Arrival of Liesl-Mae Avin : The hours backstage

WARNING: A long read…

MONDAY 1 DEC

12.00am - 6.30am : Wide awake. Watched some labor & childbirth videos!

Had some funny expanding feeling in my tummy every 1 hour or so tho.. Brushed it off as baby stretching as she was awake the entire time with me since midnite.

6.30am – 10.30am: Finally rested.

12.00 pm : Had lunch at in-laws in Klang.

3.00pm - 4.00pm: Stuck in a typical illogical Malaysian jam on Kesas getting back to USJ. Tummy’s getting rock hard every 10 min. Not much pain tho. Decided to go to the hosp. (Finally!)

4.00pm – 4.30pm: Bought some chocs, showered and posed for the camera before heading to QHC!

4.30pm-5.30pm: In labor ward, hooked on CTG machine to monitor baby’s heartbeat, her movement and my contractions. Moderate contractions 7 min apart. Baby’s still ‘high up’. Still smiling and walking as usual.

5.30pm: Admitted for monitoring. Dr Subra said I’ll be discharged in the morning if labor doesn’t progress.

8.30pm: DINNER / PARTY TIME! Photos are self-explanatory!

11.50pm: Had the ‘show’.. A sign that delivery is imminent.

TUES 2 DEC

6.00am: Woke up and had breakfast.

10.00am: Dr Subra did a check. Only 1.5cm dilated.  Had to option to go home and wait.. or induce.

11.00am: Was wheel-chaired to the labor ward. Induced through drip. Baby’s heartbeat’s monitored.

11.30am: Contractions are 3 mins apart now. Pain’s still bearable. At some point, baby’s heartbeat dropped to 60 then up to normal reading again.. (Normal reading: 120-160bpm). Nurses checked, apparently CTG machine’s a bit faulty. Changed to the machine at the next bed, so I can’t keep an eye on the reading anymore.

12.15pm: Dr Ng performed amnitomy aka assisted membrane rupture. But he says it may take 1-2 hours to delivery OR 1-2 DAYS!! Contractions are hurting more now. Had a passing thought: Shall we try ZERO painkillers delivery?

1:12pm: Pain is increasing, contractions are 1-2 mins apart. Still bz sms-ing! AND.. STARVING!  But I  can’t have ANYTHING except water!

1.42pm: Cutting short Avin’s lunch. Pain’s becoming unbearable. And envying the lady at the next bed who’s not feeling the dilation check cuz she’s on epidural!!

2:41pm: Finally.. I caved. Painkillers #1 – Pethadene injected into me. Immediately felt drowsy and high but can’t feel the contraction pain at all! Still sms-ing! & STARVING!

2:55pm :Last record of sms sent to mummy. It must have become super duper unbearable after that!

I remember squeezing Avin’s hands so tight, refusing to let him leave my side, and I was DEFINITELY screaming!

At some point an hour later, I asked for Painkillers #2! Felt drowsy but could still feel the pain! Was almost screaming at the nurse for giving me a ‘faulty’ jab.

Finally…………. after all the screaming in pain, at the nurses, at Avin…. not to push and push..and an episiotomy that my poor Avin had to witness…

5.05pm: Liesl-Mae Avin made her grand entrance into this world of ours.

(Oh, did I mention I had like at least 5 on-lookers/fans/student nurses cheering me on at the last few minutes – “sikit lagi.. push..sikit lagi..yay…” Quite encouraging and hilarious actually…)

I remember Dr Ng holding her upside down. Dr Subra was there too, trying to lighten up the situation.. and helping, of course. She wasn’t opening her eyes nor crying for a good 2 min, I think!

While Dr Ng finished the job on me, Dr Subra worked on Liesl-Mae. Apparently, she’s sedated from my painkillers…hence taking some time to cry. Was a little worried there for a while..

And here’s the placenta (GROSS!!) …… Dr Ng asked if we wanted to take it home!

Tried to breastfeed her before we both were sent separate ways..

6.00pm: Back in the room, had my long awaited lunch/tea/dinner – milo and bread!

phew..what a day!

but oh well, the pain is beautifuly worth it!

more pics of Liesl when i log on next!