#3- Birth Story ;)

This birth story is ultra short because it all happened within 1.5 hours- from the time I woke up to get ready to the time baby was born. This time I listened carefully to my gynae- pain level -7/10, contractions last 30 secs, 8 mins apart. 

I started feeling contractions after making THE Facebook post but it was not painful- so mild that I thought they were braxton hicks. The contractions were then 4-5mins apart but pain level was only 2-3/10. So fulfils only 2 out of 3 criteria. 

Tried to get some sleep and sleep I did at about 1.20am - too excited about the possibility of meeting him. Baby M was asleep but started tossing around quite madly in her play pen at about 3.15am... Then she finally cried at 3.20am. Hug her to bed and went to toilet. While lying down, contractions came strongly. Was still struggling if I should head to the hospital and after three contractions which were abt 3-4 mins apart, I decided it was time to get to hospital. Woke hubby up and went to wash up. 

Moved quickly, reached hospital at 3.40am. By which I could barely move/talk when I had the contraction. Went to toilet to change to the blue gown... Couldn't pee to get urine sample because it was just too painful - by which I also noticed that my panty liners were fully stained. 

Nurse did a check and found me to be 9cm dilated *all gasped!*. They moved very quickly to give me my anti-biotic for the GBS... I was begging for my pethedine. The very nice Indian nurse told me its too late for pethedine since I was soooo close to labour. *sobs*

And so after agonizing through countless contractions in the delivery suite and hubby away trying to get paperwork done, all I could do is hold on to the gas mask for dear life. The nurses were all saying breathe-breathe deeply but all I could think of "what if Dr Tseng cannot come in time?". 

Less than an hour after walking into the delivery suite, Dr Tseng made, broke the waterbag/ membrane and with 2 pushes... Presenting Baby Tey... 

速战速决！

After thought: Was really happy that I managed to survive through those contractions without invasive pain killers. The gas mask was not as stinky as before and actually deep breathing does help - even though I must say it's really really damn difficult for me to breathe when the pain essentially "took my breathe away". Thanks hubby for allowing me to squeeze yr fingers when the contractions came... ;) 

The 2nd birth story...

The lack of updated post here could only mean one thing - Yes! I have delivered my precious #2!

On week 39 day 3, hubby and I together with little gal went to see my gynae at TMC. The appointment was at 10.25am. At the clinic and the day prior, I was experiencing mild discomfort at the abdomen area. I already suspected that it would be that Saturday or Sunday... 4 years have passed since my #1, I can barely remember how contractions felt like not to mention how to time them.

In brief, my 2nd labor seemed longer as contractions began to become irregular and my dilation got "stuck". I would attribute this to the fact that my waterbag did not break until Dr Tseng broke it before delivery.

Here is the timeline (notice everything is approximate since I was not staring at any clocks):

1025hrs : appointment with Dr Tseng. Baby head has gone down hence cannot see baby's face in the ultrasound.

~1100hrs: Hubby dropped me at the hawker centre to buy my brunch and my helper's lunch.

~1130hrs: Pain gradually increasing, told hb that labour was impending and I wanted to pack the hospital bag into the car, just in case... 

~1200hrs: Eventually, decided to send little gal to MIL's place just in case I needed to go to the hospital. Contractions were bad enough that I just stayed in the car to rest.

~1215hrs: Dropped by AMK to buy my Pigeon disposable breastpad (last thing on my to buy list). Enroute to shop, a sharp contraction pain came and I just froze on the spot to wait for the pain to go.

~1230hrs: Told hubby he should get lunch before we headed to TMC to check out my contractions.

~1400hrs: Reached TMC. Nurses did a VE. I was 5cm dilated and effaced. Contractions were regular but not strong. Since I was 5cm, there was no way they were sending me home.

~1600hrs: Another VE was conducted. I was quite dissappointed as I was still 5-6cm dilated! :( Nurses also noted that my contractions seem to be slowing down...

~1730hrs: Dr Tseng came in to see me and asked if I wanted to stay in the delivery suite or go up to a ward to rest. I opted for the latter since I didn't want to be strapped to the bed by a CTG monitor and I didn't want to use a bed pan to pee!

~1800hrs: Walk about at level 3 ward to see if walking could speed up the contractions and help with the dilation.

~1900hrs: Hubby spotted his colleague's twins in the nursery and we went to her room to congratulate her.

~2030hrs: Contractions seem to be coming back and the pain was pretty intense. Headed back to room to lie down on my side. After 5 sets of quite painful contractions, decided to call for nurse to bring me down to the labor ward.

~2100hrs: Contractions got really bad. VE was conducted and I was 8cm dilated. I was asked if I needed epidural and I said no.

~2200hrs: Used laughing gas but it didn't help. The pain was so intense as it travelled to my inner thighs. The pethedine was adminstered and it did not really help. Hubby stood by helplessly as I super 没形象, groaning in pain with each contraction. Eventually told hubby to squeeze my inner thighs as the contractions came.

~2230hrs: The nurse did another VE, I was 9cm dilated but the baby was still very high as the waterbag was still intact. She asked if I had the urge to push and all that I could muster was PAIN! V PAIN!!

~2300hrs: Finally, Dr Tseng arrived to break the waterbag. He left the room to see another fellow mummy as the nurse told me to try pushing. I made a half hearted push as it was just too painful for me. Dr Tseng came in and said that baby's head was crowning. After 4 pushes under Dr Tseng's guidance and the nurses' encouragement, baby emerged! ;)

Here are photos of baby and us. :)

The same red lips as big sister! :)

 

Tired after labour but still must take a picture with baby!
 

Photos Galore

Here are some photos which were taken immediately after the delivery...

This is just moments after baby is born. She was placed on my tummy and I was struggling to keep awake. *haha* But one thing is for sure, she is definetely warmer than my tummy!

This was taken by the mid-wife after baby has been weighed and cleaned up of the white coating. My hubby said he should have positioned himself behind me instead... Don't you think I still look super exhausted and tired?

Now me and baby are ready to be moved to my own room. Baby has stopped crying and is peacefully asleep. Sweet realisation of a warm being lying next to me.

Back in the comfort of our own room, here is baby sticking her tongue at the camera. It's a sign of her wanting to feed?

PD visited baby early morning and told me that baby had slight jaundice. She was getting her tested and would let me know if baby could be discharged. Was so worried but as you can see in the photo, baby and me all dressed to head home. A final photo at the hospital!

Little Princess

It has taken me a long time to put up this blog. Being on the chinese confinement regime and a full time "cow" is not an easy job.  Before I complain about my miserable life of bathing with herbal water and not being able to wash my hair...

My wish for a natural delivery without epidurial has came true! My mum told me she survived without a drip of pain killer. And if I were to be giving birth during her era, I might have been forced to go without any form of pain relief. Here is my birth story:

5.00am – Had mild contractions and found some discharge with a little pink dot inside. Went back to sleep due to the false alarm episode.

7.00am – Contractions seem more painful. Found mucus plug (a thick yellowish discharge) with red lines. Discharge subsequently was red in colour. [Woke hubby up! Hubby instantly became excited and started to get ready. I went to bathe and began timing the contractions. They were 2 minutes apart.] 

7.50am – Reach TMC [Messaged my parents, sister and called my aunt to tell them that I am in hospital and most prob will be giving birth soon.]

8.10am – Went to the observation ward. Nurse check and found that I was already 4cm dilated, effaced and baby’s head was low. Contractions were much worse than the contractions from the false alarm. [Kept running in and out of the toilet with every contraction. Was so afraid I did not finish poo-ing.]

9.10am – After using the laughing gas (Ethonox), the nurse actually told me that I was coping well with the pain and what I was experiencing was the maximum pain. After a few more round of contractions, I decided not to risk screaming the entire labour ward down and I was given pethedine on my right thigh. 

9.20am – Gynae came in for the 1st check. He found that I was 6cm dilated and decided to break my water bag so that the labour will progress faster.  [For me, I could not feel the water rush out. But my bump did feel pretty good from the "water" gush!]

9.50am – Contractions seem to be getting closer, there was no time for a breather. My head was starting to spin a little from the contractions so I closed my eyes and breath each time one came up. Midwife transfers me to Labor Ward Rm 3.

10.40am – Feeling the urge to poo and pee, the midwife did a final VE. I was fully dilated and ready!

Pushing was put in progress... Baby finally arrived after less than ½ hr of pushing!

I kept falling asleep when the contractions were gone. But when the contractions came, I was rudely awaken! Half way through the pushing, I kept thinking if I could just "PAUSE" and that this will be the last time I attempt such an act. 

The pain was intense but forgettable (I have clean forgotten about how the pain is like). I guess it's second nature to a woman and when you ask me now, I will tell you that it is a once in a lifetime experience you have to go for! And yes, I will definetly have more kids.

Even though my gynae did a perinial massage for me while I was pushing, I still teared. I was given about 3 stiches there. The antiseptic lotion (alcohol) stung my wound. I was very tempted to not pee so that I can avoid cleaning the wound.

False Alarm!!!

You won't get a prize for guessing what this entry is all about. It was a costly boo-boo which also caused much excitement for both my hubby and my little sister.

My little sister took leave to keep me company while hubby is serving his national-duty (Erhm! I mean reservist ok?) on Wednesday - 10 Dec 2008. Feeling adventurous, we did quite some walking the entire day:-

- Walking to Bukit Merah Central for Mac breakfast (finally I satisfied my craving for sausage egg mac muffin);

- Retail therapy for 2 hours at the NTUC before strolling back home [Break for 3 hours and had lunch downstairs];

- Took a train to Tiong Bahru to buy my DHA pills (special one for pregnant women) then took a bus down to Chinatown market (the one near OG);

- Walked for 3 hours from shop to shop (till my sister splurged $170 on office wear);

- Walked more to the bus stop for a bus ride home.

At about 7.30pm, I noticed some cramps at my lower abdomen. During my bath, I had some bad cramps (i.e. a big pain/cramp followed by smaller ones before they disappeared) and I could actually time all these cramps. They were 8 minutes apart! Freaking out, I quickly SMSed my hubby for him to book out of camp after he was done with his out-field.

1.15am - Reached the hospital and told the nurses that I was not sure if I was indeed in labour.

1.30am - A vaginal examination (VE) was conducted. I was "effaced" and "2cm dilated" and hubby went to do the admission for me. In my heart I was thinking "Yeah!!! Baby is going to come!!!".

7.15am - It was a grueling 6hrs in the observatory ward as I couldn't get to sleep. Nurse does a final CTG check and sends me off to a labour ward.

7.30am - 2nd VE conducted. Diagnosis - I WAS STILL ONLY 2CM DILATED! (I was totally disappointed)

8.30am - Gynae came to see me. Moved me for a rest in my ward instead of staying in the labour ward room. Other than resting, he said I could do some walking and look at the babies in the nursery. After moving to the ward, I felt myself drifting off to sleep each time I lie on the bed. Guess I was just to exhausted from the wait in the observatory ward.

3.30pm - Mum and dad came to visit me. Mum was so excited because the admission people told her I have delivered already... (Well, next time she better call me to confirm)

4.30pm - Gynae's 2nd visit. Rephrasing his statement, he felt I was too relaxed (meaning no real contractions) and he was ready to send me home. I wanted to go home too. Felt so bad that I had a bed to rest while my hubby is stuck to a miserable chair.

Finally, we settled the bill (with some deduction from medisave - $450). The damage was still done - about $230? It was a lesson learnt and my gynae assured me that I should ONLY come back to the hospital when my contraction pains are real bad and real close. Even then I should have 3 hours or so before I deliver the baby. With this costly advice and feeling totally upset that I did not dilate and deliver on the same day, I decided to ignore most of the cramps that came on and off today. I really hope I do not have a cervix that doesn't open/dilate... It's another thing I have to start worrying about...

Thinking back, perhaps the whole day of walking did trigger the contractions. But still I have to thank my little sister for being there and keeping me company!