I'm gonna do it right now.
Signs of labor probably started on Sunday 22nd Feb 2009, I was so hungry for the whole day. But I ignored the hunger, thinking that my body wants to overeat on the excuse of pregnancy.
Hus & I dint even have a proper dinner on Sunday, we tried to sleep early that night. I had to go to work the next morning. I was planing that Monday will be the last day i'll be at work cos i'm very tired by the end of the previous week and my Doc has hinted to induce my labor.
I started getting weird feelings at night, I did my night prayer but couldn't fall asleep. There's something different that night. I kept going to the toilet feeling an increase in discharge. Then at about 1am, I felt a thick discharge on my panties... i lost the plug. I remembered from the antenatal classes that losing of mucosal plug is not a sign of labor so i assured myself to stay calm.
the next moment, trickle of water wet my panties and toilet floor. Then i wasn't sure it meant a broken water bag... I started washing the wet floor to find gush of water flowing down. That was IT!!!
My heart raced a little, i slowed down to plan what to do next...
1- get a shower
2- wake Hus up
3- tell him slowly and softly
4- pack hospital bag while Hus shower
5- go to hospital
and that's what i did...
Hus drove pretty fast, he's excited I think. Hus & I got to KK Women & Children's Hospital at 0200hrs. We were given a delivery room from that time till... 1810hrs... so from 0100hrs (breaking of water bag) to 1810hrs, it's a loooong labor
There was little and bearable contractions from 0100 to 0600; then from 0600hrs it's quite painful and the upseting thing is, i'm only 2cm dilated...
Hus asked me to take epidural cos it's likely gonna be still some time and he could see that i was in bad pain. So i heeded his advice...
Epidural at 0630hrs: I had little pain or rather i felt little pain but the side effects were strong, i was very sleepy.
Oxytocin (hasten dilation) at 0900hrs.
2nd shot (top-up epidural) at 1400-1500 hrs: I am not sure of the time cos i wasn't in tip-top condition. Dilation was only 4cm. Doc Anthony Siow hinted that by 1800hrs we might have to consider another labor method.
This time i was shivering alot, but i really want a natural birth so i tried sitting up so that baby could move down. Baby's heart rate was irregular with increased dosage of oxytocin so i have to stay awake to breathe properly. Extreme fatigue and discomfort.
The disappointment: 1750hrs, still 4cm dilation and baby's irregular heart-rate needed a signature on the Emergency C-section document.
It wasn't easy; i asked for more time. Hus took some time to comfort me and explain the need for the decision... I wasn't thinking straight and was overwhelmed with extreme negative emotions. I need to do it because baby will be in distress if I continue to delay.
Things happened very very fast after that. I signed numerous papers, i was put on increase dosage of epidural, I was changed into another bed. I bade Hus goodbye for a while. I was shaking and crying. my thoughts were: I wouldn't be able to latch him on right away. Hus can't be with me. Recovery is gonna be slower. I won't be able to roller blade soon...
I got into the operating theatre at 1815hrs, lots of instructions given to staff. I was tested with ice packs to check if the epidural was in the right amount and started working. Doc Siow walked in at 1825hrs, dressed in green, masked and hair-netted... "Alright, let's go."
I felt lots of tugging although i can't see what exactly was happening "there". I was crying still. At 1838hrs, i heard Thad's first cry; LOUD & STRONG!
I stopped crying immediately, so there wasn't tears of joy. But there was really extreme joy & relief. Baby is doing well. Doc Siow asked, "see? is it a boy or girl?" I was looking at penis and umbillica cord, "boy" i said. "He's a strong boy" doc said.
Thaddeus was cleaned up and sent to me to post for a photo. I kissed his forehead before he was sent to Daddy Raymond, and my family who was in hospital from late afternoon that day.
Things we thanked God for:
- A supportive hus, his presence and words and grip and touches made this possible.
- A very skilled gynea for the fast op and nice stitch.
- Janna to be on afternoon shift, so she could hold my hand through out the op.
- A family to be in the hospital to root for me.
- the experience of natural onset of labor and the total experience from water breaking to C-section
- the perfection of timings and people present in my labor.
Above all, thank God for a healthy baby. He's 10days old now.
