I felt contractions on Sunday (20 April), but the contractions weren't regular, so I didn't want to be kiasu and admit myself into hospital. Decided to "luan" and wait. At around 7pm, we decided to call the NUH Emergency hotline to check if there is a need to go to the hospital. The midwife told me to monitor and admit when my contractions are at a regular interval of 5 to 10 minutes. The night passes, but the contractions still aren't regular.
I had an appointment with the gynae the next day at noon, but decided to go to the clinic earlier at around 9am. The gynae saw me immediately when she learnt that I've had contractions. She checked and found that my cervix has softened and I'm already 2 to 3 cm dilated. She decided to admit me immediately to the delivery suite. She told me that they'll rapture my water bag to speed up the labour process.
I was then transfered via wheel-chair to the delivery suite (Ward 22 Suite 5) at around 10.30am. Once inside the delivery suite, I was made to clear my bowels and the MO inserted the needle to prepare for the drip. I was given the fleet to clear my bowels. 10 minutes later, I could feel my tummy churning. I kept running to the toilet till I thought I was going to black out. After clearing my bowels, they strapped me down to the CTG machine to monitor baby's heartbeat as well as my contractions.
At around noon, the MO Dr Cheung came to rapture the membrane and I could feel the hot amniotic fluid flow out. He announced that they'll check on me again three hours later. Soon, the contractions became stronger and more regular.
After about 3 hours, the pain became quite unbearable (it is like my worst menstrual cramp multiplies 10 times or more) and so I decided to gave up and asked for the epidural. I was put on drip before the epidural was administered. The anesthetist came and inserted the catheter into my epidural space at my back. Gradually, the pain began to subside. But I started to get the side effects of the epidural. I was shivering uncontrollably, my legs were numb and my blood pressure was decreasing. The nurses were very concerned about my blood pressure and monitored me closely.
At around 4pm, Dr Anna came to check on me, and this time I was 5cm dilated. She said I was doing well and left.
Around two hours later, the pain slowly creeped back and intensified. I asked the nurse if there is a need to give me another dose of epidural or increase the dosage. The nurse checked and announced that she can feel the baby's head. Soon, I was put to the labour position and told to push!
And so, I pushed and pushed and pushed. The nurse informed Dr Anna. She has thought that I would only deliver at around 10pm, and so she has gone home first. But upon reaching home, she received the call for her to return to the hospital. She arrived at around 7pm, put on full gear and was ready to receive the baby. I pushed with all my might and at one point, baby's heartbeat got very irregular, it fluctuate from 70 to 200. Dr Anna told the nurse to prepare the suction pump in case I don't have enough energy to push baby out. But fortunately, I did well to push baby out at 7.31pm.
Our little one weighed 3.62kg and measured 52cm at birth. She was wailing so loudly and I cried.
Dr Anna then proceeded to deliver the placenta and stitch me up. In a frenzy attempt to make sure that the baby can arrive smoothly, the episiotomy Dr Anna performed on me is quite extensive. As such, she took quite a long time to stitch me up. During this time, I was catching my breath while watching the nurses busied with little Tessa - sucking fluid from her lungs, weighing and measuring her, bathing her and warming her.
Finally, I was all stitched up. Dr Anna told me that I can expect pain ahead because of the episiotomy wound, especially because I've developed piles during my pregnancy, and the piles are very near my wound. The nurse cleaned me up and changed my gown.
At around 9pm, we were served dinner at the delivery suite. Hubby and I had a quick bite and were so consumed in the happiness of becoming parents. Baby was handed to me for breastfeeding, the little one latched on effortlessly. The process is definitely not easy but worthwhile, especially when I cuddle my little one in my arms for the first time and feeling her suckling at my breast. That feeling is simply indescribable.
Dr Cheung returned to checked on my stitches and condition. He gave the clearance that we can be transferred to the normal ward. We waited and waited, and were finally transferred to the normal ward (Ward 96 Bed 2) at around 10pm where my mom and dad have already been waiting anxiously for almost an hour.
After a short acquaintance with her grandparents, little Tessa was taken to the nursery where they will check on her statistics. Baby was brought back at around 11pm for breastfeeding. I had wanted baby to room in with me, but I was too weak to take care of her so I had to let the nurse take her back to the nursery. At 11.30pm, the nurse came to check on me. The feeling on my legs were coming back and I'm starting to feel really badly beaten and sore. I was even running a fever, probably due to the epidural. I was given medicine for the fever and pain. Nurse kept telling me I had to empty my bladder but I couldn't urinate at all.
The painkiller wasn't working on me, and I fel more and more sore. Baby was brought in at 1.45am for feeding. This time i had to wrestle with the little one quite abit to get her to feed. Finally, the wrestle ended at 2.45am. I can't get to sleep the whole night. I can't move much. All I feel was pain and fatigue.
Dawn came and still, I was sleepless. I tell you, the aftermath is horrible. Quite a nightmare actually.
Delivery Suite (Ward 22 Suite 5)
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