What to expect when you are expecting!

Inspired by our first prenatal checkup, we decided that we need to read up more about pregnancy to prepare ourselves for the weeks and months ahead.

We were at MPH and saw the book "What to expect when you are expecting". As lots of our friends have recommended us this book, we purchased a copy.

So now, we're armed with the so-called "pregnancy bible"!! :)

First Hospital Checkup - KKH (8th weeks)

As we're back in Singapore for my bro's wedding, we took the opportunity to register with a local hospital, since we are likely to already be back home from London, for the delivery of the baby.

Based on friends' recommendations, we decided to approach Dr Benjamin Tham of KK Women's and Children's Hospital in Singapore (thats where both YL and myself were borned!!) ...

The wait at KKH was rather long...so many pregnant women around with their partners/husbands.... After registration, we waited and then were told to go to various places to have my weight and blood pressure taken as well as to go for a urine test. Then it was finally time for our first ultrasound scan, but to YL's disbelief, daddies were not allowed into the ultrasound room!! ;(

I went into the room by myself, rather scared and wondering to myself, "what if the ultrasound finds nothing in my womb?" So far, the pregnancy has seemed really unreal to me as there has been no pregnancy symptoms (e.g. no nausea) and we have really been relying on "just four positive pregnancy tests"!!

The ultrasound lady told me to lie on the table, and then proceeded to scan my naked tummy. In a very unemotional tone, she then told me "see, only one baby hah", as she pointed to me the this little sac like shape, and single flashing light on the screen. I think she meant "you're are not expecting twins"...but thought that she could have put it across in a warmer manner. She then took the measurement of the baby/ fetus, and reported that it was 19mm long!! Wow, "how small", I thought!! Pointing out the flashing light again, she told me that that was the baby's heartbeat and it was "good and strong". The whole experience finally convinced me that there is indeed a life beating well in my tummy!

The ultrasound lady then printed out one image for me as a momento (but of course we have to pay for it!), and then gave me my records and asked me to wait outside Dr Tham's consultation room. YL was quick to ask to have a look at the picture. You can just see his eyes light up when he looked at the photo...lots of love, lots of joy and anticipation!

After some wait, we finally got to see Dr Tham. He was really nice, jovial and patient with us. He told us that based on the ultrasound scan report, we are 8+ weeks pregnant, and the estimated due date is 26 Nov 2005.

Coincidetally, Dr Tham has experienced the NHS maternity system himself, as his wife was pregnant when he was in London for six months for some training earlier on . He said that whilst the NHS may do certain things differently, they would nevertheless provide us with the appropriate care needed. Also, he assured us that we have nothing to worry about the baby, as he/she seems to be very healthy and normal at this stage. He then give us a list of things to note, his email address (in case we need to contact him urgently) and an "open date" to go back to him when we return back to Singapore in September.

Wow, 26 Nov 2005....Christmas this year would be so different!!! =)