Our Second OB Visit — September 22, 2025
Read first: Our First OB Visit
There was a typhoon that day. The wind was strong, the sky dark even in the morning, and the rain just wouldn’t stop. I didn’t feel light or energetic at all. My body felt heavy, like it was telling me to slow down and be careful.
It had been about three to four weeks since our first OB visit. I waited this long on purpose — I wanted to come in around 8 to 9 weeks so we could finally see a heartbeat. Last August, the screen showed nothing. No sac, no baby. It broke my heart a little, even though I tried to act okay. So this checkup really meant a lot.
We also decided to move to a new doctor, Dr. Portia, whose clinic was closer to Lingayen. She was calm, kind, and straight to the point — just what I needed.
That morning, Sammy woke up early, around 7 AM, and went straight to the clinic to get a number. He came back immediately, soaked from the rain but smiling. “Number 3,” he said proudly. Thank God.
When we got there at 10am, the clinic was packed and quiet. The air smelled like grass. I sat quietly, feeling a mix of excitement and fear. I didn’t want to expect too much, but deep down, I was praying hard for a sign of life.
When my turn came, I called Sam, I lay down while Dr. Portia prepared the ultrasound. My heart was beating fast. I kept thinking about the first time — the empty screen, the silence, the worry that maybe something was wrong with me. Dr. Portia asked a lot of questions which we answered, and she also read my previous ultrasound and results.
She came in. After just a few seconds, Dr. Portia smiled and said, “Oh, meron na!”
And there it was — a tiny shape flickering on the screen. My baby.
“Deh! Oh!” I kept saying to Sammy, smiling and can't even say anything. He was too stunned 😂. Dr. Portia said, “May heartbeat na — 177 beats per minute. Maganda yan.”
I just stared at the screen, smiling. That tiny heartbeat was the most beautiful sound I’d ever heard. All the fear, all the waiting, all the times I doubted myself — it all eased in that one moment.
It was our first time seeing the baby, our first time hearing that strong, fast heartbeat. A milestone I’ll never forget.
Dr. Portia reminded me to keep taking my folic acid, multivitamins, and fish oil, to eat regularly, and to rest as much as I can. She said everything looked good. Those words were such a relief. She also prescribed Utrogestan for extra progesterone support, requested for blood tests as well.
When we left, the rain is still calm. The wind still blew softly, but it felt different now — gentle, lighter. Sammy bought me buko juice before heading home, and we just sat quietly, smiling.
That night, I looked at the ultrasound photo again — that tiny light in the middle of the dark screen. I tucked it beside my pillow and whispered a small thank you.
Because this time, we didn’t walk out of the clinic empty.
We walked out with a heartbeat — 177 beats of hope.
Next: Our Third OB Visit – October 20, 2025
