Happy Mommy Adventures: Second Trimester: 16 Weeks. Happy Mommy: Goodbye Morning Sickness! Healthy Baby: Baby’s Development, Flu Vaccine, and Congenital Anomaly Scan

If you’re now on your second trimester like me, congratulations mommy, we’re halfway there! No more morning sickness and you’re feeling more active, daring, and energetic as ever! Flaunt that pretty little bump!

The Second Trimester is when baby starts getting very active and busy withdevelopment. Baby is growing hair: those beautiful lashes that you’ll adore when you play “peek-a-boo” and those pretty little eyebrows and lustrous hair are starting to sprout at this stage. Baby is also practicing her reflex movements like swallowing, kicking, “punching”, and sucking. At this stage, you’re probably starting to feel those little feet kicking and jumping up and down your belly. Isn’t it the most precious feeling in the world? Baby isn’t just a little bump in your belly,you now get to finally feel your baby and interact more with her!

A few tests and procedures I had at 16 Weeks (and what you and baby will get too):

Flu Vaccine

Did you know that aside from protecting your body (and baby’s ,as well) from the annoying and harmful effects of flu, Flu Vaccine is beneficial to your pregnancy and baby’s well-being? There are lots of benefits of flu vaccine for pregnant women and unborn babies. Pregnant mothers who have had the shot were less likely to have a stillbirth, premature birth, underweight babies, and passes the antibodies on to baby.

CAS: Congenital Anomaly Scan (18-28 Weeks)

CAS is Congenital Anomaly Scan. Congenital Anomaly Scan is very important for you and baby’s well-being. It tells you a lot about you and yourbaby’s physical health and development. It checks for abnormalities in your baby’s organs, deformities, and/or birth defects. It also gives you information on baby’s gender, position (breech, vertex, etc), placental health, grade, and location (with previa, low lying, no previa), your EDD (Estimated Due Date), baby’s age, weight, and length, position (breech, vertex, etc.) Its very helpful as it helps determine whether you’re baby is at risk of Down Syndrome, Neural Tube defects, cleft palate, to name a few. It’s usually done between 18-28 Weeks.

There are Ultrasound clinics that offer 3D/4D CAS scans. 3D gives you a three-dimensional look at your baby. 4D gives you a real-time look at baby’s face and movements. Go for either one if you want a better look at your baby. Although, a 2D scan will do for a CAS, as well.

I had my second ultrasound and baby’s 2D Congenital Anomaly Scan at 16 weeks (usually 3D/4D is not advisable during early stages, 16 weeks below, as you won’t be able to see much details as baby’s is still developing and growing). A few tips before your ultrasound, I suggest you drink a fruit shake, have a light snack, or a chocolate or granola bar so baby will be more active. Don’t forget to drink plenty of water and empty your bladder as well. Unlike my first ultrasound (Transvaginal Ultrasound: click link to read my article on Transvaginal Ultrasound and its Rates), the Sonologist slathers your tummy with lubricant and scan your tummy.You will need a Doctor’s Request for your CAS. We were too excited to see our little angel and find out the gender, that we had it too early at 16 weeks. Although, the OB/Sonologist wasn’t able to determine baby’s gender since she wanted to play safe and wait til the organs were fully developed, nothing compares to the awe and bliss of seeing your baby kicking and playing in your tummy. Daddy was even more elated and excited when he saw baby, that he had that wide smile on his face and kept replaying the ultrasound video throughout the day, and the following days after that.

San Juan Ultrasound Clinic Experience/Review:

I had my CAS at San Juan Ultrasound Clinic. It’s located at N. Domingo Street, San Juan. (5-10 minute drive from St. Luke’s) The clinic has 2-3 staff members and an OBGYN Sonologist. A waiting area is provided where patients can watch a movie or read magazines while waiting. If you get hungry, there are also some cafes and restaurants nearby. There’s a viewing area for dad, with a Flatscreen TV where he can see baby and record the ultrasound video.

*Edited August 25, 2012: When we had our 3D/4D Scan last August 13, our experience wasn't as good as the first one. The receptionist, Maricel, was very rude and inconsiderate. Service truly goes down with employees like her. We also weren't allowed to take a video of the ultrasound. I guess even with healthcare providers like this one, business is always business and by not allowing video footages, they can earn more by getting their patients to pay for a video request. We had to go back last August 22 for a re-scan and they had "Picture/video taking not allowed" posters below their LCD Monitors. I feel for all the first-time/excited parents who comes here and won't be allowed to take a video of their child's ultrasound. Another was, we came all the way from QC just to find out the doctor has already left. How inconsiderate. The least they could have done was inform their clients if their sonologists won't be able to accommodate them. Same thing happened last August 24 and had I not stood my ground and asked for a re-scan that day, the doctor would have left as well. I also found it very unprofessional for the staff to keep going in and out of the ultrasound room to see what our son looks like, check if the doctor was done, and to snoop around and check whether we were video-taping our son's ultrasound video. I don't think they know of such a thing as QUALITY SERVICE, PROFESSIONALISM and PRIVACY. Truly disgusting. I used to highly recommend this place but, if you want your money's worth and not have your supposedly wonderful ultrasound experience ruined, do not go to this place.*