My birth story

My baby was estimated to arrive on 12 March 2010.

On the eve of the EDD (estimated due date), I went off to Fit For 2 as usual. Enjoyed my workout, cam-whored with instructor, Debbie and other hot mummies. Even posted the pic on FB that night itself. I just have this urge of "I must post it tonight".

At about 4+am, I went to pee. And.. there's blood!! Oh no..I went and get hubby to wake up. "I'm bleeding". Hubby "Er..so what we do now? Any pain?" I said no, and we both went back to sleep. Then hubby went to work. Am starting to have some pain at this time. At about 7+am, the pain became so intense I can't ignore it and sleep anymore. So I went to shower and wash my hair. Very important! 1 month can't wash hair...Chinese custom - confinement period. Then I sms hubby, ask him to come back. He replied "Why?" I feel like killing him...

After all the dilly dally..we arrived at Dr Choong's clinic at 11+am. After checking, he said am 6cm dilated. 6CM!!! But my contractions just started? So we checked into the labour ward. And wait..and pain..and wait...About 2pm, Doc came..checked..still 6cm. So he said may take a while. He will see me after dinner. So I walk..kneel...sit..doing everything that don't comfort my pain a bit. The TENS is not working. Hubby's massage is not working. At 6+pm, bring me the epidural NOW!! At this point, tears is flowing at an auto mode with or without contraction.

15 minutes after, I am "bed-ridden" and pain-free. Ah... isn't epidural the best invention? And so.. we continued to wait.. until the next day morning. At about 11am, Doc came. 8cm. I am like.. why is it taking forever??? Seeing I am tired, and the epidural effects starting to wear off for the 2nd time, he decided to intervene. So am put on another drip. At 2+pm, Doc came again.. 10cm!! The bad news is, baby is not at the correct position, so he will have to vacuum baby out.

I sent the nurse to fetch hubby who was chill-laxing at the waiting lounge. And the team all get ready to help deliver my baby. I was starting to shake, as the effects of epidural wears off. So I can feel what is going on "there" but painless. And this is helpful for me when I push. Hubby came, all set. And the pushing starts. I have a team of cheerleaders, made of nurses. We stopped a few times as I was feeling nausea. Shaking so much hubby thinks I am terrified. Oh, and a stop for water. I think I had about 3-4 pushes and hubby said he can see baby's head.. and then I felt something huge coming out.. and next, baby is on my chest.

The nurses are busy sucking out mucus from his mouth and cleaning his face. Then I have a look at him. He let out a few gentle cries. Then he opened his eyes and look around. I am so so touched and.. I don't know what other words I can say. I felt extremely exhausted and cold. I am shaking so much as epidural leaves me.

Hubby followed the nurses out as they bring baby for the checks. Weight, height etc. Boy was born 3.45kg, 51cm. Sometime later, I woke. And I was asked to eat something. It's over 24 hours since my last meal. But I can't and I finally puke (1 of epidurals side effect).

After I rested, it's time to nurse baby, at the labour room as in my birth plan (finally another thing according to my plan). Ok, so how do we start? I don't even know how to hold him! The nurses helped, and they helped to latch him on. And according to them, he is sucking well. I don't know, as I am still in KO mode. The pics hubby took is so ugh.. I can never show them to any1. I look so dead! Is amazing I did not drop baby.

Next, I am cleaned and transferred to the maternity ward. Then hubby have to go and I am all alone. Most of the time I left baby in the nursery. Too tired for anything. And they (books, lactation specialist) are serious when they say nursing is tough. I shivers when the nurse push baby in. Until I remembered, I can nurse lying down. But I think I nursed too little. End up baby had jaundice.. for a month.

Pregnancy is the most amazing 9 months I had. Experiencing the roller coaster of emotion and physical changes. Seeing my self turning into an elephant. Getting all the 1st hand feeling of baby's movement. I missed being pregnant. Delivery was ok. Thanks to epidural and help of my gynae and the team at Pantai Hospital.

Post-partum was... well, I will do better next round :)