Labor Stories

WH’s EDD was early Nov. I had my routine check up with my gynae on 18th Oct 2004, at that time I was already 2cm dilated, again gynae said “ANYTIME”. After the first experience, I knew that the anytime could be one week later, anyhow I had another scheduled checkup with him a week later.

That weekend I moved in to my in-law, because I was alone with JS, hubby working outstation. Didn’t want to take the risk to stay alone just in case I go into labour and with no help and moreover I was already 2cm dilated.

25th Oct, it’s a Monday, that morning hubby has gone back to work in another town after the weekend with us, PIL sent me to the clinic for my checkup, this time again, my gynae had plan to go away for a holiday in a few days time, whatever came later than that will be attended by his friend. Asked him how come I haven’t gone into labour, during the check it was still 2cm. No other sign of labour. He was very confident to answer me “No worries, it will be this 2 days, I might be even seeing you tonight!” (Was thinking to myself, such a ‘joker’ you are)

After the check, we went for lunch at a nearby restaurant and later we went to check out SIL’s new house which was still under last phase of renovation. Still able to carry JS at that time to walk about. (JS was and still is very very attached to me) Book said dont carry heavy things during pregnancy, but I have been carrying JS until the very last moment of pregnancy with WH. In fact I have no choice because I was alone with JS most of the time.

After all the activities, gone back to in-laws place for JS to nap. Bathed her and happily snapped a set of her pictures.

I fell asleep together with JS. At about 4.30pm, woke up with a light cramp on my lower back. Again it was irregular. It was so faint that it’s hardly felt. I thought it was a false alarm. SMS-ed hubby though, still undecided whether it was necessary for him to come home. Told him I will update him again later if the cramp become worst. After that I went about with my normal activities at home, playing with JS after she woke up and SIL also visited us at in-laws place to check on us. Told her that I might be in labour but not too sure.

Still very hesistant about going to the hospital. I can feel the cramp more by late evening but I can still carry out all the activities. This time round I’ve decided I should check into the hospital after JS’s dinner and hubby also decided to come back to check on us after he finishes work. Prepared JS dinner and wanted to feed her at 6.30pm after my shower, wanted to make sure she has eaten before I left. But while I was heating up her dinner, my water bag burst together with a “show”. I knew I couldn’t wait any longer. MIL took over taking care of JS while I went to fetch my stuff and have something light to munch.

SIL and FIL sent me to the hospital about 5 min drive away. Reached there about 7pm. SIL dropped me off at the lobby and went to look for parking. I remembered 1/2 running and 1/2 walking up to the labour ward, FIL was following behind, he has weak knees and limping and couldn’t quite catch up, I was in a hurry that I have forgotten about my FIL following behind me. I stopped for a moment to look back only to see him waved for me to go ahead and not to wait for him. And the guard at the concierge asked if I needed a wheel chair, trying to be strong and “gungho”, I said NO.

Went upstairs, still panting for breath because I walked so fast, calmly shown the nurse my admission letter and told them my water bag burst and was 2cm dilated in the morning. They assigned a labour room near the nurse station for me.

Once I entered the room, it was so freezing cold in there that I almost threw up due to the chilled, nurse raised the air con temperature for me, nurse handed the hospital gown for me to change into. I was again strapped to the machine to monitor the contraction and baby’s heartbeat. This time round it was just 1/2 hour and I was free to move. Nurse handed in my bag which SIL brought up for me. They were not allowed into the labour ward. Went out to check for them, but FIL and SIL has gone home, I was left alone. Roamed about a little bit and decided to go back to the room. Bored. Tried to watch TV. Still no unbearable pain. Heard hubby’s voice and went out to check. Hubby finally arrived at 8.30pm after a good shower, dinner and after watching News on TV at home. It took him 1 hour to travel from work place to home. (See..that’s my man….taking his own sweet time to come when I was bored alone for more than 1 hour).

We settled down in the room abit and then decided to “keh poh” with the nurse. We went to the nurse station to chat with the nurses. Nurse said they have already informed my gynae and if I still haven’t delivered during the night, doc would have to induce me the next morning. OK..whatever. Hubby jokingly asked the nurse if there’s a Pool Table to past time. We were wondering how we could past the long long night waiting for baby to arrive. Nurse also said if my pain started to be unbearable I shall stop walking and lie on the bed.

We were bored, really bored, and we went back to the room again not knowing what to do. 8.50pm, felt the pain while I was still roaming about in the room chatting with hubby, but the pain started to peak and I already cannot make sense of what we were talking. All he said to me was just sound passing in my ears. So I took the nurse advise and climb to the bed. The pain became more instense. Told hubby “Very pain lah”

Hubby:” you want me to call the nurse?” ME: “NO need” (but was still quite fickled minded) ME: OK lah..just call the nurse.

Nurse came and asked me how I felt. I said pain. Nurse: “OK, wait a minute, let me check then I will give you enema” After the internal check, I could see the shock in the nurse’s face, “Oooh..you are already 8cm dilated. No time for enema. I go get everything ready and call the doctor” (Imagine the chaos I’ve caused, they didn’t expect me to go into labour in such a short notice) I said “ I want pethidine” Nurse: “No you can’t, you already 8cm dilated” ME: “Last time can, last time nurse said until 8cm still can” Nurse: “2nd time and 1st time different. 2nd time until 7cm only, I give you gas” So I was given entonox. But due to not knowing how to breath in properly through the mask, the entonox didn’t had any effect on me until the end of the trasition when I mastered the breathing. However soon after that it has got to be taken away, because it was time to push. I yelled “I feel like want to pangsai (poo), I want to push already” I can feel the pressure pushing down my lower abdomen, the feeling like wanted to poo badly but nurse checked and said no, not yet, only 9cm dilated. If I start pushing then, my cervix would be swollen and already got sign of swelling. I was also worried that the doc couldn’t make it on time, I checked again with the midwife if the doc has arrived, Nurse “Doc is outside already” (The doc must be staying nearby the hospital to be in there is such short notice)

Doc came in, I straight away asked for local anaesthetic for the episiotomy. I was feeling very hot and heated at that time. Real burning sensation all over my body, my lips were dry, I screamed “I’m very hot, very hot, I want water”, but not allowed to drink. Hubby dabbed wet cloth over my lips and keep fanning and wiping the sweat out of my forehead. I can feel the freezing coldness of the nurse’s hand who held me, they had lowered the air con to the minimum, but I was still feeling extremely hot. Can’t remember going through the same experience with raise body temperature the first time.

When it was time to push, I can actually feel the doc snipped my perineum and I can feel the stitch after that. I asked the doc to use vacuum (thinking that it might be an easy way for the baby to come out without me pushing. Naive!). Doc said that it’s not necessary as the baby’s head already crown, I just need two push then baby will be out. The midwife put her hands on my tummy to feel the contraction, with each contraction, I will have to push. During the process, I poo-ed, it was real embarrasing for me but I suppose it’s nothing unusual to the doc and the nurses, but in the midst of push and pain, I can still apologise for the mess. Baby did come out after 2 push but that process lasted 1/2 hour. All was over within the hour hubby arrived, and lucky baby waited for daddy to come before greeting the world. Can’t imagine doing it without hubby around. Baby was really a good boy, didn’t come earlier nor later.