Being new in this area, and I mean motherhood, I certainly do not know what to expect when it comes to labour and delivery. The husband as well, of course.
And so on the
7th of December 2012, practically everyone was asking me if I am delivering soon. I, myself, was feeling so heavy that I wanted him out already. My husband saw how I was struggling with the weight and my very swollen feet, told the baby to give me signs of contraction when we were on our way to dinner at Bukit Bintang.
At 2am on the
8th of December 2012, I woke up to go to the toilet (I was getting up for the toilet at least once every night). Then I saw a bloody show. I quickly walked back to the room and told the husband to see if it was really blood. I also had some vaginal discharge.
Guess what ... the husband said "wow ... yeay!"
-___-
I quickly washed my hair and took a bath. When I was out, I saw the husband packing up his laptop, phone charger, sweater ... all ready for the hospital. I took out my prayer book and did a full prayer while the husband took a shower as well.
Then, I thought I should also whatsapp my friends. Well, at 5am, only Jasmine (2 hours advance in Brisbane) replied. She advised that I call the hospital and talk to the midwife.
Good idea. Just in case it's a false alarm.
So, I called and the midwife told me that since I do not have any contractions yet, I should stay home unless my vaginal discharge got worst.
I told the husband and we both went back to sleep.
-_____-
On the other hand, my best friend Kai Pei was freaking out saying that I should go to the hospital to check ... why am I listening to the midwife! =.=
Ok, I checked and my bleeding was getting worst so we took my baby bag and headed to the hospital.
At the hospital, the midwife hook me up on the CTG Machine to check on the baby's heartbeat and my contractions. She also did a check to see if I'm dilated.
Oh well, no dilation yet but she said "but I have already triggered it."
After being monitored on the CTG Machine for half an hour, the midwife said that we should go to the mall and walk the whole day as it'll be good for my dilation.
Heh, ok thanks.
The husband brought me to Pavilion and I had the most dreadful walk ever. I felt something like cramps at 1pm. And then it came again half hour later. I wasn't sure if it's just cramps due to me feeling already very uncomfortable ... or was it a contraction.
We went to Din Tai Fung for lunch. I had to stop eating for a while, take a breathe as the contraction came and go.
We came back and I had more rest before the husband suggesting to go for a nice dinner at one of the restaurants. He said I could order anything I feel like eating :)
I requested for 2 things: stir fry potato leaves with garlic & salted egg fried
sotong
As we were having dinner, I was timing my contraction. At that point of time, I wasn't really THAT sure that they were contractions. But they were getting really close as time goes by.
During dinner, it was 10 minutes apart. On. The. Dot.
After dinner, I watched TVB dramas on the laptop while recording time on my phone to see how far apart were my contractions. They were getting closer at 8 minutes by midnight.
On the
9th of December, I was cramping all the way while timing every time it happens. By 5am, it was already 5 minutes apart. I couldn't take it anymore. It was so painful each time when it happens. I didn't sleep the whole night through.
By 6am+, I heard my mother-in-law wake up, I told her about the cramps and she was doubting if they were contractions. She said I should wait until I couldn't take it anymore before going to the hospital. The husband said "
but your water bag hasn't break yet!"
Trust me, I nearly shouted at him.
Do you know how painful the contractions were?! VERY.
Anyway, I washed up and wanted to try to catch a wink. I sat on the bed and before I could lie down, I felt like a bubble break in my vagina. *bloop* like that. I quickly stood up and the next thing I know, my pants were wet.
MY WATER BAG BROKE.
The husband was now in panic mode. I asked him to place the plastic baby mat in the car so I wouldn't wet his car seat. I went to the bathroom and showered.
The water continued flowing ... and I could see that it was greenish. My heart sank a little as I knew it is meconium meaning baby had already poo.
I was praying that the doc would not want to cut me up but still allow me to give birth naturally.
When we arrive Prince Court Medical Center at 7am, I was already counting every step I took. I was very heavily pregnant (to the max), legs were so swollen, contractions happening every 3 - 5 minutes and last for about 20 seconds each time it happens. Brilliant. But I forced myself to walk all the way from the carpark to the labour suites on the 6th floor.
The midwife who triggered my contractions earlier the day before was there at the counter when I arrived. She raised her eye-brow and said "
oh you're back! Good then!"
-_____-
Another midwife attended to me. Both the husband and I were brought into Labour Suite No. 5. The CTG machine was immediately strap on to me to check baby's heartbeat and my contractions again. All good. She checked my dilation and I was already 3cm dilated. Great!
I was then given the sarong and all to change into. Then, she asked the magic question "
would you describe your pain now as OK, Average or Bad?"
How would I know? Average? I had nothing to compare to!
And then the other magic question followed "so any pain relief you'll opt for?"
The husband told her that we've decided on epidural with Dr Paul (my oby-gyn) but I was so heroic I told her "I'll still think about it ... I'll let you know in a while if I want epidural now"
The husband told me to just get it before it's too late as I was already 3cm dilated. And then my contraction happened AGAIN. This time excruciating pain. It has gotten worst. Perhaps my dilation has increased a bit.
The midwife came in to prepare a few things. I quickly asked for epidural.
At the same time, the midwife injected something into my backside so I would clear my bowel. It was the wierdest feeling ever. >.<
The wait for the aesthetician felt forever. I was holding on to my husband's hand every time it happened.
Finally, Dr How came. Oh he was the most cheerful doctor ever. But hey, when you're in pain, you just want the pain killer. He was so nice to explain what he was going to do, if we have any questions about epidural, any doubts ... in my head, I was like "
give it to me, give it to me, give it to me ... now now now now now... pleaseeeeee now!"
I felt a little prick on my back and after that when the epidural slowly kick in, I was all high and relaxed.
My husband was replying emails on the working table or catching a wink on the sofa. The labour suite was quite comfortable.
Dr Paul finally arrived to check on my at about 10am. He checked my dilation and I was still just 4cm dilated. He said it was a soft dilation already ... meaning the walls at thinning to make way for baby. He smiled confidently and said that I should be delivering baby at about 4pm latest.
By 2pm, I was about 6cm dilated. And then the epidural was running out ... I was a little panicky. The midwife quickly refilled.
kiasi.
At 4pm, I was still only 7cm dilated. They informed Dr Paul.
At 6pm, I was 9cm dilated! The midwife came and said that she will start delivering the baby and she'll call Dr Paul once baby is in position.
Oh my, the epidural was doing its job really well. I couldn't really feel the contraction that much, thus didn't know how much to push. I kept trying to push but it wasn't working. Baby was still really high up. I could feel his legs pushing against my ribs! We kept trying to push for about 15minutes I think ... and I could see in their (midwives) faces that there isn't any improvement.
In no time, Dr Paul came and said that I should lay down on my side and tried pushing by myself. Once I feel that I need to really poo, that's the signal and I should call the midwives. The husband was on my side, kept counting and pushing with me. It really helped. I could feel baby's head pushing down ... I really needed to poo.
Then the midwives came back and we started to push again. After a few tries ... again they look frustrated.
Man, I was really lousy!!!!
Then, Dr Paul came in and said "Lee Sa, you're not doing it right you know ... you're not pushing enough."
He strap on a plastic apron looking thingy and sat down in front of me. We started to push again. He instructed the nurses to lessen the dosage of epidural. There wasn't enough time. He vacuumed out the baby ... even had blood splashed on to his face. He had to make a cut to make way for baby's face too.
I just knew Dr Paul was frustrated (but still talking to me really calmly) and everyone was also frustrated... I was trying my best to push and in no time, I felt a huge flush inside me .. baby's out :)
Dr Paul placed my baby on me. I was so overwhelmed (and tired) I didn't know how to respond really. I was just very happy. I couldn't even cry.
The midwives took him to this little white cubicle just beside me, cleared his throat and he was crying really loud. That's when I wanted to cry. Maybe it only hit me that my baby's born.
My husband said he was using his hands to close his eyes. I could see that the husband was overjoyed.
He turned to me and he said "
thank you" :)
Then, I nearly cried again ... but I was so tired I just couldn't react to anything.
All that happening and Dr Paul sewing me up at the same time ... plus the midwife injected something on my lap to let the sac flow out ... I had a lot happening inside, under and around me.
Finally, our baby has arrived. A healthy bouncing baby boy.
His name is Ethan Leong Zhi Xi.
3.37KG.
57cm long.
We are truly blessed :)
