It started when I noticed some blood in the toilet when I was at work on Tuesday last week.
Naturally, I panicked and tried to keep very still while all sorts of worries floated into my mind.
I messaged the hubby, then my girlfriends, called the clinic and was told that the doctor was out for lunch and would be back only at 2pm.
(Great, now I just need to get lunch and stay calm.)
I packed my things and crept downstairs, thinking I’d grab a sandwich from the cafe.
The queue was snaking long due to the rain. So I decided to call a cab, and see which came first. The cab did. I climbed cautiously in.
In the cab, I took deep breaths and tried to push those nasty, anxious thoughts to the back of my mind.
Tears started to roll down by their own accord.
I think the cabbie noticed. He purposely went the extra mile by turning into the driveway of TMC when we arrived just so I could be sheltered from the rain. He just dismissed the disgruntled stares from the staff managing the valet parking, signalling to them that it’s raining.
I would have expressed more gratitude to him if not for the fact that I was so distracted by the pain in my belly.
I made my way slowly up the steps to Delifrance, thinking I could grab a croissant while waiting for the doc.
I did order my meal but as I sat there staring at the croissant, the crampy feeling in my abdomen got worse and I just couldn’t bring myself to eat.
First, blood. Now, pain. I was bracing myself for the worst.
I called the hubby and couldn’t control my tears. Between sobs, I asked him to rush down. Then I called my girlfriend, asking for help to locate the hospital emergency number. (I felt so near to help, yet so far.)
She managed to get a nurse to come and look for me at the clinic so I made my way to the third floor.
When she saw me, she immediately brought me to the delivery room to rest as the clinic was still closed (and the staff inside were also having a meeting).
At the delivery room, a nurse checked for baby’s heartbeat. At 15 weeks, it can be hard to detect but soon we were listening to the familiar ba-thump-ba-thump. An inexpressible sense of relief washed over me. (By this time the hubs had also arrived.)
After that she made me wear a device to monitor the strength of the contractions.
Not sure if it was due to knowing that baby was alive, but I felt more relaxed after some minutes on the bed.
Aware that it would take some time before Dr Tseng arrived (as he was actually off-clinic that afternoon and only making a special trip back to check on me), I sent hubby off to buy some food.
Listening to the tunes of my favourite Christian album, I closed my eyes and prayed for baby, myself, and whatever that was causing this loss of fresh blood. I talked to baby too, in a quiet and calm voice.
It’s funny but when suddenly faced with the possibility of losing my child, I never felt like I wanted it as much as I did lying there. I guess it’s when you’re on the verge of losing something, that you realise how precious it is and how much it means to you.
Before Dr Tseng came, he sent his staff to bring me up to his clinic, on a wheelchair.
When Dr arrived, he did an ultrasound, and we all watched the screen in anticipation. He measured baby’s heartbeat and in a matter of minutes pronounced that baby and womb are fine, and the bleeding is most definitely from a different source.
So he did a swab test to check for vaginal infection and drew some blood to test if there was infection in the bloodstream. He said the bleeding doesn’t seem too active, and prescribed some meds for relaxing the womb, and rest for the remainder of the week.
We could not be more relieved to hear those words…
Baby. Is. Doing. Fine.
We went home after doing the tests. My bleeding continued and still experienced slight contraction pains that day, as well as Wednesday.
While resting at home, I noticed that I saw blood mostly only while peeing or slightly after. And also I was visiting the toilet more frequently, peeing very little each time.
When a friend happened to mention that she had blood in her urine when she had UTI before, I went to read up more on the symptoms.
I also consulted a doctor friend, describing my symptoms closely to her, and she also said it sounded like UTI. She advised lots of cranberry juice, and more liquid intake.
(I recalled that I’d been struggling to upkeep my water intake in recent weeks as I find the taste of water extra bland these days.)
So in between resting, I drank like a hippo, mixing water with some cranberry, just to force more water into my body.
By Thursday, the bleeding was noticeably less, and there was no more abdominal pain…
We are just so thankful that we passed through this deep end unscathed.
It’s only when you are losing something that you see how much it means to you.
Maybe that was a lesson I was meant to learn.
Hi June
Just want to share some love and hugs your way after reading this post. As I was reading your post, I was feeling more and more anxious and scared for you and your baby! I could so identify with your emotions, because I went through a similar bleeding experience when I was 16 weeks preggie with my firstborn while at work and also had all sorts of horrible thoughts going through my mind and tears flowing down my face uncontrollably during that seemingly neverending cab ride to the hospital alone. Thankfully the baby was fine and now he is already four years old! Coincidentally, my ObGyn is also Dr Tseng. You must surely know that you are in very good hands. =) Have a very good rest!
Thanks for sharing your story too, Carol, comforting to know that we are never alone in this. What a coincidence!
So relieved to know baby and you are doing well! So gan cheong for you while reading to the end of your post too! Totally concur with what you said on “It’s only when you are losing something that you see how much it means to you”.
Rest well and relax!
qiu xian recently posted..3 Scratchers
I remember that fear well when I started bleeding in the middle of the night, with cramping.
Take care, June! Rest well and I’m glad that everything is fine now.
Am glad baby is fine. But it is so true what you said that one truly treasures at the verge/possibility of losing.
Hope you have a good rest!
Dear June, I am so glad things turned out alright. You take care of yourself and rest well!
Zee recently posted..A Family Dinner
I was so tensed reading through your whole ordeal. So relieved that everything turned out alright in the end. Take care of yourself!
Serenely recently posted..Waiting
*shudder* Peeing razorblades, that’s what UTIs are like for me! It’s good that it went away without antibiotics! You can also take Citravescent (it’s a powder you mix into water, like Eno); it’s available at the pharmacies.
I had slight bleeding both times early in the pregnancy too. Glad to know all is well
Yes, I was surprised too, that I didn’t need antibiotics! I was using essential oils and drinking cranberry by the minute. Thanks for the Citravescent tip, Evelyn!
im glad that it was all a bad scare for u babe. When I read I teared coz the whole scenario was so fresh. bleeding, cramping.. only diff, mine was not meant to be. I hope yrs will b a smooth journey from hereon. God bless.
janice recently posted..How to cope with grief
Janice, I’m so sorry to hear that. Left a comment over on your post…
I read the post title from my blog feed - you scared the #%^& out of me! Ayoh… can imagine how it must have felt like for you!
Glad that all went well, though. REST!! Dowan jump around here and there, okay?
P/s: My SIL wasn’t so lucky. Baby was stillborn at 39 weeks last month. Coincidentally, her gynae is also the same Dr. Tseng.
MummyMOO recently posted..Childcare ethics: How do you deal with sick kids?
I’m so sorry to hear that dear. Wishing your SIL well, and swift recovery in every way. Sorry to have scared you…and I’m not jumping!!! The kids are though…
My eyes popped when I saw the post title! I know that fear, having experienced it myself. I’m just so glad to read that your Baby is fine.
Ing recently posted..Practical Life: Cutting Beans
Hi June,
Glad to know Baby is fine! I was so tensed reading your post. I am 30 weeks pregnant now and I can so identify with the fear of something goes wrong with the baby. You just reminded me again to not take this pregnancy for granted, but pray till he safely arrives this world. Rest well!
Thanks Abby, all the best for this pregnancy! So right, we can’t take anything for granted…Trusting in the good Lord.
What a scare this must have been. Can never take it for granted. Rest well my dear and take care of yourself. Will keep praying for you and baby.
Susan recently posted..Mum’s best tip for removing stains – Vanish!
what a terrible, terrible scare! thank goodness both you and baby are doing well! do take care of yourself, ok?
Mabel recently posted..Turning 26
Oh June! I can imagine the thoughts that ran through your mind and that anxiety! Do relax and yes, pump up on water. *hugs*
Adeline recently posted..[Recipe] Wholesome Potato Leek Bisque
very thankful to hear that it was just a bad scare too.. rest well and take good care of yourself. hugs
Ai Sakura recently posted..Wordless Wednesday {linky party}: Joys of Parenting with Jith | Week 26
*hugs* Thank God all is fine!!!!
Cindy recently posted..Reboot
Glad to hear that. Take more rest.
Ally recently posted..My Cancerians
Hugs… Praying for baby, and trusting in His protection over you and your little one.
San recently posted..Yummiest macaron. Ever.
Really glad baby and you are both fine now. Do take care! *hugs*
Jayne recently posted..2013. July. Day #17 – DIY Art class
So glad that everything is fine.(hugs) Do take things s.l.o.w.e.r in pace…..
Such a scary episode! I know exactly how you felt, because I had bleeding a couple of times during my pregnancy, and was put on bedrest too. I cried buckets, especially when I thought the baby had stopped moving. Thank God that all is well with you now, and I’ll definitely pray that He will see you safely through this pregnancy! Take good care of yourself, ya?
Adeline recently posted..Product Review: Smart Trike Dream
Thanks Adeline. I’m a little surprised to know that so many of us have gone similar situations!
Oh my, what a scare! Glad that you and baby are alright. I know what you mean about finding the taste of water bland. Rest well and take good care!
Jin Ai recently posted..Food and nutrition education at home for kids