Labour story - Part 1 : Cramps or Contractions?

Since I have some me-time, I shall blog about my labour story for memories sake. Hehe.

Gonna split my entries into the following parts.
Part 1 : Cramps or Contractions?
Part 2 : What goes on in Room 17?
Part 3 : Postpartum Recovery in the hospital

These entries may come in staggered parts by itself, if the entry takes too long. Heh.


So anyway, here goes:

Ever since my HDB key collection wasn't successful (more on the follow ups next time), I have been more than eager to deliver once the baby's gestational age hit full term on the 37th week (15 Oct 2016).

The constant back aches, acid reflux episodes, pelvic pressure, frequent urination (the list goes on)... oh, little buddy, make your appearance already!

Did some talking with the little buddy in my tummy as and when I feel some kicking.

"Come out soon k sayang... Mummy's tummy getting tooooo small for you".

24 Oct 2016:

Wanted to do some perinial massage as recommended by Rafs <3. Was alllll gearing up to try and do it since I have already reached my 38 weeks + 2 days today. 

"Can't wait to prepare for labour anytime", I thought. 

7.30 pm:
Wanted to take my evening shower. At that same time, I suddenly felt some cramps. I was trying to reason with myself whether these cramps were indeed contractions since I was having Braxton hicks contractions few days prior.

Had Mr. J to help switch on the water heater because I just felt like having a warm shower.

Best. Decision. Ever.

7.35 pm: Cramps came again.

7.40 pm: Had a feeling to do my no. 2. Turns out no. 2 did happen (hahahah) but shortly after that, the cramps came again, along with a very strong pelvic pressure - it felt like it was opening bigger down south.

7.45 pm: Cramps was felt again during shower. It felt like menstrual cramps this time round, not the kind of cramps you feel like when doing no. 2.

7.50 pm: Cramps came again, stronger. Held on to the wash basin - breathe innnnnn... breathe outtttt.......

7.55 pm: Cramps came again.

Told Mr. J, "I think...I am feeling THE contractions. But I am not sure. It feels like menstrual cramps....... hmmm... maybe we wait? Till 12 midnight?"

He was supposed to report to work at 12 midnight that night.

8.00 pm: A very wonderful warm shower ended. But the cramps were stronger, still bearable, but stronger.

Performed Mahgrib prayers, with cramps coming in in between the rakaats. Was already shaking, can't even recite the supplications properly.

Performed Isya' prayers shortly after, also with the cramps coming in stronger.

Mr. J already made his decision to apply for an urgent leave & told me, "Let's head to KKH".

"What if this is a false alarm? Nanti kena send balik abes tu waste money......"

This girl ah hahahaha. Still thinking abnout saving money, despite the cramps (or contractions).

"No no no. You're already having such cramps like this. We go KKH now. If really have to be sent home, it's okay. At least we know".

"But no darah tau". (You know, signs like bloody show).

"Takper. We go". Ok boss. We go.

Around 8 plus, got a Grab and by this time, the contractions were really stronger. Grabbed Mr. J's hands in the car, breathing innnnnnn breathing outttttt. I think my constant heavy breathing in & out might have made the driver worry that I was gonna deliver in his car lulz (IF indeed I was already having the contractions).


Reached KKH's lobby at 9pm. Walking was already so much slower cz the contractions were stronger - though still bearable. Had to pause here and there, held on to the pillars, and continued walking to the lifts. Saw some stares around us, but peduli apa. Haha.

Such a slowwww and torturous walk, I thought.

Reached the delivery suite at 9.11 pm.

Told the staff nurse (in the picture) I felt some pain and passed my Gynae booklet with my NRIC. She did the registration & told me to follow another nurse to the triage.

Mr. J was told to stay at the waiting area while they did some checks.

While walking to the triage, the contractions came again.

Had. To. Pause.
Said sorry to the nurse that was walking together with me.

Upon lying down, she told me to take out my undergarment & placed them into the given plastic bag. She then placed me on the CTG belt for scanning and I was still feeling the cramps. The nurse asked if I wanted any painkillers.

"Ermmm maybe I'll try to endure".
Action hero this one.

All I had in mind was, "No lah, don't need painkillers. Just mild cramps; surely can tolerate".
Talk macam paham only lol.

Then a Senior Nurse came in.

"From 1 to 10, 1 lowest 10 strongest, how's the pain like?", she asked.

"6-7". I think lah? Like how do you actually grade pain? Haha.

She then asked the first nurse, "Is she already on term?"

"Yes, 38 weeks plus 2".

"Ok, we are gonna do some checks ok".

She opened up the drawer under the monitor, took out a glove, applied some gel on it and I was already having thoughts of "Oh my God. Don't tell me you're gonna do the VE on me now. !!!!"

Ya lah so drama because I hated vaginal transducer, so I can't imagine having human fingers doing a similar job down south.


But grrr, before I could think of anything else after that (like reciting some supplications or anything), she already went down south & told me,

"Ok, open up your legs & breathe in..."

*inserts fingers deeply & quickly*

"Yes good... continue breathing in"

*did some digging*

"Continue breathing in"

*dig some more*

Breathed in super super deep, what else. Pfft.

It felt like a rotary machine was inside of me, doing some blending, drilling & digging into my uterus. Not funny seh. Kinda hated it. No, actually I hated it so SO much! Thinking about it now makes me cross my legs each time. To think that I hated the vaginal transducer; this is worst off!

"Nobody gonna insert anymore fingers on me after this". Of course, wishful thinking on my part.

After she was done, she said, "Ok, VERY GOOD!" *thumbs up* "You are 5cm dilated already. VERY GOOD".

She then took out her two fingers and I saw fresh red blood on her glove areas of the fingers that was inserted.

"Why got blood ah?" (sempat interview)

"It's okay. You're already supposed to show. 5 cm already. Will have blood. Plus we also just did a check on you".

I think the conversation went something like that?

I was already panicking by now. 5 cm? Now? What! So fast?! I am not ready!!

But too late. They already started wheeling me out of the triage and the Senior Nurse (who did the rotary machine digging with her fingers) asked the people at the waiting area, "Ok who is her husband?"


Mr. J was still seated, looking at me from afar & putting his right hand up, like a student in a class when his name is being called up. -.-""" lolol. (He later told me that his reason was because "Mana tahu takleh ikut macam tadi ke". Ok good point noted).

The nurse was really loud, I could hear her telling Mr. J, "Very good! Very good! She is already 5 cm. All the best! Follow them to the labour ward".

I was still not ready. I looked at my phone and the time showed 9.26 pm as they wheeled me into the labour ward.

To be continued in Part 2.

38 weeks today

A picture taken when I was about 20 weeks? iirc.

Phew, I thought I would have given birth by now, ever since my 26-weeks-bleeding-episode (which didn't make it to my blog entry).

Ok. Maybeeee I'll share with you a brief background of it. 

Long story short, when I was warded for observation due to the bleeding, the panel of Doctors worry that I may deliver the baby prematurely then. I had to sign some admission documents which consists of some medication to mature the lungs of the baby and so on - didn't happen. Alhamdulillah. But since it's my first pregnancy (well, sorta - that ectopic one doesn't count), they had to give the benefit of a doubt and place this case separately of what it usually is. Reason for the bleeding according to them is that my cervix lining seems raw i.e. soft, and that my cervix is shorter than usual? But anyways, all is well - no more bleeding after that.

So my appointment day came last Thursday, marking my 37 weeks & 5 days.

My Gynae greeted me with a warm "Hello, how are you? Good?" and moved on with the norm.

- Had a vaginal swab done the last visit to test for GBS.
Result: GBS negative. Alhamdulillah.

- Had my scan done & baby's estimated weight was... 2.4kg.

Was a bitttt disappointed. My head was thinking "Alaaa keciknya anak akuuuu... Dah makan banyak-banyak punnn masih kecik".

When I asked my Gynae about it, she explained, "Your baby is on the smaller side..." tilting her head to the image on the screen, and trying to measure it's body again... "But it's okay. You're full term already and usually once the baby hits 2.4kg, we are happy already. It's good enough". 

Phew! Asked her is there any way to increase the baby's weight/size, she suggested Durians & lots of Milo (which I kinda stopped taking for a while now - guess I should restart my daily mugs of Milo again soon?)

So yeah, had a bowl of Durian Milk Ice right after appointment.

Got it from KKH Kopitiam - easiest find ever!

My Gynae also added, "Small mummies have small babies. So it's good if your baby is not too big. Any larger than 3.5kg, might result in a Caesar. So some mums have to go through Caesar because their baby is too big".

Sounds like she's either comforting me or she's pro-natural - I'd like to believe the latter. Haha.

Anyway, this reminds me that my niece's birth weight was 2.4kg as well and now she's so berat with babat like Michelin lol, so I guess it doesn't matter that much? It's just the thought of people asking, "Eh... Waktu ngandung tak cukup makan ke?" Ohhh people, you don't know how much food I gobble up during my pregnancy! Lol defensive pulak.

- My current weight: 59.5 kg
Yikes! Hope I don't hit errr... 60kg? The number 5 never once hit my health book pre-pregnancy, much less a 6. But even IF it does (I say IF), I hope it's only for a healthy pregnancy - and not because of excessive fats #toovain

- The fluid in my waterbag is doing great
The keeping-a-full-bottle-of-water-by-my-bedside does help in this department.

- Last but not least, the little buddy is already engaged!
It has already turned head down since my 29th week, but to see from the images in the scan I had last Thursday, it seems that the baby's head is much lower right now. I guess that explains the frequent sharp & painful episodes I had to endure when I walk and the urgent need to pee. But good news right?

On another plus side, I am starting to like my Gynae. Used to think that she was kinda cold but during our recent appointments, she's more jovial and warm. Mr. J noticed it too. :)

She also added some notes for me to take away from the appointment:

1) Labour contractions:
"It feels like menstrual cramps... times 100 - you wont miss it".

She mentioned that it wont be a mild pain, so it's recognizable.

"The first few contractions that come, it's about an hour apart. When that happens, you can still time them at home. Only make your way to the hospital when it's about 15 minutes apart. Reason being, it's your first labour, so usually, the time of labour will be very long. It will result you in staying in the hospital for a verrrry long time....it will bore you."

2) Waterbag burst:
"Of course when your waterbag burst, immediately - to the hospital. But you still can have some time to shower and head to the hospital", she laughed a bit after that.

Well, of course I would have my shower first, right?

3) Baby's movement:
"As long as your baby is moving actively as per normal, using your instinct as a mum, it's good enough. You would know the pattern of the baby's movement by now. We used to tell mummies to count the x no. of movements in x no. of hours. But it's very subjective."

Penned down these notes on my mind...but really, now I am starting to wonder....

You've been really active at night and as much as your kicks can be painful to boot, I often wrap both my tiny hands on my overstretched tummy and feel you move. Pregnancy with you may not be the easiest thing to go through, but you are definitely a gift I am looking forward to.

Your Daddy has been asking, "When do you think our baby will be out?"

"I don't know".

Why don't you tell me?

Happy moment(s)

- Is when despite all the trials happening all at one go, we can still perform our prayers together and hoped for the best.
- Is when you do the housework together.
- Is when you look forward towards the birth of your first child, insya'Allah.
- Is when your husband asked you, "Will you want to breastfeed our child?" and when you said "Yes, I'll try", he gave you an assuring kiss & went, "Try your best k. Love you". (Smiled & melted a thousand times over).
- Is when you think of going for a short getaway next year after all of these (trials) are over, and he's thinking the same.

Alhamdulillah.

May not be a big deal to some but I just wanted to jot it down to remember this day. :)

--

In relation to the above note, I haven't watched (and don't think I'll watch laaa cz plot cerita selalu gitu gitu je) Suri Hati Mr. Pilot. I am sure you may have heard of it. But judging from the status in my Facebook feed, my girl-friends, married or not, are gushing over the lead actor's character of being oh-so-romantic & sweet & wonder whether such a man exist. Like I said, I haven't watched so I don't know to what extent is the sweetness of this character that Fattah Amin is playing, but reality check: I am sure every husband has their own kind of romantic language that they present to their better half. It may not be as literal as the one in dramas, but it's the kind of gesture and language that will only be for you. I guess that is more than enough to sweep us off our feet :)