Birth Stories

Birth Story 1

It begins in 2005.
My water bag burst around 5am . I was sleeping at that time and woke up thinking to myself did i wet the bed? In a daze, i checked my bed and found it wet. Quickly awaken my hubby who was still in dreamland. Then we quickly search for Dr Lim, my gynae at TMC emergency number. He returned the call shortly and advise me to come to the hospital after breakfast.

Surprising both of us were quite calm but were tired as we just came back from Mr Bean cafe around 1 plus… Told my hubby to grab my hospital bag and his stuff .We reached Thomson Medical around 7 plus. Just like checking into hotel, ( it was so dim at the front reception) we told the nurse my waterbag burst and she took me to the observation ward.

Tip : if your waterbag burst, quickly put on a pad and bring some towels with you, cos the fluid gushes out intermintly. Put the towel before sitting down on the car seat

Upon reaching the hospital, they will check your cervix and see how many cm you had dilated. I was only 2 cm.. They hooked my up on the monitor and check my contractions. I had mild contractions but were not painful. My hubby who only took his HOT STUFF MAG was happy he brought along as we waited for the time to go by and i had countless checks on my dilation. The nurse will then help to shave off some pubic hair below while in the observation ward.

Warning- Take Note! Dilation checks for some may be uncomfortable and very painful.

Option : Pubic Hair- you may treat yourself for a brazilian wax around the last few weeks of pregnancy but it is not really unnecessary.

Around 12 plus, contractions were starting to be stronger , started to feel some pain. Dilution check 6cm. Nurse suggest that i go to the delivery ward. Before that , she give me a Gel that is inserted to your butt hole. This is rather uncomfortable.

Reason- there is extreme pressure when you pushes your baby so you dun want to the poo to be out with your baby

After going to the loo, i was pushed to the delivery ward . The nurse brief me on the pain relief available, Entonox ( maybe called laughing gas) , pethidine, epidural etc . I did not opt for epidural as i wanted to see how well is my threshold of pain. I dry run on the entonox ,so funny i still ask my hubby how come got no effect. Aiya it is not on yet. Around 1 pm the real pain starts to set in, panic i quickly use the Entonox. Inhale so much that i feel so giddy and weak. Nurse checked, only 8 cm cannot push. OMG…. i as for the pethidine (injection on my thigh) which also did not have much effect. I was really in great pain. the nurse before that poke one tube into my hand ( not sure whats that for) and the needle keep dropping out and i was bleeding. Finally around 5pm, it was time to push. Dr lim came and change into his operating suit within 2 min. It was really countless of pushes, i think my hubb pushes me more than i push. Ha! Luckily the breathing exercises learnt at the prenatal classes helped. As i was pushing, "baby crown can see now , keep it up! "shouted by Dr Lim and my hubby, KEEP PUSHING…..

Tip : ONLY PUSH WHEN U HAVE CONTRACTION if not you be PUNCTURED before the bb is out and only at 10cm dilation you can start to push to avoid unnecessary tears.

5.35pm – After 4 hours of labour pain our 3.09kg baby Ashley arrives. Daddy uses the golden scissor to cut the cord ..it's rubbery . *Phew* all was soon to be over. After that dr lim aited for the placenta to be out and massage my tummy to get rid and blood clots, had a episiotomy so he stitch it back. Can feel stitching process but you do not feel painful anymore cos it is nothing compared to labour pain.

Tip : episiotomy is a surgical incision through the perineum made to enlarge the vagina and assist childbirth. Most asian woman requires an episiotomy as our skin texture are not as stretchable as caucasions. One good news, with this there is high chance you will not experience loosening vagina muscles

Birth Story 2

Just before CNY in 2008.

i was still working on my 39 week plus as my company still cannot to find a temp person to relieve my duties. Around 3am, i felt stomach discomfort and feels like diarrhea. went to the toilet many times but there was nothing. Went back to sleep and the stomach pain came again 4am. Suspected something was wrong, i timed the occurance of the pain. It came on 30 mins , then slowly to 20 mins. Luckily my hubby who work shift was home that night. Woke him up at 5 plus and told him i was having contractions. He still ask me am i sure cos he dont see that i was in pain. As usual , we called Dr Lim and told us to take our time to come to the hospital later. We had breakfast then reach the hospital around 7 plus am. when i reach Thomson Medical, this time i still press for Q no. The counter staff ask me am i admitted for C sect cos i didnt seems to have signs of labour. i said "No", i was having contractions. She laughed and said contraction no need press Q no la…Quickly i went to the observation ward.

Usual SOP, check dilation. wa was already 6cm. Good News. the nurse ask if i feel pain. Not really i said. But i ask if i can take epidural cos i scared i cannot take the pain later. She laughed and asked me to save $$ cos already 6 cm dont feel pain no need take….

Tip: One epidural only lasts 6 hours, and you have to decide before 6cm dilated. After that they do not allow you to take cos it takes time for the jab to work on you.

ok i thought, anyway can survive 1st time round should be alright.Its funny this time they did not inject the gel into my butt hole or shave my pubic hair. Around 830 am, i was pushed to the delivery ward. My hubby was commenting that now they have big comfortable arm chair , shiok for daddies. he still took some picture around the delivery ward. Pain was getting intense but still bearable. I even slept for a while with the contractions. After 15 min ,the contractions were very painful, used some Entonox ( this time i only inhale a few times) and the pethidine jab again ( this only reduces 40% of the pain , take 15 min to be in effect). "OMG "around 9 plus, was really in great pain and keep asking my hubby why Dr lim is still not here yet… i have the urge to push but keep restraining myself as didnt want to have a tear. Finally Dr lim came and confirm that it was time to push. *Phew* baby celeste was out in 3 pushes @3.02kg.

The after -delivery was longer than the 1st cos i opted to donate the cord blood to the Singapore Cord Blood Bank. Hopefully it helps other. Dr lim cleared the placenta and blood clots . Took the stem cells from the umbilical cord and finally daddy cuts it.

Note : For cord banking the mother is required to draw 3 big tubes of blood after delivery for testing. In cases of complication, this should be ommited and safety of baby and mother should be priority. Talk to your doc on this.