The Birthing Process
0600 hrs
As usual, baby was moving very actively in my tummy and woke me up from sleep once again. Joshua and I were planning to catch a movie that day and I thought that we should start assembling our baby cot soon since baby can come out anytime. Looking at the clock, I figured that it was too early to truly wake up. That was when I felt a tight contraction and something broke within. Instinctively, I jumped out of the bed and went to the bathroom. (To tell the truth, I mentally rehearsed that movement many times as the last thing I want when my water bag breaks is to ruin my super expensive and comfortable memory foam bed! :P) Water tinged with blood gushed out in spurts. Strangely calm, I called out for my husband. With the first contraction, my water bag broke and had a bloody show (the three signs that indicate the beginning of labor. It was clear as day that it was time to call our gynae.
0900 hrs
We reached the delivery room and went through the routine procedures. Our gynae told us to take our time to have breakfast and come down to the hospital when Joshua called him. The contractions were very much like mild menstral cramps and became more painful as time passed. However, since my waters broke, the gynae was worried about infection if we were to take our time with the labor. Thus, he wanted to put me on IV drip to speed up and intensify the labor pains so that the baby can come out faster with fewer complications.
1000 hrs
Everyone in the delivery ward were very professional. No unnecessary comments were made and everything was quick and efficient. That is, all but one senior lady. she sounded as if she was a very experienced person when she tried to put the drip's needle in me, saying that she'll find the nicest vein for me. Since I am a blood donor and not afraid of needles at all, I thought it would go smoothly. To my surprise, she raptured my vein and could neither draw out the necessary blood nor put in the drip as the accumulated liquid formed a small bubble on my hand causing no small amount of pain. I stared at her in disbelief when she reprimanded me for having small veins! (Had an IV drip before and it went smoothly without pain) Talk about the Adam and Eve syndrome when they played the blaming game. *gasp* Another nurse ultimately finished the task skillfully in her stead.
1200 hrs
The gynae came and said that I was 2 cm dilated. This time round, I was prepared when he checked my cervix. He commented that I was doing good etc. (Meaning I didn't scream like the last time lah... ha ha) He came in later again to check on me when I was four cm dilated and I was still coping with the increased pain with breathing techniques. By then, it felt like my usual menstral cramp at its peak. The nurse suggested I use the gas mask to alleviate the pain but all it did was made my giddy when I did try. My friend was right: the mask was quite useless.
1400 hrs
I was 6 cm dilated. The same senior lady came in to tell me that my bladder is too full and it is preventing the baby from coming out. She wanted to drain it. She sent my husband out. First mistake. Joshua was my pillar of support in the intensified pain. She tried putting the tube into my uthrea to drain it and did it in such a rough manner that it hurt, A LOT. The pain could actually distract me from my contractions. Mistake number two. When the next wave of contraction came, I wasn't prepared for it and I started screaming. The lady had the audacity to complain in a very loud voice to her colleagues that I was uncooperative. Then, she even had to tell me that I was a loser to be screaming when I was only 2 cm dilated (she sure didn't have her facts right!) She said that I should have had an epidural knowing that I have such a low threshold for pain. That was simply the GIANT straw that broke the camel's back. I was so upset that I lost control of myself and became delirious with pain. I couldn't stop screaming.
1530 hrs
What happened later was such a blur to me as I was already in "never never land" and seemed to be very far removed from everything that was happening around me. Vaguely, I remember feeling very embarrassed about my screaming and disturbing others with my noise and yet I couldn't do anything about it. I supposed I must have nodded when they asked me if I needed epidural so that I won't cause trouble to my gynae when he finally delivers my baby. However, since I did not pre-book the specialist, we waited for yet another hour before she came to give the anesthetic to me. By that time, I was already 9 cm dilated, with just 1 more cm to go...
1630 hrs
The relief from the pain was quick and very much welcomed. Already trembling with pain before, I started trembling even more due to the side effects of the epidural. But I was grateful that I could stop screaming and became sane after awhile just before the gynae came. He decided for me that I couldn't push the baby out by myself due to the numbness and used a vaccuum suction to get the baby out. That meant an episiotomy which I dreaded. Frankly, I was way too exhausted to care by then. Pity that I was too weak too hold Joash when they first placed him on my chest, bloody and all. At least, I was able to breastfeed him in the delivery room with the help of a nurse. Joash is simply so adorable! I think he has my lips (perhaps also the nose?) and Joshua's everything else... hee hee...
The Aftermath
I remember telling people that I did not fear the labor itself but I fear the difficult recovery from any form of surgical cut such as an episiotomy or a cesarean. I think I'm right. The episiotomy wound hurt like mad especially after the effects of the epidural wore off. It is a pain that surely want to avoid in the future.
More about my experiences as a new mother in the next blog. :)
0600 hrs
As usual, baby was moving very actively in my tummy and woke me up from sleep once again. Joshua and I were planning to catch a movie that day and I thought that we should start assembling our baby cot soon since baby can come out anytime. Looking at the clock, I figured that it was too early to truly wake up. That was when I felt a tight contraction and something broke within. Instinctively, I jumped out of the bed and went to the bathroom. (To tell the truth, I mentally rehearsed that movement many times as the last thing I want when my water bag breaks is to ruin my super expensive and comfortable memory foam bed! :P) Water tinged with blood gushed out in spurts. Strangely calm, I called out for my husband. With the first contraction, my water bag broke and had a bloody show (the three signs that indicate the beginning of labor. It was clear as day that it was time to call our gynae.
0900 hrs
We reached the delivery room and went through the routine procedures. Our gynae told us to take our time to have breakfast and come down to the hospital when Joshua called him. The contractions were very much like mild menstral cramps and became more painful as time passed. However, since my waters broke, the gynae was worried about infection if we were to take our time with the labor. Thus, he wanted to put me on IV drip to speed up and intensify the labor pains so that the baby can come out faster with fewer complications.
1000 hrs
Everyone in the delivery ward were very professional. No unnecessary comments were made and everything was quick and efficient. That is, all but one senior lady. she sounded as if she was a very experienced person when she tried to put the drip's needle in me, saying that she'll find the nicest vein for me. Since I am a blood donor and not afraid of needles at all, I thought it would go smoothly. To my surprise, she raptured my vein and could neither draw out the necessary blood nor put in the drip as the accumulated liquid formed a small bubble on my hand causing no small amount of pain. I stared at her in disbelief when she reprimanded me for having small veins! (Had an IV drip before and it went smoothly without pain) Talk about the Adam and Eve syndrome when they played the blaming game. *gasp* Another nurse ultimately finished the task skillfully in her stead.
1200 hrs
The gynae came and said that I was 2 cm dilated. This time round, I was prepared when he checked my cervix. He commented that I was doing good etc. (Meaning I didn't scream like the last time lah... ha ha) He came in later again to check on me when I was four cm dilated and I was still coping with the increased pain with breathing techniques. By then, it felt like my usual menstral cramp at its peak. The nurse suggested I use the gas mask to alleviate the pain but all it did was made my giddy when I did try. My friend was right: the mask was quite useless.
1400 hrs
I was 6 cm dilated. The same senior lady came in to tell me that my bladder is too full and it is preventing the baby from coming out. She wanted to drain it. She sent my husband out. First mistake. Joshua was my pillar of support in the intensified pain. She tried putting the tube into my uthrea to drain it and did it in such a rough manner that it hurt, A LOT. The pain could actually distract me from my contractions. Mistake number two. When the next wave of contraction came, I wasn't prepared for it and I started screaming. The lady had the audacity to complain in a very loud voice to her colleagues that I was uncooperative. Then, she even had to tell me that I was a loser to be screaming when I was only 2 cm dilated (she sure didn't have her facts right!) She said that I should have had an epidural knowing that I have such a low threshold for pain. That was simply the GIANT straw that broke the camel's back. I was so upset that I lost control of myself and became delirious with pain. I couldn't stop screaming.
1530 hrs
What happened later was such a blur to me as I was already in "never never land" and seemed to be very far removed from everything that was happening around me. Vaguely, I remember feeling very embarrassed about my screaming and disturbing others with my noise and yet I couldn't do anything about it. I supposed I must have nodded when they asked me if I needed epidural so that I won't cause trouble to my gynae when he finally delivers my baby. However, since I did not pre-book the specialist, we waited for yet another hour before she came to give the anesthetic to me. By that time, I was already 9 cm dilated, with just 1 more cm to go...
1630 hrs
The relief from the pain was quick and very much welcomed. Already trembling with pain before, I started trembling even more due to the side effects of the epidural. But I was grateful that I could stop screaming and became sane after awhile just before the gynae came. He decided for me that I couldn't push the baby out by myself due to the numbness and used a vaccuum suction to get the baby out. That meant an episiotomy which I dreaded. Frankly, I was way too exhausted to care by then. Pity that I was too weak too hold Joash when they first placed him on my chest, bloody and all. At least, I was able to breastfeed him in the delivery room with the help of a nurse. Joash is simply so adorable! I think he has my lips (perhaps also the nose?) and Joshua's everything else... hee hee...
The Aftermath
I remember telling people that I did not fear the labor itself but I fear the difficult recovery from any form of surgical cut such as an episiotomy or a cesarean. I think I'm right. The episiotomy wound hurt like mad especially after the effects of the epidural wore off. It is a pain that surely want to avoid in the future.
More about my experiences as a new mother in the next blog. :)
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