8.30 am – Surprisingly, I wasn’t as nervous and anxious as the night b4. Had my macaroni soup and milo. Dar prepared the comic books, games and stuff. We prepared these so that we can kill time while I had contractions. I overestimated myself, as I found out later.
The nurse wheeled me to the observation ward. I felt as if I were a criminal, as people kept looking at me wherever we turned. Were they expecting me to scream or something?
9.30 am – I was given the enema to pass out whatever I had. Dr Ang came in shortly after that and checked me. Dunno why but that was the most painful check I ever had since he started. Nevertheless, I was still my cool self and made no noise.
No progress despite the pessary that was administered the night b4. Still 3 cm. Then he took out a hook and inserted it while he kept apologising. The uncomfortable feeling was quite unbearable and that's where I put my ante-natal class training to good use and took long breaths. I felt an uncomfortable (very!) tug and water began to gush out. He assured me that the baby should be out by 2 or 3 pm. I was very consoled by that confidence.
On a lighter note, another of Dr Ang’s patients came in and had a false alarm. Since she was here, she opted to induce her baby. As he checked her, I could hear her “Ow! Ow! Ow!” I giggled to Dar and commented how useless the gal was. I had my waterbag bursted and din make any noise. And there she was… Hehe. I overheard Dr telling her that her baby should be out by 6 or 7pm. So poor thing! Must tahan so long! I was gloating over my better predicament.
Contractions
I think it started gradually at 10 am. Quite amazing cos water would start gushing out whenever a contraction started. The contraction just felt like very bad aches at my hips. The nurse strapped 2 tranducers on my belly which caused a lot of pain whenever I had contractions. I begged the nurse to remove them but they were necessary to track the fetal heartbeat and contractions.
strapped
I tried to distract myself by reading the papers but gave up at around 11.30am. The pain was becoming more intense. Kind-heartedly, the nurse asked if I needed gas. No, I’m fine. I replied and tried all sorts of breathing methods. The gal next to me was already begging for mask. Aiyo, so useless. I thought complacently.
To Delivery Ward
12.05 pm - I was wheeled to the delivery ward. I felt very relieved cos I thought that meant it should be soon. I never knew how agonising the next couple of hours would be.
Delivery ward
1.30 pm - The contractions started to be really unbearable. I dunno how I can actually pull it through without any pain relief. I just gritted my teeth and bore with it. When the nurse came and checked me, I had little progress. She said that I was fighting the pain too much and as a result, my muscles were tense and could not dilate. She asked if I wanted gas which would help me relax. I agreed.
I din really know how to use the mask and the pain was getting worse. “It didn’t help at all!!” I cried desperately. Dar quickly coached me on the deep breathing methods and that helped me to breathe in the gas. I think my concentration on breathing did take my mind off the contractions a little.
Dr called and asked about my progress. Knowing there was little progress, he asked the nurse to put me on drip to make the contractions come more stronger. I refused. I was already feeling so much pain then. I couldn’t imagine how worse it could be. So I told the nurse I’d wait for Dr when he comes at 2pm then I’d decide on the drip.
After that, I told Dar that I wanted epidural if Dr were to put me on drip. I didn’t think I could make it.
HELP!
The contractions got worse and worse. I thought that was it. I was wrong. The worst was yet to come!! I wished that very moment I could get out of my own body!!
The nurse asked if I wanted a jab on my thigh to take the edge off the pain a little. Of course I wanted! That helped. Besides, Dar would read the graph and notified me when the next contraction was coming and when it was going off. That helped me a lot and encouraged me to go on.
Dar actually missed his lunch. I thought I had allowed him to go outside and eat when he asked me. But after the event, he told me that eventually I din want to let him out of my sight so he stayed. The nurses were very nice to keep his lunch for him and offered to heat up. But gradually, as the labour progressed, he din get to eat at all.
End of 1st Stage
Dar told me that the contractions were getting stronger and closer as he read the graph. I was very comforted by that cos I knew that if I weren’t making progress by the time Dr came, he would put me on drip. I actually lost track of time cos I was so overwhelmed by the whole experience. Whenever I heard the beep quicken (that meant the contraction building up), I would quickly grab my mask. As it went off, I would rest. This became the cycle for me and I din have time neither the strength for anything else. I din even have the energy to scream or say a word. I soon even forgot about wanting an epidural.
The nurse kept coming in to check me. I must say I was very comforted by her cos she was so gentle and assuring. Kept asking me, “Mummy are u ok?” and some other things that I can’t really remember. Then noticing that baby was still quite high up, she suggested that I lie on my left side.
Transition
This is the worst stage of the labour. In pain, I began to flail my arms, hoping to grab on something. Dar tried to give me his hand but I missed it. I gripped on to the pillow instead. Whenever the next one came along, I would desperately grab the pillow, sway my right hip and signalled (really couldn’t speak!) Dar and massaged my back. Same cycle over again. I was so glad Dar was with me. He tried to make me as comfy as possible and acted quickly upon all my requests (verbal and non verbal).
Soon I felt something pressing and had an urge to push. I mustered all my strength to convey that, “I… want…. to… PUSH!!” Dar heard and quickly called the nurse.
The nurse checked me and exclaimed I had a lot of show. I din know what that meant but that sounded like good news to me. With that the nurses sprung into action.
In my grogginess, I saw the nurses in action- getting the equipment ready, pushing the baby cot in, getting the leg pedestrals ready. These were things that told me that it would soon be over. Press on!
The nurse asked me to push whenever I had the urge to. I did but it was very difficult. It was the worst feeling I had felt in my entire life. It was like trying to push a huge stone past your hips. I became one of those desperate birthing women you see on TV...
The nurse wanted to take away my mask and I was very unwilling to part with my “security blanket”. I begged for it but had to give it up during delivery so I could push along with the contractions.
The Birth
I was feeling so weak I couldn’t even lift my legs on the pedestrals. Then Dr checked me and said I was ready. Then they turned the operating lights on me. Suddenly, I felt so exposed but I didn’t care about that anymore. I just wanted the baby out!
Dr watched the monitor and whenever a contraction came, the nurses would scream “PUSH!” and Dr would count to 10. During my 1st push, I tried to cope with the pain by shifting my butt up. Not good, Dr said, if I keep pushing myself up. The posture did not allow me to push effectively. So they made me grab my thighs and asked Dar to lift my upper body up whenever I started pushing. So that was the procedure for the next 3 or 4 pushes.
Each time, I kept asking if Baby was out yet. I was very tired! The nurse informed that the baby was still quite high up. I was feeling desperate and cried feebly that I din want a caesarean. Then the nurse told me, maybe another hour. No, no, she can’t hold that long, Dr remarked calmly. Then he explained to me that he was going to use vacuum to help me. OK, anything. Just get the baby OUT!
After all had been done, Dr watched the monitor and announced to me, “This time, the baby will come out.” I dunno if he was really sure or he said that as a morale booster, but it helped anyway. I pushed really hard on my next contraction and with a scream (my only one throughout the whole labour and delivery), the baby was OUT!!
YEAH! The nurses rejoiced! He’s a teatime baby! It was 1618 hrs. Good job! Excellent! Dar praised and delivered a peck on my lips. I was so relieved I even forgot to check the gender.
It was only on the next day that I remembered.
Finally!
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