July 31, 2009

My birth story

(This post contains some graphic photographs. Read on only if you won't faint at the sight of blood.)

July 22, 2009
I woke up at 4.45am for a pee, and when I went back to bed, I suddenly felt this rather strong contraction. I waited for the second, and the third, and the fourth…just to be sure that it's no false alarm again. By then, the contractions were coming fast and furious, about 3 – 5 minutes apart. I quickly woke hubby up, and a moment later, we were on our way to the hospital.

I settled into the labour room at about 5.30am, while hubby sorted out the admission. The midwife performed a vaginal examination, and it was so anti-climatic when I was told that I was 5cm dilated. I mean, it's been a whole day since I was at the obstetrician clinic and I was still ONLY 5cm dilated??!! Anyway, I was strapped to the CTG for foetal heartbeat monitoring and I asked for it to be removed the moment it was done, as I wanted to remain mobile for as long as possible. The contractions were quite bearable and I tried to cope by changing positions, and some relaxing music on my discman (not iPod unfortunately, haha!).

At about 7.15am, the contractions were becoming very intense and I felt the urge to bear down. Another vaginal examination revealed that I was already 7 – 8cm dilated. I asked if it was too late to ask for pethidine, and there was a chorus of YES! They offered me gas and it did take the edge off the contractions. My obstetrician arrived shortly after and I was already fully dilated by then. However, it appeared that the baby's head hadn't descended low enough.

Strangely, at this point, the urge to push had totally dissipated, so I had to just push whenever I felt a contraction coming. I had forgotten how to push effectively and after several waves of contractions, I still couldn't push baby out. By then, I was already feeling rather tired, and my obstetrician asked if I wanted to try vacuuming. I asked to take a short rest and after 2 – 3 waves of contractions, baby finally made her appearance at 7.45am.

Baby was placed on my chest immediately after birth while the nurses placed a suction tube into her mouth and nostrils, and throughout the second stage of labour when the placenta was being delivered.







Placenta and umbilical cord - organs that provided sustenance for baby for the past 40 weeks

Shortly after, the nurses wrapped her up and checked her weight, etc. before passing the baby back to me. I put her on my chest and she immediately suckled like a pro.


Vital stats: Weight - 3.7kg, Length - 52cm, Head circumference - 34cm





Back in mummy's arms


In fact, she suckled twice before I was transferred to the maternity ward at 10.15am. Baby was then cleaned up in the nursery and checked by the paediatrician.


All cleaned up and fresh like morning dew




Flowers from papa and Yiu Yiu


Overall, I had a wonderful, drug-free birth experience, just as I had always wanted it to be. I was alert throughout the whole birthing process, including stitching of the episiotomy, save for a few moments of grogginess after inhaling too much gas. I even had breakfast in the labour room after the birth, and received my first visitors in my room at 11am.

It was very different compared to my first birth where I was induced and had pethidine injection. The pethidine made me really sedated and I was basically drifting in and out of consciousness, not to mention the nausea that followed. The way they handled the baby after birth was also very different. Yiu Yiu was taken away for cleaning up the moment she was birthed, even before I had a chance to look at her. If I remember correctly, I didn't even hold her in my arms till I was transferred to the maternity ward – but then, I'm not sure if it was due to my semi-conscious state. The only memorable part about my first birth was the ease of pushing Yiu Yiu out – she was out with just two pushes. But then, she was only 2.5kg at birth, compared to her sister at 3.7kg.

25 comments:

ryeli said...

wow, you did very well! well done! 3.7kgs!!! that is huge!

btw, it's my first time seeing how the placenta looks like and it's yours. :) my doc asked me if i wanna see mine for my births but i always decline...can't really tahan blood lah and thanfully, i wasn't too geli with your pics. btw, ur hubby so keng ah? take so many shots... mine was holding on to my hand while i was delivering. hehe.

well done again!

Elaine said...

Congratulations, new mummy!

BoeyJoey said...

Oh, those are such beautiful photos! I didn't get such early photos of my kids when they were borned...

And Yan Yan is a beautiful name, as beautibul as Yiu Yiu. 3.7kg is a good weight, huh? :-)

michelle@mybabybay said...

Congrats on your newborn baby!

BuffaFly said...

congratulations! lovely big baby! Happy breastfeeding!

Mummy Moon said...

Nice story. Take good rest and post more baby pictures soon!

A Mom's Diary said...

Syn - tell me about it! I had a hard time pushing her out. It's my first time seeing the placenta too, didn't occur to me to ask during my first birth :-) Hubby was busy taking photos, coz I think he knows a good photo collection is more important to me than holding my hands..hahaha

Elaine - thanks. Soon it'll be your turn, fourth time over. Salute salute!

BoeyJoey - haha, hubby knew I WANT those photos so he was busy clicking away the whole time. Thanks for the compliments on the name...planning a post on that soon.

Michelle - thanks.

beckysmum said...

3.7kg! Wow~
May be we can celebrate our girls' birthday together next time, when I am back to Malaysia for good!
Once again, congratulation!

LittleLamb said...

congrats.. her name is Yan Yan?

SleeplessInKL said...

fu-yoh! 3.7 kg!!

i delivered 3 babies without drugs so i know exactly what you went through. but with the twins, i opted for epidural JUST IN CASE the doc needed to do an emergy C-section.

A Mom's Diary said...

Beckysmum - yeah, we can organise birthdays together :-)

LittleLamb - bingo! A post about her name is coming up soon.

Mimi - wow! Three without drugs, and you had induced labour on top of that?

Cynthia said...

how nice.. you manage to do it drug free! *clap clap*.. BRAVO!

khongfamily said...

Hi! First time here. Congrats on your little bundle of joy!!! And oh my...she's a big baby ya :). And the lovely photos.

MeRy said...

Congrats...

Ley Mei said...

congratulations.. thanks for sharing.. this is my first time seeing a placenta too.. !!
i never go through some birth process like u as both also on ceaser..i think sometimes it's really different when it's natural birth.. :)


take care during confinement.. !!

Chinneeq said...

so nice you managed to capture those special pics! I have none of those moments :( Hey, u rest well and hope u have a great confinement!

jazzmint said...

wow ur hubs really daring, can take such pics!! my hubs i think pengsan long time ago

A Mom's Diary said...

Cynthia/MeRy/khongfamily - thanks

Ley Mei - I guess recovery for C-sect is much tougher compared to natural birth

Chinnee - another baby perhaps? :-)

Jazz - he was much calmer and cool this round. During my first birth, he initially said he dare not go into the labour room with me :-) Anyway he went and I guess that was quite an experience for him.

KittyCat said...

Wah lau...I was a bit green looking at the placenta also :P Sounds like a smooth and strong delivery. You're one brave Mum! I wish I was like you...

A Mom's Diary said...

Kittycat - I guess being in the medical line has desensitized me to the sight of blood, organs, etc :-)

Angeleyes said...

I wish I can opt for a natural birth like you that is totally drug free but I don't think I can!

We will have to induce the baby again as hubby has to arrange for his trip here. Unless the baby came before the date!

Which hospital is that you delivered yan-yan? The hospital I'm with won;t allow camera in the labour room so we have sneak to take photo so definitely no 'fresh' photos like those your hubby took!

A Mom's Diary said...

Angeleyes - so you are gonna deliver in KL izzit? How come they don't allow cameras? Maybe tell them that your hubby won't take any photos of the doctor and nurses? I gave birth in Pantai Bangsar.

Yaggya said...

First time at ur blog. Many many congratulations on the birth of Yan Yan. 3.7kgs and a normal birth is really good. Mine was 3.6 kgs but ended up in a C-sec last time due to several reasons. Am expecting again and hoping for a normal delivery this time round. Could you tell me which gynae u had and whether u would recommend him or not. I am planning to deliver in Pantai as well. You could email me at yaggyaseni@gmail.com Thanks a lot in advance.

zmm said...

Wow.. your husband took all these shots?

Nice..

My hubs was going "Aiyo.... aiyo..." all goose bumps and all when Zaria was born and forgot to take photos. Although he took some video of Zaria being delivered.

A Mom's Diary said...

ZMM - hehe...goose bumps and all? I thought he would have been experienced liao, Zaria being your 2nd birth :-)