The night before was pretty rough, it just feel so surreal as though there's a thousand things not prepared and done as yet, pretty much in denial. Emotions swing highest possible, crying in the shower for whatever reason it is, even looking at Zethan make me cry! Last minute quick check on the hospital bag, gathering baby stuff ready for discharge, passing messages to mum for baby's and Zethan's. Hit the sack only close to 3am after a nice shower with the alarm set for 7am!
THE morning....
Woke up as planned, took a good shower and hair wash before the horrifying confinement with no-daily-shower-and-hairwash! Zethan woke up early with us too which is pretty usual. The saying goodbye part to Zethan was so very overwhelming that it still brought tears to my eyes now after 2 weeks. Took a last picture of my preggy self with him, kissed goodbye and mumbled a quick "be a good boy okie, see you later" and had to dash out of the house not turning for a 2nd look at him fearing I will breakdown infront of him & mum. As soon as the door is closed, tears just flowed down and hub was a little shocked. Can't seem to control myself even having breakfast at the coffee shop, having my coffee and the short journey to the hospital. I felt extremely upset having to leave Zethan at home and not sleeping with him for the next 2 nights and how he is not going to be our only love anymore the next I were to see him.
9.10am - Reached Mount Alvernia (very peaceful and quiet on sunday morning) while hub went to park the car.
9.15am - went up to Our Lady's ward to say hello to Sis. Wee and let her know I am admitted for induction (she promised to help get the window bed as it's more spacious).
9.30am - 'checked in' Labour ward, brought to suite 3A (did not like it as the toilet is shared, had to make sure locked and unlocked the other door). Took a last picture with the bump before changing, urine sample collection and was strapped to CTG. Was told that woody is in ops, coming down soon. Started surfing channels on TV.
10 am - Woody arrives and did VE, breaking waterbag with his bare fingers at the same time which caught me by surprise when I feel a warm gush flowing out (had to ask if he break the waterbag). Got the nurse to lock the other door first before inserting fleet enama telling her my last experience that I had to fly soon after administering. Was advised to control at least 1-2 minutes which I did managed this time.
10.20am - midwife insert cannula and set drip and syntocin was given via IV. CTG show only very mild contraction and midwife said I was dilated at 3cm?!! She asked if I am nervous which I am extremely nervous due to not knowing what to expect even though this is my 2nd delivery. She gave assurance to relax and all will be fine, the hub did help to assure that there's nothing to be nervous about too. Hub proceed to do the necessary paperwork in the labour suite.
10.30am - felt more gushes flowing uncertain if it is amniotic fluid or urine thus checked with the midwife. She confirmed it is amniotic fluid and it will continue to flow till labour and they will have to observe the color of the fluid lest baby poop inside. Midwife start to prepare the necessary needed for labour which make me panic for a moment, so early?!!
10.45am - Midwife keep coming in to ask if I felt the contraction and checking CTG which made me even more nervous and paranoid thinking is there anything wrong. Adjust the CTG tighter but still there is not much contraction, pretty irregular.
10.55am - shown the graph that baby is very excited and kicking alot furiously but I do not feel it. Was advised to turn to the left to allow more oxygen to baby hoping to trigger regular contraction. Peak for contraction at around 100 but intensity did not increase, 5-6 minutes apart. Monitor amniotic fluid, still clear which is good. If it is green it would mean baby pass motion inside.
11.18am - Increase dose for syntocin, felt slightly stronger contractions. Asked on how to interpret the CTG reading - one monitoring bb's heartbeat and the other on contraction, anything more than 20 show there is a contraction.
12.15pm - Intensity shorten at 2-3 minutes, midwife said they will not increase dosage too high otherwise would stress the baby. Experience more painful contraction and had to readjust CTG (cos I am lying sideway so it keep shifting offsite) and had BP taken.
2.00pm - VE to check for dilation as ordered by gynae, only 4 cm with intense contractions every 1-2 minutes. I am freaking out slightly as after so many hours, the dilation is only 1 cm. Decide to call for epidural in case of long labour. Read thru the procedures and signed what is necessary. Midwife returned shortly that they contacted woody and was given go ahead for epi. The anaesthetist came quite fast and was very precise in his instructions and 'happidural' was administer very quickly without much pain, over and done with at around 2.20pm. I was instructed to be on laughing gas to make the process comfortable (in his words). Pretty assuring and was advised it might take estimated 30 minutes for epidural to work. In fact within minutes I could not feel the contractions though still able to feel my legs and wriggle my toes.
3.30pm - Insertion of urine catheter and thought can felt that midwife did VE again. Rember asking her if it is normal for me to still feel and able to wriggle my toes to which she said yes cos the epidural dosage was not set very high. Suddenly she said you can push anytime now?!! I was like huh? Do you mean I am fully dilated oready?!! She came back minutes later to say they have contacted woody and as advised to wait for bb to descend further. Panic mode activated, we are going to meet our princess very soon! Can't imagine that from 4-10cm took only an hour, it's like WOW
4.20pm - Midwife did the last necessary preparations, turned on the incubator, wearing their 'PPE' etc. Was told to practise pushing slowly first while waiting for woody to arrive. Gave a light push and was told can see her hair! Hub was scaredy cat, dare not peep to take a look. 5 minutes later, woody arrived.
1637 - With 3-4 hard pushes, our princess arrived and she is loud to announce her arrival. At this instance, tears just flowed, happy tears to know that she is here safe and sound. Woody announced that it is a girl and the cord was around her neck twice and we were lucky to have induced her today. I joked that luckily it is a girl otherwise would have to lelong at pasar malam to which he laughed and said must have done a lot of shopping! Had episiotomy (he said I will help you a little before snipping), assisted delivery using forceps (was told only by midwife post delivery). Midwife reminded hub to take a picture of the time and woody had to tell hub to go take pictures of bb in the incubator as he would not want to see what happened next, not going to be nice! LOL
Heard more crying once she hit the incubator while my tears continue to flow and the hub busy snapping away on the camera, his iphone, my iphone and ipad! Can see woody doing the stitching but my eyes were fixated on the incubator instead totally oblivious to what he is doing next. Minutes later, he is done, congratulated us and left after saying have a good rest patting me on the legs.
After the midwives are done wif their work, princess is brought to latch on. I was made to changed into my PJ and waited to be transfered to the ward after the drip is completed. Told them about the prior arrangement with Sis. Wee for a room in OL which luckily I remembered to inform her as woody had placed me in SR instead. We were transfered to OL 325B at about 6pm with the nurse asking about meals selection and a quick orientation of the whats is and whats not.
The grandma and korkor came visiting at about 8+ in the night and he was really pleased to find his welcome gift from meimei in the bassinet. Took it and immediately guessed what it is, was very happy and wait no more to rip the present. The grandfather came shortly after and was grinning ear to ear as well.
The 3d2n stay wasn't exactly a pleasant one because of a fiery baby as neighbour who could scream and yell till no voice coupled with a snoring mummy and lots of visitors everyday early in the morning, throughout the day. Just my luck to have such inconsiderate neighbour who do not have the courtesy to silent her phone and notification sound through the night.
We forgot totally about taking a photo of bb with myself in the labour suite shortly after her birth, a family picture together and some skin to skin bonding with my princess. Forgot about daddy's intention to cut the cord as well.
A big thank you to my dear friends for visiting amid busy schedule and your generous gifts. We are recovering and coping very well as of now.
.JPG)
