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The Journey of a Thousand Steps Begins with One

Today is day 5 of my BCP and also the 4th day of my return to prenatal vitamins. So far, so good. I am still getting my daily headaches, although they have become noticeably less painful everyday. My energy level has been good, and conversely, have not experienced the insomnia I had last week upon first taking the prenatal vitamins.

I’ve been reading What to Expect When You’re Expecting as a way to stay ahead of the game. In doing so, I read about a genetic disease most common to those of Southern Asian descent, particularly Filipinos, called Thalassemia. Thalassemia is a form of anemia that causes the body to produce less hemoglobin, which is responsible for carrying oxygen in the blood throughout the body. There are two forms and one of which is deadly. Evidently, this is one genetic disease that we must look out for.

Thankfully, we are opting to undergo the process of Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD). Mainly, we are using this procedure for gender selection for our baby/babies, but PGD also screens embryos for a number of genetic or chromosomal abnormalities, including Thalassemia. I have not heard of anyone in my family on either side ever mention anything about Thalassemia or any history of anemia (with the exception of my mild version, which I attribute to the irregular bleeding I went through in July/August); in fact, I had not heard of it until I saw it in WEWYE, but I made it a point to e-mail June, our Patient Coordinator / “Nurturer” at Pacific Reproductive Center, to ask if they will specifically screen fro Thalassemia during our PGD process. If not, I am prepared to request my regular doctor for an amniocentesis at 16 weeks, just to check for Thalassemia or any other red flags. God-willing we get [a] happy, healthy, and normal baby / babies.

Tomorrow, my hysteroscopy is scheduled for 10 a.m. John and I have both taken the day off work because I will be put under general anesthesia for the 40-minute long procedure. While it is considered a surgical procedure, it is minor, and an outpatient procedure. I am nervous, but it did make me feel better that my regular doctor, Dr. Martinez, left me a message this morning that she inspected my ultrasound results (albeit from 4 weeks ago) and that they came out normal.

Despite the expense of $900 extra dollars for tomorrow’s procedure, I am confident and ready for it, and feel so lucky that my husband is so present and supportive in everything that has to do with having a baby. So far, our battles and roadblocks have been manageable, and we pray for our journey to be the same all the way through.

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