16th February 2009
Ever heard of 'anembryonic pregnancy'? No? Mummy didn't know about it either, until it happened very recently. The term, also known as 'blighted ovum' refers to when a fertilized egg attaches itself to the uterine wall, but the embryo does not develop. In other words, cells develop to form the pregnancy sac, but not the embryo itself.
Sounds unusual right? Who would have thought that it could happen, after a positive pregnancy test, and when the belly have started to show? Just imagine, mummy had found out she was expecting when we received news that there is no visible developing embryo on the ultrasound.
Frustrated, of course, and definitely sad too. Mummy first learned about the diagnosis about two weeks ago after her first ultrasound, and was given two weeks before a miscarriage will occur naturally. Still hoping for a miracle, mummy waited anxiously until finally last Friday some bleeding occurred. Daddy rushed back from Seria and brought mummy to Jerudong Park Medical Centre (where Safiya was born) and after a second ultrasound, mummy's doctor confirms the same finding.
Since mummy had the minor bleeding, her doctor suggested a D&C (dilatation and curettage), a surgical procedure in which the cervix is dilated and the lining of the uterus is scraped. This means that mummy and daddy had to choose between the desire to continue on hoping, or follow the doctor's advice. In the end, they decided to go on with the procedure in order to avoid any infection, as well as any risks to future pregnancies due to blockage of the fallopian tubes.
When Safiya and I woke up the next morning, mummy and daddy already left for mummy's surgery. We visited her in the afternoon, and I straightly asked mummy if the "baby" has come out. When mummy said yes (actually referring to the surgery), I asked where the baby was. I was confused when mummy said there's no baby, but soon stopped asking questions when I see her sad expression.
So, what causes this? According to a [source], a woman’s body recognizes abnormal chromosomes in a fetus and naturally does not try to continue the pregnancy because the fetus will not develop into a normal, healthy baby. This can be caused by abnormal cell division, or poor quality sperm or egg.
Another [source] suggests that a woman can choose to wait to miscarry naturally (or until knowing for sure there is absolutely no hope) provided there is no fever, excessive pain nor excessive bleeding and has stable vital signs. It must be noted though that a baby may not be seen on an ultrasound when the pregnancy is merely a few weeks old, or if the mother has a 'retroverted uterus' (tipped or tilted uterus; i.e. uterus that tilts back towards the rectal area).
We hope that this sheds new information, and if it happens to anyone (we hope not), have a proper check-up and get second opinions before making any decisions. But when health is at stake, it is worth it to follow the doctors' advice. After all, they are the experts!
For now, we hope that mummy gets well soon, and hopefully another blessing will come around to cheer up mummy and daddy, as well as us too!
Here are pictures, in memory of our short term sibling...
Ever heard of 'anembryonic pregnancy'? No? Mummy didn't know about it either, until it happened very recently. The term, also known as 'blighted ovum' refers to when a fertilized egg attaches itself to the uterine wall, but the embryo does not develop. In other words, cells develop to form the pregnancy sac, but not the embryo itself.
Sounds unusual right? Who would have thought that it could happen, after a positive pregnancy test, and when the belly have started to show? Just imagine, mummy had found out she was expecting when we received news that there is no visible developing embryo on the ultrasound.
Frustrated, of course, and definitely sad too. Mummy first learned about the diagnosis about two weeks ago after her first ultrasound, and was given two weeks before a miscarriage will occur naturally. Still hoping for a miracle, mummy waited anxiously until finally last Friday some bleeding occurred. Daddy rushed back from Seria and brought mummy to Jerudong Park Medical Centre (where Safiya was born) and after a second ultrasound, mummy's doctor confirms the same finding.
Since mummy had the minor bleeding, her doctor suggested a D&C (dilatation and curettage), a surgical procedure in which the cervix is dilated and the lining of the uterus is scraped. This means that mummy and daddy had to choose between the desire to continue on hoping, or follow the doctor's advice. In the end, they decided to go on with the procedure in order to avoid any infection, as well as any risks to future pregnancies due to blockage of the fallopian tubes.
When Safiya and I woke up the next morning, mummy and daddy already left for mummy's surgery. We visited her in the afternoon, and I straightly asked mummy if the "baby" has come out. When mummy said yes (actually referring to the surgery), I asked where the baby was. I was confused when mummy said there's no baby, but soon stopped asking questions when I see her sad expression.
So, what causes this? According to a [source], a woman’s body recognizes abnormal chromosomes in a fetus and naturally does not try to continue the pregnancy because the fetus will not develop into a normal, healthy baby. This can be caused by abnormal cell division, or poor quality sperm or egg.
Another [source] suggests that a woman can choose to wait to miscarry naturally (or until knowing for sure there is absolutely no hope) provided there is no fever, excessive pain nor excessive bleeding and has stable vital signs. It must be noted though that a baby may not be seen on an ultrasound when the pregnancy is merely a few weeks old, or if the mother has a 'retroverted uterus' (tipped or tilted uterus; i.e. uterus that tilts back towards the rectal area).
We hope that this sheds new information, and if it happens to anyone (we hope not), have a proper check-up and get second opinions before making any decisions. But when health is at stake, it is worth it to follow the doctors' advice. After all, they are the experts!
For now, we hope that mummy gets well soon, and hopefully another blessing will come around to cheer up mummy and daddy, as well as us too!
Here are pictures, in memory of our short term sibling...
Mummy's pregnancy test, carried out in Australia mid-December last year.
Mummy's first ultrasound, when the pregnancy is around 11 weeks old. Notice the black area? That is where the baby is supposed to be developing, but this finding shows an empty womb.
2 comments:
Amar & family
Sorry to hear about your loss.
Salam,
Azmi & family
Thank you Ngian for the kind thought.. It was not meant to be I guess, alum ada rezki.. But Alhamdulillah my wife is recovering really well.
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