The Birth Story

Meant to pen this down earlier but I can't pull myself away from the TV...yes not the baby. I was so engrossed in watching 'The Cruel Temptation' that I even bought the DVDs as Channel U is showing it in a snail pace. Was watching till 3-4am everyday, so addicted!! Finally finished 129 episodes of it and realised that I no longer have any programme in late night.

Ok back to the birth story - She didn't come out on those dates that many would wanted her to, instead like her strong character, she chose her own birthday!

THE DAY BEFORE

I was due on 14 Nov and i have plans to take a week off if i have not 'pop' by 1 Nov. Was supposed to go ahead with the 1 week leave starting 2 Nov but was feeling so lazy and tired that i went on leave on 30th instead. I kept praying that hopefully i dont have to waste my maternity leave and please let her be out soon.

THE DAY

I was due for another checkup on 31 Oct which i kept praying that'll be my last checkup. It's so tiring to wake up at 8.30 and rush to Eastshore every weekend with a cranky 5 yrs old. My prayers have been heard!

My gynae wanted to monitor the baby's heartbeat and placed me in another room and hooked me on the machine for 20 mins. Baby was not moving much (very sleepy) and the nurse had to move my tummy left and right to wake her up. No contractions and baby inactive so most probably i'll have to make another trip next week.

My gynae did the ultrascan and said Baby is already down but he'll do a physical check to see how 'down' she is. Can you imagine how shocked i was when i heard he said i'm already 6-7 dilated and Baby's position is very very low at the birth canal?? Wait a min, i don't have contractions, my waterbag didn't break and Baby is very inactive, are you sure we are ready for the birth?? Apparently my gynae think so and doesn't want to risk having me delivering at home, he wants me to be admitted to the labour suite by 4pm.

Immediately, i sent out smses notifying my family/friends and made arrangements to send Eili to my SIL's place after lunch. This time i'm more prepared and i'll settle my hungry tummy before going for 'war'. I thought with an experience behind me, i'm able to handle the delivery easily. Oh boy i was so so wrong!! Upon checking in, the nurse broke my water bag and insisted that i have to be dripped to move the contractions. Again i refused epidural like 5 years back.

I didn't panic until i saw the nurses rushing in and out of the delivery suite and told me that my gynae is already on his way. What's the rush i thought? A quick hand check and I'm already 8-9cm dilated and cervix softened. After the water bag broke, i can feel the contractions kicking in every 2 mins, very fast and furious. It's was so painful that I can feel the soreness of my chest ribs whenever the contractions come. I was tempted to take the pethidine jab at the thigh to reduce 20-30% of pain but my gynae told me i'm due to deliver in the next 30 mins. Nurse wasn't sure whether how much the painkiller can be absorbed in such a short time. So i did the most stupidest decision - by refusing any painkillers. I think Hub regretted in not pushing me to take it when he saw the deep nail marks on his hand.

The etonox gas DOESN'T help at all, it merely gives you a giddy head and dry throat. The time has come, i kept telling the indian midwife that I have the urge to push and she kept telling me to hold. After 3-4 pushes, Elysha was out at 6.44pm weighing 3.365kg. The pain is excruciating especially the last push when i can feel her shoulders squeezing out of the canal but when she's out, phew, nothing else matters, till later. My gynae then retrieved the cord blood which I donated to the S'pore Cord Bank. I almost kick my gynae right on his face when he starting to stitch me up, i can feel the needle moving to and forth. What happen to the anaesthetic????

When i thought the worst has passed, my gynae told me that he had to restitch as the thread came out when he tries to clean the wound. WHAT???? All in all i was stitched a good 3 times and the stupid gas doesn't help a bit. I was sobbing and screaming my head off. My gynae stroked my head and apologised before going off. Hub wiped off my tears and told me that they are preparing to move me to the ward and Elysha has already been taken to the nursery for her first bathe.

I was resting when 3-4 nurses came in, whispering in low voices and another senior nurse came in. At that moment, i know something is wrong. They told me that I'm oozing blood and that's shouldn't be the case after delivery. Apparently my uterus refuses to contract and is lazing inside thus causing the bleeding. A strong medicine was then added to my drip and i can feel an rushing icy feeling on my veins as they have put on full speed for the drip, hoping to stop the bleeding. I had the Post-Partum Haemorrhage (PPH) and this only happens to 6% during delivery. I'm the suay 6%.

For the next 1.5 hours, the nurses took turn to massage my tummy violently which I had to bite my lips to endure the pain coming from the stitches and womb. I think by now i have probably used up the maternity pads given by the hospital as they changed me every 10 mins but the bleeding still don't stop. The senior nurse came and told me that they have to do a procedure to drain my bladder and this will definitely stop the bleeding. The problem is they'll have to insert a long tube inside. I begged them to give me the painkiller, any painkiller but i was refused as it's too late for one. My hub was asked to wait outside. Seriously, i'm so worried that my stitches will tear and i have to go thru another round of stitching. Again, they told me to use the useless gas which obviously are of no help. I think i have screamed my lungs out that night and the feeling was as if I have died on the operating table due to a failed operation.

I'm really going crazy with all the poking and stitching experience that I told Hub right at the labour ward that I'm not going to have another kid after this. Not at all!! I cried a good 5 mins after going thru such a bad delivery though the consolation is that Elysha is healthy.

That's why Mothers are the greatest beings on earth.

Elysha

Anytime now

Ai yo...i'm typing this from my guest room and i can hear Eili's snoring, her room is just next to the guest room. Like father like daughter...cheh!

Anyway, now into my 37th week, the D-Day is approaching....ANYTIME!! The pregnancy is considered full term and now we are into the waiting game. 4 people in my family are wishing that she'll born on their birthday:

1) If she's out tomorrow, she's be celebrating her birthday yearly with her grandma;

2) If she comes out on this Wed, 21st, she'll be having the same birthday as her father;

3) If she come out next Monday, 26th, she'll be having the same birthday as my dad and my sister. Imagine that 3 generations!!

So you see, at times, i'm wishing she can stay till 1st Nov so it'll only be her own special date BUT i don't think i can tahan another 3 more weeks. Let's see.....

Happy Anni

It's has been a journey...

8 years ago, we took the plunge into another level in our relationship which we are not sure of the rocky road ahead of us. There are disbelievers initially but we proved them wrong, we shown them despite marrying young, we are serious about each other. Tough but we made it in the end and these disbelievers are today our best supporters. I must say these tough times made us stronger together.

14 years of relationship, 8 years of marriage later, with another kid coming on our way, you have never hide your luv...thank you for being the man (almost) i want you to be...

We have our ups and downs, we fought over petty stuffs but never once our feelings were swayed in the wrong direction and I pray we'll remain this way.

I have never once doubt the passion we have together, the goals we want to achieve on and the way we agreed to spend our life till we can't anymore.

To me, you are my best friend, someone whom i know will forever agree and support me. Words can't describe all ...and you know it...

Happy 8th Year Anniverary....i luv u.....

My Pregnancy Journey (Part 3)

Finally..i have reached the (soon) ending point of the pregnancy. Now i'm at my last trimester, 33rd weeks. Baby E is weighed at almost 2kg, she gained almost double since my last check up a month ago. Everything is fine for now...except something that has been disturbing me for the past 2 months, besides the uneasy/insecure feeling.

Baby E is constantly having hiccups, 3-4 times a day, at times 5 mins non-stop. At first when i read up the article from babycenter.com during my 6th month, it was stated common for a fetal to have hiccups in the mum's stomach. Today, out of curiosity, i checked again. Now there's an exhange of comments by mothers in other countries mentioned that if a baby is having hiccups daily and more than 3-4 times a day, the reason could be due to coiling of the umbilical cord around the neck. This worries me as i start to panick and think of the worst-could be the hormones playing with my mentality. There are some women who lost their baby because of this reason and some lucky ones survived. This should not be taken lightly and i can only find out after my check up this Sat.

So for now, i'm trying to brush aside the awful thought till i get confirmation/assurance from my gynae.

Anyway my appetite is still the same, mouse-like, I don't snack a lot and so far i have only gained 10kg, quite a difference from Eiliyah's time of 16kg. But with 1 more month to go, the figures might go up slightly or more, we shall see. Baby E is getting more active since her cocoon (uterus) is getting smaller and she's getting bigger. She luv to wiggle her toes across my tummy and it's not enjoyable ok!! The pain might not be excruciating but damn uncomfortable! Like someone poke you with a pen across your tummy. She likes to move while i'm walking too, this baby is really torturing me! Wait till you are out, Baby E, i'm going to give you a tight smack on your butt. Haa

In the meantime, Big Sister, Eiliyah has been very supportive and caring of her little sister. She'll scold Baby E if i told her Baby E has been kicking me hard and she'll kiss my tummy before going in for her class. Let's just hope this 'luv/excitement' will stay on when she sees the real baby!

Eili kissing my tummy covered with stretch marks (fm 1st pregnancy)

With 5 more weeks (or earlier) to go, i really can't wait to deliver but on the other hand, i'm a little tad scared of the delivery process. I wanted my delivery to be au naturale, well maybe just a jab on my thigh to lessen 20% of the pain (like Eili's time), I just hope the timing of the birth (burst of water bag) and the pushing will be as easy like during Eili's time.

Recap of Eili's delivery:

I saw some tiny spotting in the afternoon of 6 July and my colleagu told me to get ready for delivery in the next 2 days. Feeling confident and tired of working, i immediately tidied my desk which i'm sure i'll deliver the next day. Slept at 10.30pm and felt a tug and slight contraction, went to the toilet as i felt my bladder is super full. Water bag burst the moment i stepped into the bathroom. Rushed to hospital by 11.45pm and refused any induced medicines or epidural suggested by the nurse. Took the jab at the thigh to reduce the pain at 6am as the intensity of the contraction gets stronger.

Dilation at 9/10cm at 8+am and lights are switched on to prepare for birthing. 5 pushes later, Eiliyah was out at 3.78kg! Ahhh...i really enjoyed (as in painless) the delivery as it's really fuss free and wasn't that painful as told by my friends.

I really hope the delivery of Baby E will be the same, if not, even easier and faster!! Hee...

My Pregnancy Journey (Part 2)

The truth fact is that every pregnancy is different so are the babies' behaviour and i should know better:

NOW: I can't be too hungry for more than 5 mins, if not, i'll turn into a Merlion. I can't bend too low when i brushed my teeth, trigger vomitting as well! (during 1st trimester)
THEN: I only remembered vomitted the yellow acid twice for the whole pregnancy, no morning sickness at all - happy pregnancy!

NOW: I have breakouts on my face this time - pimples pimples go away!!

THEN: while my skin is porcelain smooth during Eili's

NOW: I suffered water retention on my 1st trimester and only recently the water retention disappeared
THEN: I only had water retention on last trimester during Eili's.

NOW: No food can satisfy me, not even shark's fin. Ok, maybe black pepper crabs and durian but then these are my fav food before pregnancy!!
THEN: Even hawker food brightens up my day during those days

NOW: I tossed/turned at least 5 times every night since 1st trimester and slept late cos sometimes my mind only 'switches off' after 15 mins
THEN: My bedtime never past 9pm and it's all thru sleep the whole night

NOW: I don't gorge as much as i should be. Didn't like milk and only gain 1 kg per month!
THEN: I had 1 slice of bread and cup of milk at home, more breakfast at office, rice for lunch, teabreak, rice for dinner and milk before sleep. Gained 16kg in the end.

NOW: Baby E is super active with her punches/kicks, she does that everytime i consumed something or when i lie down on the couch at 10pm. She even hiccup when i'm sleeping!
THEN: Eili sleeps most of the time and sometimes i have to shake my tummy to wake her up.

So there you go, 2 different characters of my gals and i wonder will it be easy to handle Baby E since her sister is such a darling during her infant stage. Eili don't wake up for milk, not every 2-3 hrs like what i heard. She loves to sleep thru out, sometimes from 7pm till the next morning, she seldom cry and she loves to smile even at 2 months old. So, now you know what i'm worrying about.

2nd Trimester

Can you believe that i actually told people around me that I'm going to my 6 month of pregnancy when I'm already at my 7th month??? They were like "wow yr tummy is quite huge for a 5 month yah??"

Yah i flanked my maths since i thought 29 weeks means divided by 5 wks - WRONG! So i'm officially into my last trimester. Yah! Yah!!! I can't wait for the days when i can sleep flat on my stomach! Things are definitely better now, except the pimples, arghh i have to keep applying the tea tree blemish gel to soften it. I'm getting more active, yah you can see from those baking photos that i have posted. I love to keep everything tidy, love washing the toilets tiles by sitting on the toilet bowl and i'm planning to wash the baby clothings this weekend.

Names - we have yet to decide what name to choose. A islamic name with meaning or a english name with no meaning?? Sigh...to add a chinese name or not??? I'm in such a dilemma as he's leaving the naming to me as well! Arghh...

I AM CRAZY...on baking

I think i gone crazy on baking..almost, for 3 consecutive weeks, i have been baking different type of cookies and cupcakes. Trying to perfect my skills for the upcoming festival, Hari Raya. So i have been stuffing 3 of us with butter, sugar and choc loaded stuffs and I CAN'T STOP!!

Today after dinner, i decided to try baking the M&M cookies since it's still early. I ended up baking more than 50pcs of cookies till 10pm. After baking, then the pain and ache from the neck to my legs came. Arghhh...so aching...

I think the love of seeing the end product are what that thrills me to bake more...

These are what i have done so far:

M&M cookies

Collection of cookies for own consumption

luv the colours...

Vanilla butter cupcakes with Choc melts

End product - coated with choc coating

Choc with Cinnamon cookies - before

After baking

Cornflakes cookies - before

After

Out of MIND!!

There are 2 kinds of women (or more) in this world. One is those who love when their partner shower them with expensive gifts and the other is those who frown. I belonged to the latter version, wierd???

That's why they said women are unpredictable. For me, i might always grumble and silently admired those women who are constantly showered with expensive gifts but when i'm given one, i'll felt sad and heartpain. That's how i felt last nite...

He came home and said that he got a surprise for me - which i took as an excuse so he can escape washing the dishes, until he showed me the box. He said since i have given him an expensive advance birthday present and the Bali trip is more like a family trip rather than my birthday gift, that's why he decided to get this gift which i can use physically rather than on memory. I appreciate his thoughfulness but to me, materialistic items are not realistic. I prefer security than appearance, hard to understand? Meaning i rather him to keep the cash as a backup rather than spending it, even on me.

Whenever he have that extra dough, he will, without thinking, spent it on me. When we were dating, he sold some of his foreign currency notes from his collection to get my first & last Swatch watch. Last 2 years, he bought me a OSIM UZap for no reason. I'll think twice if i'm going to spending hundreds even for someone close to me. Perhaps he's more generous and i'm more stingy??

To him, it's his way of expressing his love and wanting me to have the best. I know and glad but i'm a more realistic person and rather to have a fat bank account than to have a house of branded items. I can see he's upset that i'm not pleased with his choice of gift but sorry i can't hide my feelings - so i told him this'll be the last and expensive gift, well...beside the diamond ring i wanted for our 10th anniversary, which he can start saving now.

PS: Thanks B for the gift, i really appreciate this but this's really not necessary, maybe it's your passion for watches, this's like the 5th watch you bought for me....anyway we had an agreement and now i'm awaiting for my diamond bling?? Hee...luv ya...