Lisa went home with a peaceful mind, actually she felt quite worried at first. Because she has understood some principles in Zhuan Falun (the main book of Falun Dafa) that: “Birth, old age, illness, and death exist in this way for everyday people” and “doing good deeds is met with good rewards, and being evil is met with evil returns.” (1). With that understanding, she tried to practice according to the teaching and correct her thinking, speech, and behavior to “Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance” principles.
Fortunately, the screening test for fetal chromosome abnormality was normal, and there was no vaginal bleeding until the scheduled prenatal exam.
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At Dr Jack's clinics. There was a knock at the door.
Dr Jack: come in please!
Ms Jane: Hi Doctor, this is Lisa. She had finished the second trimester screening ultrasound. Here is the result report.
Dr Jack: Thank you, Jane. Lisa, come in please. You went alone today.
Lisa: Hello doctor. I feel ok, and Andrew is busy with work today. So I told him I am going to have the exam by myself.
Dr Jack: The ultrasound shows the fetus has a good growth, no structural abnormality detected, normal amniotic fluid, normal umbilical cord. However, the placenta still covers the whole internal cervical os. I call this condition “complete placenta previa”. I am sorry to say that. From now on, you should pay more attention if there is bleeding from your vaginal or not. In some cases the condition could resolve spontaneously, so we need an ultrasound at 32 weeks of gestation to confirm.
Lisa: I see, Doctor.
Dr Jack: How do you feel now?
Lisa: I feel ok, no matter what happens, I will think positively. Don't worry, Doctor.
Dr Jack: The next visit would be 4 weeks later, at that time we will do a test screening for gestational diabetes, and check for fetal growth. Keep cultivating Falun Dafa diligently, it is a good way for you to overcome this hardship.
Lisa: Ok Doctor, I will.
Dr Jack: Bye for today.
Lisa: Bye bye.
Lisa has a real complete placenta previa now. The good point is she had no vaginal bleeding and her mind was in a very good state. However, one other high risk situatio will going to occur. What is that?
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Four weeks later, at Dr Jack clinics. There was a knock at the door.
Dr Jack: come in please!
Ms Jane: Hi Doctor, here are the oral glucose tolerance tests and fetal growth ultrasound of Lisa.
Dr Jack: Hi Lisa, come in and sit down please! You go alone again.
Lisa: Yes, I feel really ok. So I don’t want Andrew to worry about me.
Dr Jack: That is good. What a strong mind you have! Let's see the result today. The fetal growth is still in the normal range although the placenta is still there. However, the blood test showed that you are positive for gestational diabetes mellitus. It means that your body now could not maintain your blood sugar at the normal range.
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The other high risk that Lisa had is gestational diabetes mellitus. It is a condition in which carbohydrate intolerance develops during pregnancy. It has been estimated that there is about 7% pregnancy having any type of diabetes mellitus, among them there is 86% having gestational diabetes mellitus. This condition could lead to compilations to both mother and the fetus. Mother may have increased risk of C section, trauma birth, and developing diabetes (predominantly type 2 diabetes) later in life. Fetuses may have an increased risk of larger fetal age, birth trauma, and stillbirth. Maintaining blood sugar of mother in the safety zone is a cornerstone in management of this condition. Fortunately, it is estimated that 90% of pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus will be managed successfully by lifestyle modification including dietary modifications, exercise, and glucose monitoring. Medication will be added if it fails with lifestyle modification only.
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Come back to our story.
Dr Jack: But don’t be worried. Most women having the same condition as you will be ok with dietary modification and exercise. So, now you should have a consultation with a dietician and buy a device to monitor your blood sugar at home. Keep the blood sugar diary and bring it to me on the next visit. This is the recommended exercise along with your current exercise. Medication will be needed in case we fail with these methods.
Lisa: Thank you, doctor.
Dr Jack: We will monitor your blood sugar level and fetal growth. Then we will adjust if needed.
Lisa: I have been quite slacking off from the Falun Dafa exercises recently as my baby becomes bigger.
Dr Jack: I understand. It is not easy, just try your best. Do you have any more questions?
Lisa: No, Thanks Doctor.
Dr Jack: See you in the next visit.
Lisa: see, you.
Lisa had a consultation with a dietician and bought a blood glucose meter. It is not easy for her as she has a double complication. How these complications affect Lisa and her fetus. Please come to the next chapter.
https://www.ganjingworld.com/s/yOz4Jyez6l
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Reference.
1. Zhuan Falun (English, Translated in 2014), Li Hongzhi. https://falundafa.org/eng/eng/zfl2014/zfl_2014.html
2.ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 190: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus. Obstet Gynecol. 2018 Feb;131(2):e49-e64. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000002501. PMID: 29370047