big and my ankles are not swollen.

My husband told me: "Ayaw mo yun, madalas mong makikita si Chicklet? Libre naman hehe!"

Of course I want to see my baby as often as I could. I am just afraid that a weekly ultrasound in way will be 'harmful.' I haven't heard anyone who's done this.

I am also a bit concerned about my weekly appointments. My schedules were set every mid-mornings of Fridays (around 9-10) and Ford will no longer be able to join me because he has work. He will just drop me off before 8am and will pick me up at West Edmonton Mall during lunch time to take me home. The weather is getting colder as days pass and my tummy is getting heavier. I just wish I won't have a problem being on my own.

Hay, Baby Chicklet! Be good inside Mommy's tummy, please! I want us to have good results this Friday so that Daddy will be happy on his birthday this weekend.

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.