Here's my brief birth story. I shall begin with the day before (22 July) as i think it initiated my labour pain and contraction - shopping!!
21 July (friday)
38 week checkup at gynae's place in the morning. No sign of labour at all, bb's head not engaged. Water level was 8cm (more than 6cm is consider enough for baby), bb weight 2.7kg considered small, bb very active - Gynae predicted i may be overdue for 7days. Had discharge at 4pm, maybe due to dilation check tis morning (1st time in my pregnancy). Called TMC emergency hotline, gynae called back say it's normal, could be due to dilation check, asked me to watch out for contraction and cramps. But nothing, just discharge.
22 July (saturday)
I want to sign up Stemcord at the road show, so me and hubby went to Suntec. I had a 3 hour shopping at Marina Sq and Suntec until my legs very suan. Normally i could only have 30 min after dinner stroll but shopping made me forget the tiredness. Apart from this, i did squatting at least 30 times a day (10 times in each shower)(gynae said 10 times, but i desparate in getting my bb engaged)
23 July (Sunday)
5am - I woke up from sleep as i felt the contraction and menses cramp come together. The interval time between contraction and cramp is 15min. Each pain last for 30 seconds. I monitored for another 1 hr, same pattern. I fall asleep later on. The same pattern carried on when i woke up but i still din think it was labour pain - my bb hasn't even engaged rite.. Called up TMC emergency hotline, gynae said tis is labour pain, but 15min interval i might only dilate for 1cm only, will need to wait very long in hospital, admit to hospital when the interval is 5min apart or the pain is greater till i cannot tahan. Was asked to take bath and get ready hospital bag. But cautioned tat it might be also a false alarm if the pain stop. The contraction and pain paused at around 4pm, (false alarm??) I planned to go shopping again, hehe.. But unfortunately, the pain resumed 1hr later, and the interval time bcomes shorter, until 6-7 min apart when i was taking dinner, and i could only take in few mouth of rice, each time the contraction came, i will push away my rice bowl and concentrate on my breathing. My hubby saw my condition, said it's time to be admitted, i took my shower - the 4th shower of the day as i got ready since morning after gynae instructed me to take bath n get ready..
Reached hospital at 7.30pm, nurse did dilation check. I still cherish the hope tat i could go home tat night as i still felt bb's head not engaged yet, how to dilate?? But surprisingly, nurse said i was dilated 4cm already.. huh..?!!
Hubby proceed to admit me at 8+pm, while the nurse asked me to change and inserted something in my anus to clear my bowel. I lao alot of sai immediately after the cream was inserted. I took a shower again and lie down comfortably. I was wheeled to labour ward. Gynae arrived, did dilation check - confirmed i dilated 4cm, there's another 6hr to go, as 1cm needs 1hr. I thought oh, i will give birth tomorrow. Lights dimmed to make me relax, hubby played soothing music to make me relax.
Contraction time became 5min apart, and the pain was greater. Hubby tried to cheer me up by "kai wan xiao" with me, but i felt the greatest pain when he did tat bcos my mind swayed and i couldn't concentrate in my breathing to forget my pain. I scolded my hubby and eventually broke down in tears and sobs. Poor hubby stood aside.
1hr later at 9+pm, the nurse came in and did dilation check again, i was already 8cm dilated within 1 hr!! They called gynae who had already gone home. Gynae came and confirmed. She encouraged me not to take epidural bcos there was only another 2cm to go, dun need to waste $500. I asked if the pain at the end would be greater than wat i was having or would be just the same. I could bear if it's the same level of pain. Gynae said it would be greater of course. I took up the challenge and opted not to take epidural. Nurse told me if i felt an urge to pangsai, just press the bell.
At ard 10pm, I felt the urge, it's very uncomfortable - when the contraction comes, u feel like something is pushing from inside u just can't seem to stop or control it. I pressed the bell. Nurses (la la dui) came and put my legs wide open on 2 racks and asked me to push. It's like pushing ur sai out when u having constipation. I was breathless. I pushed for few times until I know the correct way - take a deep breath, hold the breath, chin on chest, concentrate on down there and push. (paiseh..
) Yes.. nurse said can see bb's hair already. Continued pushing until bb's head turn to a position, nurse said the hardest part was over, i could relax and wait for gynae to come. I think bb's head was exposed a bit after he made his turn and channelled his way to a certain position. Gynae came and few pushing the baby's out at 10.49pm. Hubby cut the umbilical cord, gynae hold bb and put on my chest. I felt a warm moist body lying on me... The feeling was unforgettable..
nurse washed the baby and gynae collected cord blood and stitched me up - i was cut 2cm.
Unfortunately 4bedder room was avail tat day, so hubby upgradded me to single bedder. I was wheeled to my room with bb beside me.
Shall i stop here.. i think i getting excited recapping until it's getting too long. I going to pump milk again. See ya..
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