JS’s EDD was 8/12/2002. One week before the EDD, I went for my routine check with my gynae. At that time I was already 1 1/2cm dilated. Gynae said I might go into labour any time, else I should visit him again a week later. My gynae was also suppose to be away for his annual holiday few days after my EDD. If my baby decided to come later, I would have to have another gynae (my gynae’s friend) to deliver my baby. Worried, because I really hope not to be attended by someone I’m unfamiliar to.
Being first time expecting and not knowing what to expect we took in our gynae’s words, we waited and waited for one week looking for sign of labour . But really there were no sign of labour, not even Braxton Hicks. I really thought that this pregnancy will never end. Worried if something might gone wrong…
Hubby and me had moved in to in-laws place 2 weeks before EDD, because I was suppose to have my confinement there and in-laws house is much much nearer to the hospital.
8/12/2002, still remembered it’s a Sunday, and it’s Raya (both my kids born during the Hari Raya period). Woke up at 4.30 am by some slight cramp on my lower back. Wasn’t sure if it’s a sign of labour. Anyhow, woke hubby up and we started to time the cramp. (Mum told me that from my grandma to aunts, all never experience bad tummy pain during labour like shown on TV, only back cramp, so I shall look for the sign) It’s not contraction, just light cramp that comes and goes. It was not even regular.
5.30am, the cramp became stronger and we started timing it again. Still no regular pattern but much more frequent. I told hubby we could wait before heading to the hospital because of what I’ve read from book that it might take some time for real labour to kick start. But hubby was worried. He said ” If you don’t care of your own safety, think of the baby” (first time father..extremely “kan cheong” Ok..he won, decided to just check into the hospital, so off I went to shower and wash my hair (imagine can’t wash hair for 1 month after that) and I had a “show” during shower, we then went downstair to have light breakfast before leaving the house. After breakfast, I was still trying to drag not to go to the hospital so early, so we went to lie on the bed again and we FELL ASLEEP. Didn’t wake up until 8.30am.
Hubby decided we should really head for the hospital, but before that, on the way, we went to the coffeeshop for noodle breakfast. I still got light cramp, but bearable. Then we noticed we left out something that we have not packed, so off we went to Giant Hypermarket at USJ to do last minute shopping. Cramp increased, but still able to walk and shop. Walking at the hypermarket with light cramp that comes and goes supporting my very big bump with my hands, I must have made a scene.
10am checked into the hospital. Nurse strapped me onto the fetal monitoring system. Contraction detected by the machine was mild and irregular. Baby’s heartbeat was like a galloping sound of the horse. Fast & Furious. Was strapped on for 1/2 hour. Only 2 1/2 cm dilated at that time. Enema was given at about 11am. Lunch provided, but nurse said “Dont eat too much, else you will poo during labour and you have already been given enema”
Really no idea how long this would take. Hubby gone home for lunch, was alone in labour room. Bored. Trying to walk about really hard to past time with the cramp peaking. Later I was strapped to the fetal monitor again. It was really discomfort lying on my back. Asked to have the strapped release so I could lie in a much comfortable position. Nurse said “No, the doctor say must monitor. We don’t want anything to happen to the baby”. Again I have to obliged. But they did take it off for a while after that for the rest of the afternoon I have been strapped up.
Dilation was slow. During one check in the afternoon I was only 3cm dilated, but my water bag ruptured during the internal check, the pain increased. The nurse didn’t purposely ruptured the water bag, it was just coincidently happened the same time during the internal check. Nurse asked if I wanted any pain killer, I said no. Nurse said I still can ask for one if I find the pain unbearable as long as it’s not over 8cm dilated. They offered pethidine.
The pain at the lower abdomen became more unbearable. It was already late afternoon. I have not seen the doc. Nurse said the doc will only come when I’m in labour, but they have updated the doc on my progress. I asked for pethidine when I was 6cm dilated. After that, I fell asleep. Drifting in and out of sleep throughout the rest of the afternoon, the pain felt distant but still I can feel it. Cant remember much after that.
I only remembered that I was ready to push somewhere near to 9cm and the time was 7pm. I remembered shouting “Where is the doctor? I don’t want to push now, my doctor not here yet” Nurse laughed and said it would be too late to push when the doc arrived, doc doesnt like to come in early and wait. Again been a first time mum, I just followed whatever been told. Again I don’t remember much after that. Only knew my doctor came in from no where asking me how I was coping. Of course I was in pain and couldnt really reply. But I could quickly remind him again loud and clear I wanted a local anaesthetic for episotomy (mum told me that it isn’t necessary because I wont feel the pain and told me she didn’t have any for her 2 deliveries, so I had to make sure I have mine, because I really hate the idea of being cut and stitch). The doc put on a plastic apron and those fishmonger boots in the labour room.
For the next 1/2 hour from 7pm it was just push push push, push harder. “I can see the head, push harder, but the baby didn’t want to come out”. I heard the doc mentioned a term to the nurse (can’t remember now, it’s about the position of the baby) baby was head down, but the face was facing side way and didn’t rotate correctly so he decided to use ventouse (vacum suction), hubby was with me all the time, but I cant remember what I did or said to him. I think it’s the effect of Pethidine. He was very brave with all the bloody scene, he even look at it and told me he can see the baby’s head crowning and encourage me to push harder. JS was born at 7.35pm. Was just too tired, I didn’t even want to hold the baby when they offered because I felt weak and wobbly. I was kept at the labour room longer because of the excessive bleeding and I hate the nurse “digging” to clean the womb. It was real discomfort.
I was sent to the ward 2 hour after delivery. Parents were already outside waiting for me. Hospital provided dinner and I was hungry. So I wobbled up the meal but right away threw up again, maybe because of the effect of the medicine. We stayed at the hospital for 3D2N.