today is my last visit at ADNOC clinic. i have been checked again for my blood pressure (which is 96/66), urine and weight (58 kilos!). my OB also gave me my Ante-Natal Report summary which is to be submitted to the Corniche Hospital. she also gave me Easy Iron vitamins as supplement. she's aware that i won't be getting free vitamins/medicines at the Corniche Hospital, that is why. i asked her for my chances of giving birth normally. she said that i should be ready to have a caesarian one since baby's too big for my body built. beat that! to think that i've been having rice for only once a day! =) anyhow, i am still glad that baby is healthy despite my eating habit control. naks. as if, i really control myself that much. hehe. oh well, honestly, i've been sneaking with some chocolates and sweets every once in awhile. pano naman, nakakatakam eh (guilty...). but then, she also said that i should not worry that much as to whether normal or caesarian, the method that the hospital will choose will be based from what is best for the baby and me, which is a consolation.

over-all, my ADNOC clinic experience was okay except when it comes to keeping timings. like today for example, my appointment was 8:50 AM (i arrived at 8:15 AM) but i was able to see my doctor only at 9:40 AM!! i like the treatment at this clinic but not the wasted hours waiting especially that i am just sneaking out of the office hours.

6:08 PM |

straight from office, i went to Corniche Hospital for my 8th month check-up. i had my ultrasound first and as what was said before from my ADNOC Clinic scan, i'll be having a boy(that means, it's already 100% sure!). the U/S technician said that the photo above shows his "you know what". although i couldn't seem to imagine that that was it. hehe. ewan ko kung kulang lang ako sa imagination or i was just not trained to recognize the anatomy that well. =) weird noh, to think that my job involves some sort of black & white photography din. anyhow, he's a boy alright and now weighs 2062 grams! that weigh is for a 33 wks and 2 days old already, though he is just 32 wks based on calendar. ibig sabihin, matakaw kaming dalawa!!! hehe.

we were also checked by the resident doctor afterwards. like the previous doctor who checked us last time, he was amazed of my previous medical history (yep, he's a male). really proving that God is good. no, God is great! he also assured me that everything is normal and in good condition. thank God for that.

by the way, i have acquired this short novena from my GT forumers to be recited for 9 days... i'm also sharing this for other mom-to-be's:

Most Blessed Trinity, I, Your child, thank You for all the gifts and privileges which You granted to St. Gerard, especially for those virtues with which You adorned him on earth and the glory which You now impart to him in heaven. Accomplish Your work, Oh Lord, so that Your kingdom may come about on earth. Through his merits, in union with those of Jesus and Mary, grant me the grace for which I ask....

(Mention your request)

And you, my powerful intercessor, St. Gerard, always so ready to help those who have recourse to you, pray for me. Come before the throne of Divine Mercy and do not leave without being heard. To you I confide this important and urgent affair....

Graciously take my cause in hand and do not let me end this novena without having experienced in some way the effects of your intercession. Amen.

8:03 PM |

today's my 7th monthly check-up at ADNOC clinic. my urine, blood test and weight were all fine. blood pressure is ninety-something over sixty-something while i now weigh 56 kilos! =) i also had an ultrasound today for a chance to see my baby boy. he's lodged right down under (as in, nagsusumiksik dun, hihi)and one time, i also saw him took a gulp of the amniotic fluid. hehe. he weighs 1,865 kilos, which by the way was just right for his age of 31 weeks and 4 days.

i have requested a scan copy from the technician but she did not gave me any. =( nakakainis nga eh. i wanted to show it pa naman to my hubby. little baby has to be viewed one part at a time kasi nde na siya kasya sa screen unlike before where i was able to see his whole profile na bumabalentong-balentong inside. but then again, it was nice seeing him again all complete and healthy. =) i hope, Corniche Hospital will be kinder to furnish me a copy of the scan when we have another ultrasound next week.

my OB also scheduled me for a check-up on the 28th of February, because she wasn't able to prepare my turn-over papers for Corniche Hospital.

2:32 PM |

hubby and me attended the pregnancy seminar given at Corniche Hospital. it wasn't really compulsory but i wanted to attend this seminar to give me better info and thereby, make me feel braver in facing the labor thingy. it is a 6-part seminar but the one that we have attended today was the 3rd part already as we have missed the two parts already. however, those missed sessions can be taken some other time. i was able to forced hubby to go with me. hehe. ewan ko lang if it'll be just for this session or i can continue to have him under my spell for the succeeding parts. =)

the session was held inside one of the training rooms of the said hospital. there were five couples who attended today, 2 filipinos (which includes us), 1 indian, and 2 british. the lecturer is also a british doctor. kinda old already but very, very friendly.

the topic today was about problems faced during labor. i learned a lot actually about the labor itself and the practices in this hospital. i learned that i should not lie flat on my flat on my back during labor, how to cope up with the uneasiness of internal exam, and that episiotomy or being lacerated "down there" is not a routine procedure. nakakatuwa pa nga 'coz hubby was squeamish when a video of someone giving birth was shown. haha. even the brave ones will really have cold feet pag ganitong mga eksena. =) in addition, we were also toured around the hospital floor, like the delivery rooms, nursery and the recovery/admission rooms. the delivery rooms were homey..hehe. maganda naman pala, not unlike the delivery rooms i see on TV which has that hospital-look talaga. there's are more like admission rooms already, cream paint and no tiles.

in effect, despite the negative things i heard about this hospital, seeing the facilities helped me have a second opinion regarding as to what to expect. i just hope that the TEAM 1 personnel (which was my assigned "delivery" team) who will be on duty on that day will be the best and caring ones that there is around.

6:46 PM |

before running on some errands today, i decided to passed by Mothercare shop to buy that Avent bottles i saw on sale last week. to my dismay, the sale on those feeding bottles were through. =( nakakainis nga eh. i shouldn't have hesitated the last time. they were selling the said stuff for 70 AED and that already includes 4 starter bottles, 2 extra nipples and a cleaning brush. When not on sale, Avent bottles were sold usually at 20 AED, that's roughly PhP 300+ each.

anyhow, i then took some tour around the store and to my surprise the basement area still has some baby things on sale!!! grabe, i really went ga-ga over those baby clothes. all sold on almost 75% off! =) i was able to buy 2 pieces of one-piece sleep suit for only 20 AED from it's original price of 75 AED, 1 pair of pre-walker shoes from 30 AED to 20 AED, 5 pairs of socks from 30 to 15 AED, and 2 pieces of shirts from 40 to 20 AED. really big savings and not to mention, it's from Mothercare!!! =)

before going home, i also passed by a thrift store and saw these 3 towel wipes with nice blue color. i also added that to my nice little purchases for the day. =)

sarap talaga mag-shopping for your little one. to think, that i'm having a boy...hehe. pano pa kung naging girl ito eh di 10 times ang pagka-fashionista nya. in some way, tipid rin to have a son and it's something new to me to appreciate boy things.

7:59 PM |