Part 2 - Jacob is born!

We reached TMC a few minutes before 12 midnight. The receptionist shooed us into the delivery suite - apparently the nurses were expecting us. We didn't even sit down to register yet. I was whisked into room J and the nurse asked me to change into the hospital clothes and peed into a cup. I was monitored for a good one hour before the tablet pitocin was inserted into the vagina. And then further monitored for another one hour before we walked up to the general ward. E and I watched the TMC parent craft video by the famous Mrs Wong Boi Boi and E brought to my attention the dark testicles of the baby boy. Hmm.... Wonder how EJ will be....

We reached room 639, tucked at the furthest end of the level, around 1.50am and we tried to get some sleep around 2am. E wanted to accompany me and sleep beside me in a chair but eventually he decided to get up and shift to the sofa. It was wee bit too uncomfortable. Around 4-ish, I got up feeling some discomfort in my tummy... And the air con was also getting chilly. I think those were the initial contractions but I decided to hang on for a little while. From my experience with Gloria, I knew the nurses would start me on a drip and confine me to the bed once I got to the delivery suite. I started googling for positions to relieve first stage labour and whatsapp Ellie for inspiration but somehow these positions didn't seem to relieve much pain. The discomfort got stronger and I decided to make myself some warm milo - maybe that would make me feel better. E was eventually awoken by the noise. The contractions were about 7 min apart - not quite the 5 min apart rule.  So we waited and waited. I wasn't sure whether the intensity of the pain correlates with the amount of cervix dilation and I didn't want to get to the delivery suite only to be told that the cervix is only dilated 4-5cm.  As we waited, I felt like pooping and managed to hobble to the toilet to poop.  Felt relieved after pooping but some nightmarish image of birthing baby EJ into the toilet bowl also came to my mind.  yeeks!  Around 5.15am, the two-point kneeling and leaning onto the sofa and deep breathing exercises didn't seem to work anymore... Somehow, I didn't get any relief from the intense contractions. I wanted to take a warm shower and I wanted to wait for my breakfast... I felt like having a good breakfast would be really important since I anticipated a long day ahead.  But hey, I couldn't even move when the contraction hits me. I have to really focus on the contraction.  E said we should call for the nurse and not wait anymore... I'm glad I listened to him, rather than insisting to take a warm shower.

Once the nurses were alerted, they whisked me off in a wheelchair to the delivery suite, in a rapid speed.  So fast that I didn't even have time to breathe! When the bout of contractions came again, I had to ask the nurse to stop pushing the wheelchair and allowed me time to really focus on the contractions. It was real bad.  BAD.  INTENSELY BAD.  When we arrived at the delivery suite, I wanted to get onto the bed on all fours, but the nurse asked me to get onto it properly (?).  She also asked me what pain relief did I want and immediately, I told her "laughing gas!"  It's different from Gloria's birth, when I recalled that my gynae then would ask me during the prenatal visit, whether I wanted epidural and seemed astonished when I kept insisting I didn't want epidural.

Once I was up on the bed, the nurse checked my cervix dilation - 8cm! Woohoo! Fantastic...I was elated but at the same time, still agonizing over the intensity of the contractions.  It was a flurry of activity then.  Evan put on the laughing gas mask for me and it gave some relief from the intense sensation of the contractions.  I tried to take off the mask during the rest intervals, as I thought I didn't want to end up too groggy.  Bad decision.  When the contractions came, it was too late to put on the mask and get relief.  I think I heard the nurse coaching E to ALWAYS keep the mask on me.  And he did!  He's pretty good at following the nurses' instructions.  I think the effect of laughing gas is really fascinating...it makes you feel pretty high, slightly disconnected with the real world yet in touch to know what's happening.  It's cool.  You feel like you are a little out of control, yet your brain knows exactly what is happening.  And you can say anything you wanted!  I didn't scold/swear at E, even though that's what the books say.  Women in labour curse and swear during the transition stage of labour, like 8-10cm of cervix dilation.

Anyway, the agony seems endless.  But E took a photo of the time we went into the delivery suite - 5.50-ish and the time EJ was birthed - 6.21am.  It wasn't that long, after all!  All this time, I was lying in bed, screaming (very loudly) when the contractions came.  Resting when the contractions are gone.  Curled up in a ball.  I kept feeling the urge to push.  And I was a little wary.  I remember that for Gloria, the midwife kept asking me NOT to push, because my cervix was not yet 10cm dilated and there is some swelling of the pelvic floor and if I pushed too early, something like a tear may happen.  Anyway, there are some things in life that are hard to control and giving birth is one of them.  This urge to push is really strong.  I could feel my pee coming out and some poop too.  Good that I have cleared most of my poop earlier.  I also felt some fingers being stuffed into my anus.  Maybe to stop me from pushing.  URGH.  I'm not sure when the doctor arrived.  But when he did, next thing I knew was I was turned to lie on my back with my legs apart and two pushes, and EJ is out!  Born, I mean.  :)  this great sense of relief and happiness...I also can't stop myself from tearing...

Fresh from mummy's oven - Jacob!

Papa E described baby EJ (short for Evan Junior) as being wrapped in a plastic film when he was born and his umbilical cord is about 1 metre long and that I screamed again when the cord was cut.  I don't even remember that!  Labour doesn't end with baby being born - still have to birth the placenta and be stitched up.  Dr Woo is said to have great stitching skills....so I hope he did a good job stitching me down there.  There were still contractions but the intensity of the pain is slightly less.  Dr Woo kept scolding me to keep my legs apart and up on the metal racks (whatever they are), but it was hard to obey.  I wanted to just rest them down, I had no strength to keep them up. The medical people should just force my legs up.  Later on, I asked Dr Woo whether he performed an episiotomy or there was a tear.  It was a tear - there was no time to cut me up apparently.

Giving birth is no joke - but I made it!

Weighing in at 3.35kg and 50cm long

Proud parents of baby J

Giving birth second time round is faster than the first...and the experience is memorable.  :) E kept saying before I'm due, that he wouldn't want to step into the delivery suite, cos I would be screaming my head off and taking a long time to deliver.  He still stepped in the delivery suite, eventually.  :)  It's a first-time experience for him.  And for me, even if it's the second time round, it's just as special and even more special.  I felt pretty independent this time round.  It's just E and me.  My parents were at home, taking care of the kids.  And most importantly, my prayers for having a natural delivery were answered!

As we waited in the delivery suite for the PD, the nurses asked if I would like to breastfeed baby J.  I wanted, of course.. and my first time feeding him was good.  He was very alert and managed to latch on readily.  I remembered the breast crawl video that I watched years back....it's an amazing experience to bf your newborn right after you delivered.  :)