Labor Stories

Category Archives: Natural Birth

Belle’s big day

Continuation from this…

I was then admitted. The nurse who tended me before started to prep me for labor. Since I’d opted for pain med instead of epidural, she inserted the immobile needle into my wrist. She tried to poke and missed the vein. She decided to try the other wrist. Missed again. *cilaka* Then she went back to the original wrist. After 2 tries the 3rd one was successful. If I weren’t in so much pain, I would have given her a piece of my mind..haha.

She then strapped a belt onto my belly to monitor the fetus heartbeat and contraction. She clipped something onto my index finger to monitor my heart rate. While the nurse was prepping me my hubby tried to do breathing exercises with me. I went hoo hoo haa haa for 3 mins. Hubby counted so fast, I couldn’t catch up with him. In the end I told him to shut up. The pain meds kicked in within 15 mins. I felt so sleepy and dozed off. My hubby got some sleep too. He slept on the couch and it wasn’t comfy but he was so tired he snored right away.

The pain sensation kicked in after 30 mins. I tried to get the hubby to wake up and it took him a few seconds late to rouse from his sleep. I told him to call the nurse to administer the pain meds again. The pain meds I was on last for 30 mins and I could only take 2 additional “booster” dose. If I still couldn’t take the pain, epidural would be needed.

Thirty mins flew by and another 30 mins whizzed by me. I couldn’t take the pain any longer. Apparently, the nurse gave me Pitocin along with the pain med. Pitocin is used to induce or quicken the contractions. Each time the nurse gave me the booster dose, she would check my cervix and the blardy cervix was still stuck at 1cm! By the time we called her in for the 3rd dose, I requested to have the epidural. I told her to call the anesthetician before the pain med wore away.

I got my epidural and hubs helped out by facing me and giving me encouraging words. At that time, I would do anything just to feel numb. The epidural kicked in after 10 mins or so. I felt sooooooooo relieve. By that time, the nurses changed shift and a new nurse who was assigned to me. She was a mature lady and a mother too. She was very different from the previous nurse and was very motherly towards me. She even asked if I needed water and cold towel to put on my forehead.

So, what did the hubby and I do after the epidural kicked in? We slept. Slept we did until the nurse told us we slept like babies. LOL! I remember she asked me how I am feeling and I replied, “I Looooooooooooooooooooooooooove Epidural!” She and hubs laughed out loud upon hearing that.

Gosh, this is getting long. I better wrap up, huh?

After I had the Epi I was able to relax and next thing I know, I fell asleep, again. Jon slept too. The nurse came in few times to check on me and she even chuckled and always said, “Aw, look at you two…sleeping like babies.” The Epi did its magic. I was so relax to the point that my cervix dilated to 6 cm within 3 hours.

Jon decided to go home to check on Junior (our dog), shower and pick up his mom on the way back to the hospital. Since the nurse told us 1 hour for 1 cm, we thought we had ample time. After he left, I went back to sleep. I did not eat anything except for some dry saltines and sips of iced water. I think Jon left around 11am and the nurse checked on me around 11.30am. I told her I felt uncomfortable down there. She checked and she said, “Honey, you’re ready to push now.”

My mind darted back and forth and I remember saying this to the nurse, “I can’t push now! My husband isn’t here!” She laughed it off and started to prep me for delivery. After a few minutes, another nurse came in and I requested for the phone. I called Jon and told him to come quick ‘cos Belle wasn’t gonna wait for him. He told me he had just picked up his mom and was pretty near the hospital.

I remember looking up at the clock: 12pm. I was so hungry and I tried to send telepathy message to Belle. I told her to come out quick so that Mommy can have lunch.

Just as I was about to do my first push, my hero husband emerged from the door. My MIL followed suit. The nurse immediately instructed each of them to hold my legs up. I was sooooooooo embarrassed ‘cos my MIL saw EVERYTHING! The exposed breasts, the exposed pubic area…Aiyo! I was so hoping my Mom to be there but Belle was too anxious to come out. *sigh*

The ObGyn came in (oh yea, she came in few times before, I just didn’t bother to write it down previously). The nurse did 90% of the work. She consoled me, she guided me, she wiped my forehead with cold towels, she was my MOM during the entire process. What did the doctor do? She just stood there. Apparently, the doctors are there to just receive the babies; and, yeah, in case any abnormalities happen. I was told by law the nurses cannot receive babies. The hospital probably are afraid of lawsuits.

Anyway, back to the delivery. I pushed whenever the nurse told me to push. I relaxed AND breath whenever she told me to. I was so glad to have such an experience nurse that day. Miraculously, Belle started to crown very early. The doctor told me to touch her head and I did. All I felt was sofy, gooey, gell-liked thing. Till today I have regretted for not requesting for a mirror. I would love to see my baby emerge from me. Each time I pushed, Jon became excited and said, “I see her scalp..I see her head.”

Her head came out and within few seconds I felt a blop. Her body just came out and all it took me 30 MINUTES to deliver her!

What’s next? The usual stuff: The doc sucked out the mucus, the nurse put some antibiotics into Belle’s eyes, Daddy cutting the umbilical cord, etc.

We had a safe delivery. Thank you, God. And, thank you, Belle, for cooperating with Mommy just so Mommy could have her lunch.

Add comment | April 27, 2007 - 9:39 pm | Vien

Anne ~ A God’s gift

After reading many mums’ labor stories, I am so tempted to write mine too. Please bear with my broken english, OK?

Being a first time mother, I was totally blurred on labor. I had forbidden Loong (my husband) from going outstation within 2 weeks of my EDD. My EDD was on 6th September 2005. Loong supposed to go Bali for a meeting on 31st August 2005; anyway I disallowed him to go. Although my parents were here with me that time, but I still refuse to let him go! It’s different. Luckily he was willing to stay and his boss also kind enough to let him off

I thought my labor will be late because during my last check up (one week before my EDD), I was not dilated yet! Not even half a cm. This first time “dilated or not check” experience was horrible for me. I didn’t know that the ob-gynae actually needed to squeeze his fingers in to check for it. I thought only look-see-look-see “that part” will know dilated or not! Aiyee… Why no one tell me this? It was painful and I bleed after the check! Aiyooo…

My parents were here to attend my brother’s convocation so I went travel and walked a lot during that few days. May be the walking part did wonder on dilation, 3 days after my parents went back to Sarawak, on my last day of workin day, spotting started. It was on 2nd September 2005, Friday. That morning after I reached my office, I started to feel not so comfortable. It was like period pain and I was like want to go toilet all the time. Went to toilet and found spotting on my panties. No contraction, no pain. Told my colleague and husband to be in stand-by mode, who knows I might pop any time. I refuse to go to hospital to get an MC or for a check-up. This was my last day already; I prefer to stay in office than at home or hospital. If I went home to rest I will be alone, not safe also. I think I did a right decision, nothing happen and I stayed until end of the day. Went back home ON time. Loong came to my office’s front door to fetch me (normally I have to walk to a near by KTM station because my office is located at a super-busy road side, always jammmmm), I was like queen of the day! Nyiek..

Mild contraction started at 7+pm. Many people commented that I was too brave to stay in office or home although spotting had started early in the morning. Anyway, I was confident that my baby won’t come out so early! Only spotting, expert said for first time mum delivery only will start 24 hours after the spotting, so I didn’t worry too much. Took a bath, wash my hair and went to bed early. Couldn’t sleep well as always experience contraction in between. The contraction became stronger as time passed by and the gap became shorter and shorter. At 3+am (3rd September 2005), I started to time my contraction and it was like 15 minutes apart. I think it was time for me to get ready to hospital so I woke Loong up. He was quick! In 10 minutes time we were in our car getting ready to go to hospital. Before we headed to hospital, we stopped by a café to buy some bread and “pau” just in case I got hungry during the waiting time.

The hospital only 10 minutes drive from our house. We went to the 3rd floor for registration. Half way of registration, some noise from outside distracts us. One woman was carried in by her husband and she was like in great pain already. This was her 3rd labor and nurse told me to wait because they have to handle that lady first. She will be fast, they told me. After they settled the lady, then only they came back to serve me. Nurse handed the hospital gown for me to change into and checked my dilation. I was only 3cm dilated. She then put some medicine to make me poo and then I was strapped to the machine to monitor the contraction and baby’s heartbeat, not comfortable at all!! By that time it was nearly 5am already. The woman who came during my registration was pushing hardly when I just went into my labor ward. Soon after a few push I heard baby crying already. Pretty fast huh. Gave birth within 1 hour after arrive in hospital. I hope mine will be fast too. I did not like the strap on my tummy and always asked for excuses to open the strap. With the strap on me, I had to be on bed all the time, of course I don’t want!

Doctor came to check on me around 7+am, still 3cm dilated. 9+am, 3.5 cm dilated. What??? So many hours only 0.5 cm dilated? He decided to induce me to make the dilation faster. I think roughly one hour after the drips, my contraction become stronger and much painful. I had to bend my body whenever the contraction started. Nurse came to ask whether I need pain-killer or not (the one inject at your butt one). I said OK. I tell you, that one no use at all. Then she asked me to use the gas (I think call entonox?) to breath whenever I felt the pain of contraction. I tell you, no use also. I started to feel dizzy and sleepy after the entonox! *Like this how to push?* After the drips, my dilation became very fast. After roughly 2 hours (cannot recall the timing already), I was fully dilated. Nurse told me she was going to break my water-bag. My thinking that time: Just go ahead! I was in great pain already, do what ever you think you should! She took some tools in, broke my water-bag, after that asked me to start pushing when contraction came. I was very tired and sleepy due to the entonox. After a few push, I told the nurse I was very tired and no energy already. She then brought in a glass of glucose for me to drink. After that asked me to push again. Tried a few time again and still can’t push my baby out. May be nurses saw my skinny body, pitty and tired face, they decided to call the doctor and go for vacuum. Doctor came in very soon and did some local anesthetic for the episiotomy. Then I was requested to push again and at the same time he helped by vacuum baby’s head out! Finally, after 2 tried I can feel baby slipping out from my body, a BIG relieve to me. My baby girl was born at 12:21pm on 3rd September 2005. They brought the baby for me to look-see. Stupid me, I asked why her leg got blood one!!! Hehehe… Nurse told me: we not yet bath her, baru keluar. That’s why!

I should say for first time mum, don’t worry about the labor pain. You will forget about the pain immediately after you see your baby and its true! I will definitely go for 2nd one if it is God’s will. Last but not least, I am glad that Loong was with me all the time. He witnessed the birth of our girl, at the same time became my secretary to report my status to my family and his family.

-THE END-

1 Comment | March 17, 2007 - 8:44 pm | beckysmum

My Baby My Hero (The Arrival of Baby Ryan)

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My EDD given by my obstetrician was 24 April 2006 but somehow I had a feeling my baby was going to arrive somewhere around 18 April (a week early).

Being a new mummy, I seriously have no idea how would a real contraction feels like. I mean mummies who had experienced Braxton Hicks would at least able to gauge when the *real* thing arrives. For me, despite how much reading I did, I just cant tell.

So when my first contraction came on 14th April around 11pm, I was at lost. I was in dilenma not knowing if it’s the real thing, or should I call the hospital, what not. Since the pain was still managable, I brushed it aside comforting myself that I would be seeing the obs in the next coupld of hours anyway so need not worry. Afterall, I can tahan la…

On the 15th April, I reached Glens @ 8.30am for the scheduled Doppler’s scan to ensure my baby’s umbilical cord was not circling his neck. Waited for 2 hours before my turn came. The whole procedure (mere 15 mins) costed me RM240!!

Waited for another hour or so for scan result. I was getting very aggitated by then due to the long wait. After collecting the results (all good), I rushed upstairs to see obs. He checked me (yeah.. all mummies know how obs check la..) and confirmed my cervix was not dilated. So, I was asked to go back home and rest but he pre-empted me, be prepared for the big day in the next few days at most.

I stayed home all afternoon (sooo unlike me.. Sat is my shopping day), keeping silent most of the time due to the pain. Eventhough the pain was still bearable but imagine getting hit evey 20 mins or so is certainly no joke. Seeing the pitiful face of his wife (mo lei san hei), hubs suggested we go MV in the evening for dinner. I wasn’t too keen to go out in fear what if.. my water breaks la, what if my contractions suddenly become unbearable, this and that…but I was desperate to get out of house. SO, MV we went.

We whisked through few hours in MV easily. When we got home, my contractions were in the interval of 10 mins once. I had a sleepless night…

‘D’ DAY - 16th April 2006

I didn’t sleep well the whole night. Hubs was getting really anxious by then especially after seeing his usual chatter box wife became a quiet mouse. He was urging (nagging me literally) me to go hospital but somehow I procrastinated the need again and again brushing it off as possible false alarm. Not giving up, hubs dug out my pregnancy books and start reading up on the labour symptoms. I seriously don’t know what got to me, somehow I just wasn’t keen to go hospital eventhough my contractions were very regular by then (siow liow) and as if I have no better things to worry about, the one silly thing that came through me was “whether or not the hospital has a single exec room for me if I deliver earlier than my EDD” *slap head* :P.

Anyways, I finally gave in to hubs persistenty. Grabbed my labour bag (all packed long time ago) and zoom-ed to Gleneagles.

The midwife strapped me up for a CTG scan which lasted half an hour. I could see the graph going up and down up and down. She came back, looked at the graph and quickly *checked* me and confirmed my cervix was 3cm dilated. Phew!! The time has come. I am READY!!! It was 3pm.

Hubs got really excited and panicked same time I think upon hearing the confirmation. Hubs kept asked me if I was okay.. if I need anything, if this if that… Of course, me.. by then all curled up because of the pain couldn’t entertain hubs much. I could only return a silent smile. I asked the midwife, when can I deliver and where is my epidural!!! She said usually cervix will dilate 1cm every 1 hour. That means I have to wait for 7 hours at least?? and that anesthetist baru on the way???

At 4.30pm, the anesthetist finally arrived. Performed the epidural procedure and voila… miracle miracle. The pain was relieved from me instantly. Geng!!!

By then, my cervix was 6cm dilated.

Midwife came in again at 6.30pm. Guess what… IT’S TIME.. my cervix was 10cm dilated. My obs was summoned in and two midwives were in room to assist. The transformed the earlier cosy-like room into a real labour room and suddenly I was asked to push. I really don’t know if I was doing the right thing. First time ma.. and I was shivering badly (I later found out it could be the effect of epidural analgesia). Blur cat hubs then held my hand and guess what he asked me.. “Bee, you cold ar??” Duh..

Anyways, I did not answer hubs. I pushed and pushed but midwives said I wasn’t pushing hard enough. Then, the panic bell came when obs told me he would need to use the suction method because my baby’s umbilical cord was circling his stomach resulting a low heartbeat.

My heartbeat raced, my eyes rolled big when I heard what obs said. I was all puzzled by then.. I thought I just paid RM240 to ensure the umbilical cord was nowhere near the neck, abdomen, limbs etc etc??? “Mm hai kum hak kua”?? (so unfortunate??)

Arrggh…thanks thank goodness, the whole process went really well. At 6.48pm sharp, Ryan came into the world and was immediately laid on my chest… it was such a wonderful sight….he was so tiny then weighing 3.4kg.

Me on the other hand was overly exhausted. Everyone in the room looked busy. Hubs was busy admiring his offspring, taking pictures; obs and midwives on the other hand were busy with the stem cell procedure. What about me? I laid there looking around and very much relieved it all went so so smoothly….

Add comment | March 15, 2007 - 3:01 pm | Baby-Ryanlim

My 2nd Baby, Princess Janelle

My 2^nd Baby, Princess Janelle

Never cross my mind that I will deliver 2 weeks earlier than my EDD.

Sunday August 13, 2006

At about 3.30am, i feel the urge to go washroom. After that have a drink then went back to sleep. But i sense something is not right as my backache is getting weird. These same routines happen every hour. 4.30am, 5.30am and then 7.30am. And my backache is getting WORST.

At about 8.00am in the morning i just could not get myself lie down on bed. So i go for a walk around the living hall and sit down. It was ok for awhile. Then mum wake up and ask me why wake up so early since it is Sunday. So i tell her my condition. She says it might be contraction. But then it is still early. I am still 2 weeks ahead my due date. My due date is on the end of August. My condition is getting bad, and the pain continues every 15 minutes and last for about 9 seconds.

Inform hubby about my condition. He assures me that this is a false alarm. I just could not stand the pain anymore. I called hubby again and tell him to come over and fetch me to hospital. I think is contraction. So hubby quickly get prepare and come over. Supposing today we all will go for our “family portraits” photo taking session. But then i think Princess Janelle want to join as well. When Evon go out to attend her friend’s convo, I tell her that we have to postpone the appointment coz her “niece” wants to join along. My contraction is getting from bad to worst. I can’t stand up or sit or even lie down. I have a quick shower and change. Jasmine is still soundly asleep.

Hubby arrives at about 10.30am and sends me to Pantai Medical Centre. My Mum and Phoebe come along with me. My Dad helps to look after Jasmine. We reach at about 11.20am. I was send to delivery room, and the nurse asks me to change. Hubby assists me in changing my clothes as i can’t even stand on my own. Hubby goes down to register and drive back to office to take the camera charger. I am now being monitor by the nurse.

They check on my condition and say now is already 4cm dilated. It is now 11.55am and yet hubby is still not back yet. I am getting worried, and the contraction is getting worst. Mum ask if i want the Epidural injection or not, as she saw i was crying and of coz i say YES. So mum asks the nurse to come. The nurse come in n check on me and now is already 6cm dilated. Since this is the 2nd child, very fast will deliver within 2 hours time. So in the meantime the nurse asks me to take the gas. The gas that make me drowsy. After taking the gas, i feel much better for awhile.

I cried out loud when the gas just could not help. Hubby is back now, i know i can always trust him. Even the nurse also said that outside also can hear i cry.The pain continue and I can feel that my baby want to come out. But then the nurse asks me to sleep sideway and the backache is WORST. Even hubby also lost in mind as he saw me in such a great pain. My mum was with me all along and she is so worried. I push away the gas and I could not hold any longer as I can feel my baby is coming out. The nurse kept asking my hubby to give me the gas.

Finally the doctor is in. And with 1 push my baby is out. At 1.19pm August 13, 2006 i have give birth to a healthy Princess Janelle. Janelle looks exactly like Jasmine.

I am exhausted. Too tired to even open up my eye to look at my Janelle. Bad news is i break my blood nerve. I lost a lot of blood but luckily it stop after a while. Another bad news is my blood pressure is at 170, very high indeed. I could not be send off to the ward as i have to be monitor. So i stay in the delivery room. And about 6.30pm my pressure reading is at 132, and the nurse says I will be send to ward. Before I was send up to ward, I have my dinner. I could not eat much as I am very tired.

The nurse allows Jasmine to come in to see me. She is so excited and i am so happy to see her. I miss her so much. My parents and sister have gone home. My daddy has been looking after Jasmine the whole day. I think after my mum dramatic story telling, i bet all will be very shock. And they are so worried about me as my blood pressure is still very high. Once settle down, we ask for Janelle from the nurse. Janelle really looks like her sister. I would give 100% rating hahaha. At about 9.00 hubby, Jasmine and my MIL go home.ZzzZzZzZzzz

Here she is Princess Janelle

Add comment | March 13, 2007 - 9:05 am | jessieyeetyng

ARRIVAL OF MARCUS

Read through Jessie’s Blog about this new blog for all mummies who went through their labor experience and I’m interested to share my experience too here.

My weddding was on 8 November 2004. Hubby and I planned to have baby after our honeymoon in Shanghai (Feb 2005). I’m pregnant in May 2005 and my due date was on 11 February 2006. I can still remembered that day was Hari Raya Haji.

On 26 Jan 2006, when back to clinic to have normal checking, but my ob-gynae said that I was 1cm dilated. He asked me if I had contraction or bleeding tonight then admit to hospital directly else tomorrow morning. I’ve cried in front of my MIL and my mother when I told them that I will give birth tomorrow as I’m so scared and nervous. I can see my MIL tears in her eyes as she’s worried about me, somemore she has a very painful experience before. Nothing happened that night, but I getting worried and worried. I can’t sleep through out the night and only wait for tomorrow.

The next day after having breakfast with hubby, then we went to hospital and registered for admittion. The nurses asked me to change the clothes given by her and stayed in the labour room. Luckily my hubby stayed with me the whole day. Around 11am, the nurse gave me induce pill and I waited there for contraction. After 2 hours, I didn’t feel any contraction or pain, then I have another induce pill. The nurse kept on checking me but I still can’t feel anything. Having lunch and tea break in the labour room. At around 5pm, my ob-gynae came to checked on me, I was only 4cm dilated. Then he broke my water burst, and I really can’t feel any sign of pain too. Around 7pm, the nurse called anesthetist to give me an epidural.

Hubby and I just stayed in the labour room and wait. I shaked like hell on the bed, coz of the effect of the epidural. At 9pm, the nurse called my ob-gynae came because my baby heart beat getting slower. At that time, I really scared and worried, finally I cried. After 15 minutes, my ob-gynae came and checked, he said can see my baby’s head. He asked the nurses get prepare coz baby will out soon. Thought to take some photos, but at that time my hubby so busy to hold my hands and head, no hands and time to take photos. After a few pushed, my baby was out, and I can really see my baby….

He’s born on 27 January 2006 at 9.54pm. Hard to describe the happiness once you see your baby out. Only those who had gave birth then really they can feel it.

2 comments | March 11, 2007 - 6:56 am | Lovely Mummy

Shoppingmum’s Justin

Read about a few bloggers’ labour experiences, so I’d like to write mine too.Justin, when you’re old enough to read this, hopefully mummy still keep my pregnancy and giving birth dairy for you, remember to get from me ya?

My due date was on 24 December 2004, and I was hoping to deliver on that day even though I know it’s quite slim. On 16 Dec, when I was getting ready to go to work in the afternoon, and I noticed a show. So, I called hubby and he went and asked my ob-gynae if I need to go to hospital now. The doc said better admit first. After taking a heavy lunch (MIL said need strength to push!), hubby and I went to hospital.

Checked in at about 2pm, and only 1 cm dilation. The nurses asked me to stay at the beds in the labour room, but I didn’t feel any pain and asked for permission to walk around and do squatting exercise. Hubby went home to clean the room and made some arrangement.

I was quite bored, and went to my bed at the ward. I didn’t want to stay at the labour room as there’s another lady’s there giving birth. I don’t wanna hear any screams. So, asked hubby to bring me some magazines and I read until at night. Still no sign of contraction or pain. I asked the nurse if I could discharge first, but they didn’t permit and told me to wait for my doc.

Finally, my ob-gynae came to check on me at 10pm, and I was only 2cm dilated. He asked me to get a good night sleep at the ward and he’ll induce me in the morning. Hubby left to get some rest too. I tried to sleep, but I started to feel some pain at 11pm. Then the pain get intense, and by midnight, the contraction lasted longer and getting nearer. I paged for the nurses, but no one came. So, I got up and walked out from my ward. There wasn’t any nurses at the counter too, I tried to open the door of the labour room, but it’s locked. I had to stopped walking when I had the contraction, and was walking softly back to my bed. Called hubby that no nurse came to me, he said he’ll be right over.

Then I remembered from what I read that we need to go to the loo before birth, so I went to “do the big business”. After that, got back on bed. Then a nurse came and I told her I was having contraction.

They pushed me to the labour room, and hubby reached there too. The nurse gave me pethidine (spelling?) to ease the pain, and they allow hubby to stay. At about 3am, I found that my bed’s wet. Yep, my waters burst, and the pain was really ….Can’t find words to describe.

The nurse called anesthetist to give me epidural, and by 4.30am, the pain stopped. They asked hubby to go home first and said I’d only gave birth by 7am. So, he left again. But at about 5am, I was 6cm dilated, and 15 minutes later, the nurse felt Justin’s head. She quickly called my ob-gynae and hubby back, and everything started to get fast. Poor hubby, he only reached home and had to come to hospital again.

When they arrived, I was silvering like hell - after effect of having epidural. After a few pushes, Justin’s out, and I could finally hold him for the first time after 9 months! So, he’s born on 17 December 2005 at 5.42am.

Wah! The experience seems exciting, but what I wrote sounds boring. Really don’t know how to describe the feeling of giving birth and holding my baby in my arms. It’s…..too wonderful to be writen out.

3 comments | March 6, 2007 - 4:14 pm | shoppingmum

Terry’s birth story

Have been listen and read about many painful story about delivery a baby..finally I taste it..and the experience won’t b forget lifetime.

20th May Saturday - midnight about 2am suspected my water bag hav burst..at 5am and i felt that water leak out is more n more…so i quickly took a shower then change, bring my hospital bag and admit to Ampang Gleneagles Intan hospital..

5.45am - admit to hospital and lay down in labor n delivery ward…is a single room…i thought they will check me on the water bag burst condition first before they can confirm that i need to admit hospital..but they did not do that…nurse started to ask me to change into the hospital wear and started to put on the heart beat belt on me to check baby heart beat and contraction pain. At time admit hospital i didn’t have any pain at all..also together they giv a bowel care…

7.10am - my gynea came, checked me and said that my water bag hav burst (actually he did not do any scan or check also) and started to check my cervical dilation. This is very pain to me too…he said that my cervical haven’t dilate yet. He recommend that i used epidural or hav c-sec since i so afraid of the pain…before they do any of these 2…my mum, cousins sis thru phone asking me not to take that, as this epidural may hav side effect when we get older later….especially it may cause back-ache….as it inject into the back bone…although doc said it is very safe n very common to take it and it greatly reduce pain n no effect in future… after some consideration n advice i did not take any epidural…so i gotta tell myself i have to take the contraction pain n labor pain wit all my strength n faith…After doc left, those staff midwife started to giv me fluid drop to let my cervical dilate n get into pain…so before the pain come i can sleep, eat n watch Wah Lai Toi. After lunch pain started to come little by little…my pastor’s wife came to visit me and prayed for me for a short while…Nurse on n off came n check my condition of dilation. 3-4 hours have passed and my dilation is only 3cm..at that time my tummy already cramp like hell…i can’t move around or even sleep side way..coz the heartbeat belt and fluid drop machine is hang on me…so i just can sleep straight only…leg also can’t put up as it will slowly down the dilation….so it is real pain..i asked for the pain killer injection…(as recommend by my cousin)..it greatly comfort me, aft the injection i can even sleep and the pain is reduce 50%.

Around 6pm, when i awake the dilation reach 5cm. The great pain was back as the pain killer medicine is over. Very very cramp n pain…every 5 min….wah…those hours very very hard to passed..i started to think when i can tahan until it fully dilate…so as nurse said no pain no delivery…so i gotta tahan lorr…Within 1 hour…beyond my expectation it dilate to 9cm….and the pain of coz is the greatest one this time……the pain push me like i wan to go toilet for big bussiness…nurse saw me so suffering ask me to put on the gas..it is call laughing gas, a way to reduce pain too….so i hold one the gas mask…before pain come i hav to suck n suck n suck the gas…at that time i already very very faint…eye can’t open just concerntrate on the pain come and suck the gas.

8pm+ my gynea reach, i can listen n blur blur saw that nurse n gynea quickly put on the disposable clothes and a lot of paper n plastic on me…aft my leg put up to a holder..they started ask me to push, push n push….it really hav technique to push a baby out….the feel is like when u push a hard shit out….exactly the same…so the way of breathing also very important…take the a big breath in to push down without exhale out….once i stop half way to rest for breath the baby head will go in n out…one short of breath hav to push hard down….so aft a few round of baby head in n out coz i dunno how to breath….i used my last full strength n energy to push…else doc will help using vacuum..half faint half pain…i try my best to push the last time…with Brandon help beside to ask for push all the way and many of pushing help beside finally baby is out naturally…

The moment baby out..i was like totally release n very very tired, no pain anymore…although i know doc is stitching back the episiotomy cut….i heard baby cry and nurse put the baby on my chest…i was so touch n i kissed my baby…seeing him very cute…Brandon n my mum was all the time there when baby is out and they keep on looking at the baby n feel joyous about his arrival….before they bring him out the ward..you know what, he already opened his eye to look around and play saliva there…After doc finish taking the cord blood and stitching, nurses started to clean me and put me in the patient room…everything finish at 10.30pm…everybody also tired…Brandon n mum back home aft that…

nurse wanted me to put him on breastfeed, but i just couldn’t sit up so i just ask them to feed him powder, the next morning only breastfeed him…

21th May - family member of both were came for visiting, so during daytime not really hav a good rest also….once i wan to rest baby is time to feed…

22th May - A nurse invite me to watch a breastfeeding video and also teach me how to put on baby to breastfeed, hav gain some info there. Discharge at noon.

Delivery cost RM3780+.

1 Comment | March 6, 2007 - 9:07 am | lemonjude

JS’s Birth

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.

2 comments | March 6, 2007 - 7:49 am | dragonmummy

Birth Of WH

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.

2 comments | March 6, 2007 - 7:05 am | dragonmummy

“I thought I over-ate”

My story is kind of funny, as it clearly demonstates how greedy I am!

It all started on Friday, 11th August 2006 - I was headed into my 39th week. I was having period-like cramps since 3 in the morning. Nothing painful but was just uncomfortable. I went to work as usual but had a nagging feeling that something was not right. So at around 10am, I drove from KL back to PJ where my ob-gyn is. I went to the maternity ward, explained to them that I think I was having contractions. They then strapped me on the doppler machine and monitored my contractions via a graph output. The graph was flatter than an airport runway! I was, however, 2cm dilated already. After 30mins of being strapped down, they sent me home. By then it was already past noon so I decided against driving back to KL (friday traffic and all). Drove to Sunway Pyramid to join hubs for lunch instead, and enjoyed the rest of the day. Was feeling quite disappointed as I was already quite hyped-up about delivering by then.

The following Saturday, hubs and I joined my in-laws for our usual Saturday makan. FIL decided to treat us to a seafood dinner at a restaurant near the old Subang airport. As we live near Ikea, that is considerably quite a distance for us. Anyway, I enjoyed whacking the crabs, fish, prawns and lala, using the pregnancy as a valid excuse to stuff my face.

8:30pm - I was about 3/4 way through dinner when I started to have a tummy ache. First thought was, “Uh oh, I ate too fast and now all the food is fighting for space with the baby”. So I took a final piece of crab (it was a LARGE crab claw, I recall!) and went to wash my hands. I then walked around the area, hoping to feel better (that’s what I usually do for indigestion - you can tell than I over-eat ALL the time!), but somehow the pain became more persistent. I then started to think that perhaps I was going into labour! I told my hubs and he said that I probably over-ate, AGAIN! Everyone finished up dinner while I started to time my contractions.

9:30pm - Half an hour…..20mins…..15mins….by the time we were in the car on the way home, it was only 10mins apart! But then again, I still wasn’t 100% convinced that I was in labour because I didn’t have any other signs, eg no show, waterbag didn’t burst.

10pm - When I got home, I immediately rushed to the loo and relieved myself. Right after that, I felt so much better. Then I laughed and told my hubs that it was another false alarm! I must have eaten too much. I started winding down for the night and hubs went to take a shower.

10:10pm Just 5mins after my remark, I was hit by another bout of contractions. I timed them again…and after just 10mins, I was sure THIS WAS IT! I screamed for my hubs and we rushed to the hospital. That must have been the longest 15mins drive in my life!

10:30pm - By the time we got there and parked, I was huffing and puffing, with contractions only 2 minutes apart. I couldn’t walk and had to be wheel-chaired to the room - took enema - wheeled to the labour room and when checked, I was already 6cm dilated. However, the midwife said that because the water bag hasn’t burst yet, they didn’t call the doctor as this could go on for hours. I asked for epidural in the meantime because I’m such a chicken- cluck cluck! I settled and tried to sleep but the blood pressure monitor kept going off every 15 minutes. Hubs was happily snoozing in the chair.

12:30am - I heard a “pop” and I felt water gushing to the floor, close to where hubs was. He was quite grossed-out. Hubs buzzed for the midwife and she immediately up-ed my epi (on my request ha ha) and called my ob-gyn. She predicted delivery before 6am.

1am-4am - More waiting……….zzz a little in-between…..am exhausted. Serves me right for walking around 1 Utama for 4 hours the day before.

4:30am - Midwife came to check again and said that I was ready to push, which I did. Hubs held my hand tightly from fear (I suspect more on his part than mine)

5am - Ob-gyn arrived, looking surprisingly fresh. I supposed he’s used to waking up in the middle of the night. I continued pushing, but the baby’s head was facing upwards so had to extract him using the vacuum.

5:26am - My little angel was born, with a funny cone-shaped head due to the vacuum (Note 6 months down: I’m pleased to tell you that his head looks normal now!). Ob-gyn placed him on my tummy, baby looked at Mummy and Mummy burst out into tears. What a wimp!! Daddy followed baby to see him get weighed and cleaned-up. Mummy called the families and sent SMS to best friend. (P/S: Best friend, who delivered just 4 months before, not too impressed with getting SMS at 6am on a Sunday morning!)

I enjoyed my pregnancy and child birth so much that I think I will do it again pretty soon!

3 comments | March 5, 2007 - 8:31 am | hpling