She was induced at 39 weeks as scheduled. The few weeks prior to her arrival, I was homebound and in bed most of the time. Having survived 2 falls without any danger to baby, doctor and hubs decided it's better for me to stay home and rest.
I was getting impatient and DJW (my dr) asked if I'd like to induce her at week 38, a very safe week considering her size and growth but I wanted to experience a natural labour called and gave her another week but as it is, she's still not ready by week 39 and we proceeded with induce as planned
An early morning for me, scrubbing myself clean especially my hair, bracing for the awful confinement days ahead. We sent Amber to school, told her to wait for us to call but to go ahead with her day as usual and Papa will come and fetch her once mei mei is born.
We had breakfast at McD, a double one as I was hungry !!!
Checked in to the hospital, got paperwork done.. a whole stack.. (authorizing hospital to dispose the placenta, authorizing injections, paed and vaccination for Baby M, etc etc). Hubs left to run some errands while I did my stuff.
Enema-ed and then put on oxytocin drips and strapped on the tummy with 2 monitors - fetal heart rate and contractions.
Contractions started soon but mild. I reminded the midwife numerous times that I wanted an epidurial and PLEASE DO NOT FORGET !! ..I think she got a bit irritated with me and the epidural part ;) I didn't mind bearing a bit of pain till epidurial but the midwife said since you already wanted it.. why not get it in soon. She checked on the anesthetist available..She's midwife #2 (I had 3 different midwifes attending to me, due to the change of shifts).
DrS came and injected in the epi while I was sitting down. Hubs was holding
Epidural wasn't meant to be a painful or scary jab, I only had to be very still during the initial injection and then later.. I could feel chill all over and it was time to relax and wait.
An hour later, I felt a lot of wetness under me. It could be my water bag breaking but Midwife#2 said.. no. it's just 'hind water' .. whatever that means... but shortly after, DJW came to see me and checked.. 4 cm dilated.. and confirmed it's water bag leaking.. she manually poked the water bag and broke it further, I could feel more water gushing and good, I know labor will begin soon
Unlike Amber's birth.. I was allowed to eat while waiting for labor Hubs bought me coffee and donuts and I had some hospital food too but I felt horrible after taking the soy milk. I began to feel chilly and wanted to throw up. Fever sets in and I was given panadols and oxygen mask to breath and relax.
My sister dropped by Labor Ward 2, she thought baby M was already out and I wondered how she got into the my labor room as I only authorized hubs to be present and no one else (that's another paper I signed too).. it's good to have her to chit chat while waiting for my labor to progress. She saw that I was very alert and not looking-like-going-to-be-in-labor-soon.. and she left soon after. I told midwife # 2 I could feel CONTRACTIONS and wanted an epidural top up..
She was reluctant and went.. eh... there's no childbirth without pain la.. DANG !! I remember I felt nothing when I had Amber but I know this was different. I could feel heaviness pushing down and I could feel PAIN !!
Luckily Midwife #2 completed her shift and Midwife #3 came.. she's a dear and topped up my epidurial... without much questions asked...
Then the waiting for active labour begins. We were getting impatient, phone calls from family members asking about baby's arrival and Amber kept calling me and hubs.. when can I go to the hospital ?????
Further check revealed bb's head has not fully descended yet. I can push but it will take a lot of effort to push baby out. DJW advised to wait a little longer..
tick-tock-tick-tock.. late evening came...
at those waiting moments.. I was on whatsapp with my dear friends... they kept me sane and going, waiting for the crucial moment. When they hear no response from me, they knew action was about to begin......
tick-tock-tick-tock... waited for 2 hour, still not full descended. DJW ordered to push in 15 minutes time.
Hubs and Midwife #3 helped me to push.. I think we did around 15 minutes of pushing and DJW was called in for the final push..
One last big push... Baby M was out. She did not cry and hubs was very worried. She let out a small cry . ngekk-ngekk when they whacked her buttock at hubs request. However she scored apgar 8 and 10
I was in tears.. holding my dear baby, greeting her for the first time. Her angelic looks, red lips and chubby cheeks. I will not forget that moment, holding her for the first time. I cannot hold back my tears.
Baby M,, you have a whole adventure ahead of you and you will always have Papa, Mama and Amber cheh-cheh with you.
Love you always..
Amber
Papa
Mama
