Good morning Mummies!
Thank you all for your well wishes! Sarah Mae and I are doing great - I managed to sleep a good 4 hrs last night and she is latching on well.
Don't know how to post a picture up in the thread...sorry
will figure that out hopefully..
<font color="0000ff">Sarah Mae's Birth Story</font>
3 Feb 10
2.30 am
Felt minor contractions, couldn't sleep, got up, checked email, surfed internet, opened mail. Mental note to get a pedi done tmr.
3.30 am
Noticed contractions getting more regular -=10-12 mins. Checked on K, looked in at snoring hb. Felt need to, and actually pooed. Wondering whether this is body's way of prepping for birth. Wondered who taught Eve to birth since she most certainly would have birthed outside the Garden of Eden. Did she learn from the animals? Was Adam her birth attendant?
4.30 am
K woke up and cried. As hb rushed to attend to K, I mention contractions, which ilicit a flash of panic across his face. haha. He returns from K's room 10 mins later and we start timing contractions. 10 mins and then 8. We debate when to go into NUH. I didn't want to go in too early and get strapped up in the bed for no good reason. Also wanted to wait for dawn so that ILs can come over to take over from us. Don't want K to wake up and find us gone. Decided to wait. Meantime, I took a long, warm shower (who knows when my next shower will be?), dressed up, plucked my brows, packed things, made sure K's things are ready for school. Hb packed his stuff, took his shower too.
5.30 am
We ate some breakfast - bak chang and rice cake. With K's birth, I had to go without food and drink for more than 12 hrs and was too hungry to push! Didn't want that to happen again
Contractions getting more uncomfortable but walking around helps. ILs arrive abt 5.45 am, I went to the loo and notice some leaking. Thot waterbag may be leaking. Put on a sanitary napkin and decide we should go into the hospital NOW.
6.00 am
Went through a few contractions in the car. Manageable if I think of each contraction as bringing me 1 min closer to seeing Sarah Mae. Imagined Sarah Mae like Thumbelina emerging from a little flower bud. Arrived at NUH. Parked and walked a rather long way to the delivery suite. Felt a strong contraction in the lift, sudden panic, wonder if I can do this. At the delivery ward, we got into the same Suite we had 2 years ago. Changed into hospital garb, CTG strapped up, BP was on the high side. Convinced nurses no VE until Prof arrives.
6.30 am
2 Housemen tried to take my history. I let hb answer them while I dealt with increasingly strong contractions. Contractions now 5 mins apart and getting stronger. Keep wanting to poo but nothing. Convinced nurses to let me off the CTG machine so I can walk. I pace around, try to get on fours, crouch, hang on to hb for support. All these helped to ease the pains. I am in despair. I tell hb that I'm weak, I wanna do this without medication but I can't.
7.30 am
Contractions strong. Each surge makes me despair and wonder how much stronger will contractions be at 10 cm? Prof comes in, we discuss the fast closing window for epidural. Hb roots for epi - 5 cm to go, medically 1 cm per hour, who knows how long this could go on was his argument. I secretly think that's cos he doesn't want me to rip off his arm during contractions! hah! By now, I am tired and sleepy. I decide to go for epi since 2 medical professionals by my side strongly urge me to. Fearing a long labour like the last time, I also wanted to conserve energy and take a rest so that I can push later.
The anesthesiologist does her work in between contractions. I am in despair why it's taking so long and worried that window may be closed.
8.30 am
Blissful sleep. Prof comes in at near 9am to break my water bag. She is a little concerned with meconium staining.
9.30 am
Start feeling the contractions again. Toes able to wriggle, epi wearing off. Tell the nurse I have urge to poo. Nurse checks - 10 cm dilated! tells me to hold on and wait for prof. I shiver uncontrollably everytime I have to lie down. I insist on sitting up. Hb argues that CTG readings will be lost. I argue back that bb is FINE. I can feel her kick each time contractions come. He lets me be.
10 am
Everyone starts prepping the suite for delivery. Prof comes in, asks to get a neonatologist on standby becos the mec. staining. I want to push sitting up or on fours. Prof positions me semi-inclined so that she can help me. First try - pushed abt 4 times. Second try - another 5-6 times before I felt Sarah Mae's head slip out. Prof says stop stop, wait. Soon the shoulders and then the rest of SM slides out.
10.35am
Sarah Mae is born. The experience is beautiful. With K, I didn't feel anything, heck, didn't know what was going on. No episiotomy - just a slight tear. While Prof stitches me, the neonate works on Sarah Mae. I joke with Prof that I was worried SM may have been a boy in disguise since everyone kept predicting a boy based on my belly shape. SM is 3.290g, 100g heavier than K. The foiegras at Forlino the night before may have done the job in getting her out - SM has a double chin! She is also extremely alert, eyes checking out everyone, everything. SM does not sleep until past 1 pm in the afternoon. All that adrenaline rush I suppose.
