Length of labor (not pushing)
3 hours 45 minutes
Length of pushing
12 minutes
Who was with me
My husband, gynecologist and his team of nurses.
What I would do differently next time
Nothing, it was perfect.
What I did to prepare for birth
A well planned and ready packed hospital bag was key to keeping both husband and my sanity intact. I got hubby to help me pack the bag too so he'd know where things were and not get too frazzled when I needed something.
I also brought an extra pillow from home to help me get comfortable after delivery because hospital pillows here were hard!
How my birth happened
It was Monday, 13 July and at 2.30am I woke up because I felt like nature was calling. I figured it was because I ate a tad too much durian earlier. Washing it down with milk probably wasn't a good idea too. But it was a false alarm so I waddled back to bed.
This went on for about a half dozen times and hubby woke up around 3.45am because I accidentally kicked him while trying to manuevere out of bed; 38 weeks pregnant and huge as a whale. I told him I was having a tummy ache and that it's been going on for an hour. I didn't know know why I timed the "aches" as I referred to them then but I did and they lasted about 30 to 45 seconds at 10 to 15 minute intervals.
Hubby literally leaped out of bed and started to get ready while I sat on the bed waiting for the next "ache" to come along. It was then that it dawned on me that I was having labor contractions. I know ... "Duh!".
The contractions were bearable (a 4 on a pain scale of 10) up until 5am when the pain scale went up a notch. By 5.30am, I could hardly stand whenever it hit and by the time we got the hospital at 6.00am, I couldn't walk because they were about 6 on my pain scale; 5 to 8 minutes apart.
After changing and examined by a nurse, I was only 4cm dilated but I had already started to push. The nurse called my gynecologist and gave me an injection on my butt cheek to help me dilate quickly to which my pain scale immediately shot up to an 8. She asked if I wanted any pain relievers and I declined, because I decided in the beginning of my pregnancy I was going to do it naturally.
They hooked my belly up to my heart monitor and my nurse came to check on me after 15 minutes (about 7.00am), gave me a smile and said "You're ready!". I was wheeled immediately the delivery room where my gynecologist came in a few minutes later and instructed me to push. I remember the pain when pushing was about an 8/10 on my pain scale but the ring of fire of a definate 10/10. By then I was so tired that I somehow managed to block out the pain completely. My baby girl was born after 3 contractions/3 pushes at 7.15am
The whole family was extremely surprised that she came so fast. My inlaws were still asleep (thinking I'd be in labor for another half a day) when hubby called to tell them the news. All in all, I wouldn't have done it any other way.
Baby #2 is due in a few months. I hope this experience will be just as good as it's elder sis's.
Lessons learned
- Relax and stay calm. Anything other will only make the contraction pain worse. In the long run, you'll exhaust yourself out unnessarily.
- Stay hydrated. I sweated so much during labor that I was dehydrated and woozy after giving birth. I almost couldn't hold my daughter when they put her in my arms because I was so out of it.
- Have a supportive partner next to you to help you stay positive. Hubby kept quiet and held my hand throughout the birthing process so as to not stress me out but he gave me kisses on my forehead telling me I had done a great job after which was an amazing feeling.
