As many say.. you may go through different experience in different pregnancies/labor. It may get easier the second time.. or it may not! Throughout the pregnancy, I was carrying Vera, bending up and down to pick her/her toys.. certainly walking alot. I was having images in my mind, will there be a possibility for me to experience natural labor contractions at work due to all these movements. Or at home, maybe I have to rush in for a quick shower, activate Pail to come home from work, and send Vera to my in-laws… and so on. Nope, no chance at all. Oliver is growing so well inside me.. he seems to be much bigger than his Jiejie. So our gynae advised that it is safer if we can induce labor one week before full-term, so as to minimise any horrible things from happening, so.. ok la.. CHILL! Hospital bag all packed, nothing much to bring actually.. This time round, we signed up with Cryoviva for cord blood banking, so there was one more item to bring in the hospital bag, i.e. their box. Ok ready, get set Go!
It felt good that everything is under control.
On 15th March, early in the morning, we sent Vera to school and headed to the hospital… Too early. We have prepared bread to munch on while waiting for the clinic to open. At 9am sharp, we went in and started immediately to monitor my contractions.. which I haven’t felt at all. 46 minutes later, Dr Wong came to insert The Pill.. wow! I’m 1cm dilated already. Things are progressing faster yet less panicky as the first time, we were told to head out for lunch. Just be back at 1pm to get admitted for the real show.
Contractions began to kick in tremendously.. I found it difficult to walk even before we managed to find a place to eat at Novena Sq. We settled for Mos Burger and went to have a good Aveda hairwash. The contractions were so bad we headed back at 12..
Waiting in the Birth room… bring it on!
By 2pm, I was 3cm dilated. In another two and half hours later, I was 5cm dilated. I requested for Dr Yvonne to perform anesthesia and epidural for me this time. Super thankful for my colleague’s recommendation because this time it was sooo well done and the discomfort level was reduced by ALOT, as compared to the first time. Of course, the shaking and cramps were still there, but it was already muchhhh better, really! Especially with Pail beside me, I bet he didn’t know how much energy he gave me! To all hubbies out there, your presence is very very important to your wife you know! You are not there to just take some photos, but you are there to grip her hand and give her support!
I also thank the midwide nurse who broke my waterbag further.. that really got things, I mean Oliver, moving! Hee.. Meanwhile, my gynae was delivering for another Mummy in the delivery room beside, but my dilation seems to be toooo expedited, I was 10cm dilated already!!!! I was shocked.. Huh?! 5cm in like 30minutes!!? What??!! Baby is coming!? My gynae had to rush over and in one push… yes ONE PUSH!! Oliver was born!!!! He beat his sister by a lil’ bit at birth weight, he’s almost 3.6kg, 52cm and 35.5cm head circumference!
Because I kinda “cut queue” and hijacked my neighbour in the delivery ward beside, my gynae had to run back to continue with her after Oliver is out. The nurses cleaned him.. and left us in the ward for almost an hour.. I earned lotsa skin-to-skin contact with him! Yay!!
I could have delivered a pair of twins.
One week later, review all OK with Dr Joycelyn Wong.!
Today is 15th Jan 2019, Oliver turns 10 months old. And everything just seemed like it took place yesterday, I swear it wasn’t an easy ten months that flew past, because this boy ahh… gave us so many new problems that I felt like a first time mom. hmm, let me talk about it in the next entry, let this entry stays a dedicated post about his birth story. 🙂