The First Trimester. (Part 3)

So for my second prenatal checkup at Week 12, I got to the clinic at 07:45 but they only started to call the numbers at 08:04.
My number was called at 08:30 where the nurse pricked my finger to test my haemoglobin and asked me to pee in a cup. Since Monkey was with me this time around, she also did a rapid HIV test on him. They would've done the test had he been around on my first visit. Apparently it's a new requirement since the beginning of 2017 where they test the parents for HIV.
My number was called again at 08:50 into the room of nurses where I saw nurse Kavitha. (My previous nurse was actually 7 months pregnant when I first saw her, which is probably the reason why I had to change nurses.) I got myself weighed, we chatted a bit, she asked how I was getting along with Iberet, where I plan on having the baby and then she checked my tummy.

She then set my next two appointments in the next month. One for me to see the Family Medicine Specialist (FMS) because I have a higher risk of pregnancy; being a smoker, and another where I'll have to do the glucose tolerance test (MGTT).
I was done by 09:10 AM! Totally wasted our coins on the parking meter.

Since it was still early and we didn't have anything else planned, Monkey suggested that we check out Hospital Umra to see what's the procedure should we decide to deliver there.
We decided on Umra because we're familiar with Shah Alam and the traffic, plus my family is still there. We do have a few hospital choices, ones that are closer, but we figured that the traffic could turn scary so Umra seemed reasonable for the time being.

Unfortunately I don't have the timestamps for this visit except that I got there at 10:45 AM. Didn't take long to get my number called to the small room where they took my weight and blood pressure, but once that was done, the wait to see a doctor was quite long.
When we finally got to see her, she told us that since I am in my twelfth/thirteenth week, it was actually perfect timing for me to get the Nuchal Translucency (NT) scan. It is an ultrasound best done when the pregnancy is twelve to fourteen weeks, where the sonographer would focus and measure the liquid (space) at the back of the foetus' neck.
You can read more on NT scan here.

We waited for about an hour before my number was called. Monkey and I was getting irritated by then because we were both hungry and I personally was very nervous about the scan. I just couldn't stop worrying throughout my first trimester, really.
Then my number was called, and Monkey get to come with me. The technician did her thing and we get to see lil' Nugget wiggle about for the first time. That totally made our day. All the hours spent waiting was totally worth it!

So here's what I learn this time around;
1. If you like to keep your own record of the pregnancy, go ahead and get your prenatal check up at a government clinic. I've always liked to read and I knew I was going to blog and journal my experiences so having a record where I can always refer to really helps.
2. Most private clinic or hospitals does not have a book where you can take home with you. With my visits in Umra and Yan's Specialist Women's Clinic, they'd just handed me a small appointment card.
3. expecting fathers should be present for the first prenatal check-up for the rapid HIV test -- it's just a finger prick.
EDIT: it is a requirement if you're doing your check-up in KL, apparently. Selangor had no such requirement.
4. Haemoglobin (Hb), urine, weight and blood pressure check is pretty standard for every visit.
5. Prenatal check-ups for Malaysians are free at the government clinic (you don't even have to pay RM1) while my visits at Umra had costed over RM100 each time. (RM50 doctor's fee, RM60 for an ultrasound, RM179 for a detailed scan by a sonographer.)
6. The KKIA in Kuchai is quite small, I'd feel bad if Monkey comes with me for every visit because there aren't a lot of seats. I for one, am glad that we have two check-ups, one at the government's clinic where I don't have to pay for any of the tests done and the supplements that they gave me every month, while the other at the private hospital where Monkey gets to come in with me and experience everything together. Sure, there are expecting fathers at the KKIA as well, but I personally would feel bad if Monkey had to stand in a corner somewhere while we wait for our number and squeeze in the nurses' room. That's just me.