Hi Pig and Amy,
So you went to the forum as well! Are you going to the one on 25 March too? Me very Kiasu. Signed up for both.
Daisybuttons,
The talk was pretty informative. It covered mainly 4 areas, (i) which are the tests performed for feotal well-being, (ii) how to have a smooth pregnancy, (iii) common childhood illnesses and the vaccinations required for your newborn, and (iv) optimal attachment for breastfeeding.
I think what really is very useful to me is (i), (ii) and (iv). (iii) was really boring as the pedeatrician was really long-winded.
but I think to first time moms, such forums provide useful information for all our reference.
On (i), it was shared by Dr Henry Cheng who is a very good sonographer (someone who is professionally certified in ultrasound). He shared on the tests which can be done to ensure that the outcome of the pregnancy is as close as what you expect it to be. Basically there are the non-invasive procedures, as well as invasive ones. Non-invasive procedures include things like double test and NT scan (done at wk 11 to 14), and triple test (done at wk 15 to wk 20). He shared on the pros and cons of each type of test, and what they can detect and their false-positive rate. He also shared what can be detected from an ultra-sound. Basically at week 20, a detailed scan is available. It is amazing what can be detected through the detailed scan. Defects such as hole in the heart, aorta deformity, bladder problems, cleft lip, spinal deformity (spinal bifida) etc can all be detected, depending on the skill of the gynea perfoming the ultrasound and the level of clarity. Mums-to-be can also elect for the doppler test, which test the rate at which blood flows in and out of the fetal heart, which detects heart defects such as heart murmurs. He also shared on the risk level for women of different ages, as well as the invasive procedures (such as Chronic Villus Sampling - which is extraction of placenta cells, and Amiocentesis - extraction of amiotic fluids) which are available. CVS is available from wk 14. And Dr Cheng also shared that such invasive tests can detect genetic deformities, such as thalassamia (which affects 3% of our population) and down syndrome with 100% accuracy, as compared to non-invasive tests. However, such invasive tests may also result in miscarriages in 0.5% of the cases.
One thing Dr Cheng also brought up was that ultrasound scans are not 100% fool-proof, given the size of the fetus, and the body has a self-aborting mechanism for unsatisfactorily pregnancies. Hence, the longer a woman carries the fetus, the lower the possibility that the fetus has severe deformities. Dr Cheng also shared that testing allows for early detection and parents can make informed decisions. Plus if the parents wish to continue with the pregnancy, the gynea can also discuss the delivery methods that will best ensure the baby's well-being.
Part (ii) was shared by Dr Lisa Chin. She shared on the vitamins and food that should be taken for pregnant women, and how to reduce pregnancy symptoms. She also shared on sex during pregnancy which was mentioned by Pig, and that sex should be avoided at the last few weeks as it can induce labour. Otherwise sex is fine as long as both parties are up to it. Lisa Cheng also mentioned that milk should not be taken together with iron supplements, as this will reduce iron absorption. Iron supplements should be taken with vitamin c to enhance its absorption rate.
I came out of the talk better informed, and also started exploring my test options. My gynea is offering triple test at week 15 for me, as well as the 5th month detailed scan and the 8th month detailed scan. I just did the NT scan with my gynea, who did not charge me for it. The NT measurement is 10mm (below 20mm), so feeling quite assured.
KKH is offering antenatal classes, which I will be going for in April. It is pretty cheap. It is $180 per couple and for 10 sessions. It covers everything from exercising to the birth process to looking after your baby. All pregnant couples can start attending from the 16th week of their pregnancy onwards. If you are interested, you can visit their website for more details and call them to make a booking. They have just opened booking for the April sessions, and the classes are snapped up pretty fast since it is max 10 couples per class.
Hope the above helps!
