Week 40 | Arrival of Emika

Our Gynae: Dr Koh, CH Koh Clinic

Hospital: Mount Alvernia 

I was expecting and supposed to deliver my baby girl full term on 3rd Dec. As I await for her arrival, nothing happened lol. Hence, we went for our last gynae visit 2 days later and I was told that my pregnancy term was overdue and the baby needs to get out. We scheduled for natural delivery and we are good to see her latest by Sunday, 9am. Before heading to the gynae clinic, I did experienced on-off contractions while asleep, and I can feel that the baby's head is positioning well downwards. Dr Koh checked that I was 2 cm diluted and she's going to be out any moment. We even had a mini scare that she might just come in the middle of the night or on our way home. Again, nothing happened till.. Saturday night. There was totally no sign of water break or sign of blood in mucus plug. I admitted myself to Mount Alvernia on Sunday morning, 1am to their delivery suite.

The hospital procedures were fast as our gynae gave us letter of admission and the nurses did some quick uncomfortable checks, cervix test where she put the lubricant gel on her gloves and insert into me to check on the dilution of the cervix. I was still 2cm diluted. I think we did 2 - 3 times and the nurse only started inducing at 7am and I was placed on IV drip immediately. No one told me that you're not supposed to eat when you are on drip!! End up I didn't eat for good 1.5 days :-(

Anyway, the contractions were getting stronger each hour, and then each minute which we were told that I am doing very well! Usually the gynae will not be with you - but the nurses will monitor and call your gynae for medical advices. By the time 9am, I was actually on my 4cm mark. My gynae was very pleased and when he reached my delivery suite, he proceed to break my water bag manually in 5 minutes and immediately, I felt a gush of warm water flowing down my legs and on the hospital bed. I was feeling some pain and uncomfortable as he was tugging, trying to search for my cervix and then the bag of amniotic acid that my baby in. 

The contractions became even more intense, and I was basically holding on the sides of the hospital bed with no epidural. The nurse came in a few times and told me to request for epidural if I cannot take it, but I told her that I am okay. What a mistake!!! I was literally suffering as I wanted to go to the toilet to pee, and had to use a pee bowl. It was so awkward urinating on the bed and I couldn't do it..

I endured for 4 hours, every 3 minute painful contractions before surrendering lol. When the aesthetician came, he said that the epidural can be "top up", by flushing more fluid into your spine area.. and I don't need to endure cause I already paid for it lol. He was Dr Koh's classmate and he was really professional! He told me to bend as much, as the epidural can be rather painful when it is injected into your bones. Literally, you are on fire, your bones are on fire.

Again, we had a cervix test at 6pm, and then 9pm to check if my cervix was dilating well. Unfortunately, I was still at 6cm dilution and time seems to run out. I was in panic mode as my husband was having dengue and migraine pain and we are all rooting for her to come out by 9pm. End up he had to leave for A&E and my doctor came. 

All he said was, " I am so disappointed. We had make a decision to do emergency caesarean now." By the way, caesarean is the surgical delivery of baby, which involves one incision in the mother's abdomen and another in uterus. I was running high fever due to fatigue and my contractions was at it's peak every minute, and I had already endured 12 hours of induced labor. Can you imagine having to experience 200x of menstrual pain? I had epidural but I can still feel the pain.. that was how intense it was. The baby's heart beat was beating at 180/90 per second and the doctor need to think for the safety of both the mother and the child. I was sooo disappointed and tired so I broke down lol. I was crying to my mom telling her that I am so scared, by the way that's my first major surgery I totally freaked out to be honest, and I was blaming the baby for not coming out.. It was quite crazy to be honest?? I had to sign some indemnity consent form while in a drowsy state and I was wheeled to the operation theatre. I couldn't even move my legs.

While in the operation theatre, I was still sobbing. It was funny because they were talking about what to eat? And the nurses and my gynae doctor was comforting me. They were like, mummy don't cry your darling gonna come out. I CRIED EVEN MORE. The whole operation was really fast, my aesthetician came in again and he pumped in more epidural into my spine, and my doctor started cutting my stomach. The first few cuts to the skin felt like ant bite, and then afterwards I literally felt no pain except for some movements and tugging (again) in my stomach. After a good 5 minutes, I could hear baby wailing sound. I felt so comforted. They placed her in a transparent incubator and wheeled her out to the maternity suite. My mom and my brother saw her first, she's sucha cutie!

Emika, 3.425 kg.

When I saw her, my heart literally melt. How can this cute thing grow in my stomach? Every pain seems worth it. The epidural wear off in 3 hours and I immediately felt pain I never felt before. I was tearing as I couldn't move my tummy area and the nurse had to get me changed. To make the matter worse, I endured peeing and as a result, my bladder was full with urine and pressing on my uterus. 

It was really excruciating pain. I also teared a bit when I carried my baby for breastfeeding as the injury was so painful. Endure endure endure. That's what I said to myself repeatedly.

Both emika and I was given a bracelet that sounds whenever I, the mom is around. Look at how happy she is whenever she sees me! I had no breast milk for first two days and she was literally sucking and just simulating the breast to start producing milk. I felt so helpless as a mom, but was quick to ask around that is okay for newborn to drink formula. Mount Alvernia Lactation consultants, baby doctor, the hospital sister came, my gynae came everyday to my ward to make sure I am okay. I had to turn away my friends for visiting as I was sooo exhausted and busy from taking care of baby.

My first meal! Chicken yellow noodle and soup. Honestly the hospital food is pretty not bad and healthy. I would choose to stay at Mount Alvernia again if I could :-D

so cute. She's always coming to visit me in the ward.

Day 3 arrived and it's time for us to go home! Honestly, 3 days is NOT sufficient for Csection pain to recover. Although I still feel very much in pain, I thought it would be better for me to go home. Had a quick hospital discharge and paid my hospitalization bills.

The entire bill is 16k, including medisave claims as I had normal delivery and Csection delivery charges. Even nursery, doctor attendance fees are charged to the bill. Very poor but very happy lol.