Birth story of #3.. Childbirth made easy

16/10 (Thursday) 37 weeks +2 days 

Antenatal check. Gynae gave green light to wait for another several days as cervix was not open. I actually heave a sigh of relief as I was more keen on completing my work aka attend my student's graduation concert on 18/10 (Saturday). Call me obstinate, call me responsible.. whatever. I was me. That workaholic me wanting to work till the last lap.

18/10 (Saturday) 37 weeks +4 days

Concert came and went smoothly. Ah lao was there to give me moral support. I attended and completed the graduation march down the aisle with my K2s and lil Mr I in my tummy with pride. Thank you parents for ever being so supportive.

21/10 (Tuesday) 38 weeks 2pm

Considered last antenatal check up. Saw Gynae at 2pm and he said,"You are ready to give birth! Cervix is 3 cm dilated!" (so yay or nay?)Both ah lao and I went into this frenzy thing again.. We were like.."what? Now? admit like now?"

Gynae say," ok we will admit you NOW." He did a membrane sweep and said he will burst my waterbag and these will all help speed up labour (read: pain is coming my way). Oh no.. the anxiety thing is coming back all over again. Soon I was happily being directed to the observation ward in the labour ward to "get ready". They had to do the normal procedures which includes asked standard questions about my medical history etc. Ah lao was settling the administrative work for me.

4pm

Surprisingly after about 2 hours... in which time flew past, the nurses were instructed to move me to the labour ward. It was how very strange that day the labour wards were really crowded. Out of the 10 labour wards, there were at least 7-8 labour wards were occupied all at the same time. Yes ALL AT THE SAME TIME. Gynae came and burst the waterbag and announced that I was 5 cm dilated. Yipee!
Soon I had to send ah lao off to fetch his lil girlfriend from school. So I was left ALONE in the labour ward. 

5pm

After about an hour of monitoring, the nurse was unsure again. Gulps* Unsure as she tried to tell me that the results for my BP was bad. It was generally high.. it would be high whenever my contractions came along and these contractions were making my body to be under distress thus making the BP shoot. Averagely 150/100.. you say high or not. The nurse just explained and advised me to take epidural as she said it would help to ease my pain. I was not even hesitating. I did not even wait for ah lao's arrival to decide that I am taking the jab as we had already discussed earlier before this that I would take the jab this time round if necessary. And since the necessary moment has arrived, I just signed on the line. Anaesthetist came and she made the whole experience such a casual affair. I was only suppose to keep still for a mere 2minute and viola! Jab was in the spine and 20minutes later, I could hardly feel any contractions! :D

my drip.

one channel for the drip to induce labour, one for epidural.

ouch.

7pm+
In this period of waiting for ah lao to come back, I only had my best friend (my phone of course) to accompany me. Thank goodness for social media, WA and the supportive team of nurses who took very good care of me during this long wait. Since my previous experience with Dora's birth was not such a pleasant one, I could not help but had to reiterate that I do not want to give birth unassisted again. The team of nurses were very kind and even commented that she had to "watch me like a hawk". Nurse Daphne, thank you for your kind and affirmative words. They made me feel so assured that I was in good hands.
Bu still it was quite an ardous wait because.. because ah lao finally arrived at 7pm+ with dinner of course. And I was so hungry. But the pain somehow took away the appetite as I rem I merely took less than 5 mouthful of the beehoon soup that ah lao packed for me.

8pm+
I could not take the pain anymore. I told my nurse and prob this lady PH doctor who was prob the standby doctor on shift that I feel like passing motion. Hmm ok.. if you know me, I always describe childbirth as almost the same feel as doing the big business but just that it is of a different target area. The PH Dr was literally standing by in front of as my very tight and close contractions came. She knew baby was on the way and they had to call the gynae. Soon after, gynae arrived at about 820pm. So there was this continuous commotion about gynae asking me to push and not to push at certain moments. They even joke that baby was so ready to come out that they could feel that baby can slide out even when I was just breathing. You seriously need humour in the labour ward, trust me.

So when the moment came, I remembered very clearly that I only did one final push. Then when I opened my eyes, all I saw was this beautiful baby on top of my tummy.

10pm+

I was pushed back to the ward. And conclusion about this whole childbirth: I finally believe in epidural is such a godsend!

My littlest again. So angelic.

Ray papa with the latest member in our family.

Did they say 5 is the new black?

Me and didi in the car, on the way home.

There you go, my (most prob) last birth story. 

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. But thank you TMC for providing me with a very good and comfortable stay, if not for your hefty bills.

Counting down starts for lil Mr I..

This time round, although things may look "easier" yet apparently not so. Now that we are crossing over to week 38 soon for lil Mr I. Things seems to be much more challenging and different this time.

The whole anxiety issue kicked in since the preparation for my school parent teacher meeting and concert started about 2 months ago. I went through quite a weary period of late nights during that period of time. I was beyond exhaustion. But now with my final projects of the above two are over, things seemed to settle a little more. Although I haven't officially start my maternity leave yet but I'm currently clearing some leave just to await the arrival of the lil one. 

But panic is not over yet as I still have a pri school goer who is having tests through out this and next week.. Not to forget my lil toddler who is building her mind of her own with her temper throwing stage. And just last Thursday, my gynae advised that I could be induced this week as lil Mr I is bigger than expected. *gasp*

So within a very short period (again), we had to gather what's necessary to receive the arrival of our new member of the family. 

Items checked: Cot assembled, hospital bag packed, admission letter packed, baby clothes washed, presents for the kids bought.. 

Items unchecked: husk pillow, set of pillow and bolsters.. What else?

Once again I pray hard to God to shower me with perserverance and strength again for the birth of our lil I. But of course not forgetting also for gynae to arrive on time.

The big sista excited over her lil bro's items.

The whole gang going goo goo gaga while assembling the cot for the lil one.

Week 35.. Lil Mr I..

Apparently the statistics has increased tremendously.

Me +9kg and lil Mr I estimated at a whopping 2.5kg-2.7kg. Gynae even made fun of me and said it is another lil sumo on the way.

It is of no wonder why my back is breaking and my feet are getting more swollen by each day. Ouch.

Counting down game.

Comparisons of the siblings in the tummy..

Is it just me but I have a fetish for my ever growing tummy.

So here is a comparison of all same old tummy at a similar stage of all my pregnancies, hopefully I can and will close factory after this round.

Anyway the weight gain so far for this pregnancy has been "well maintained"
Last check weight gain at 32 weeks
Me +6kg, lil I at 2kg

Though I can't wait to pop with my strenuous backaches and dizzy spells but I would think finishing my concert at my 37 weeks w my fellow colleagues is just what I hope to get off the list.

So let's keep our fingers cross.

Moment of truth for #3..

do I need to say more? :) 

we are more than glad that we are going blue again.

First trimester over and counting..

First trimester is not an easy journey and I would think most mothers would agree with me. Its either you dont get any morning sickness at all.. or you get the worst morning sickness. Gagging, feeling lethargic, no appetite.. you name it, I have them all!

Once I start my day after brushing my teeth, I would gag non stop for a while. I should be quite sure its due to my empty stomach protesting but sometimes the gagging will start before lunch time again. And when it happens in school, I had to control myself. My kids in school are already giving me the "why is your tummy bigger than usual" look. It is really not easy to explain to them that "I have a baby in my stomach" you see. Not at this moment I think. Worst, I have to put on a brave front at work cos I can quite an obstinate person. I dont like to send the wrong signals that preg women cant work.

Oh well. time flies and I am really so glad that I have moved over the first trimester *clap hands* but sometimes I do feel afraid. It has definitely gotta do with my previous incident. Though I know all I can do is to cast all worries to God because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7) but still there is always a lingering feel at the bottom of my heart.

Anyway here is a recent tummy shot. Dont worry, it's children friendly. I am too shy to reveal that much skin.

Jia you Connie, you can do it. :D

What a pleasant surprise..

Guess this is too much of a exciting news to contain and it definitely overtake the Melbourne pictures in priority. I have only The Lord to thank for when the lil man's birthday wish was answered. 

Such a surprise indeed.

Will insert new ticker soon.