the labour story: push!
July 30, 2013Ok Baby D’s sleeping and dreaming about drinking milk (babies live such simple lives) so I’m going to continue and finish my labour story. It’s a long post so go make a cup of coffee first. I’ll wait.
If you haven’t read Part 1, click here.
Then read Part 2, click here.
Now I begin the last bit, Part 3.
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8.30 am
I’m on a wheelchair to the labour room, contractions and all.
Of course Snuggles/Munirah had to come, she’s family!
As soon as we approached the room, I reminded Dean, “You told them to hide all the utensils off the table or the counter right? You promise????” There is NO WAY I’m going to see the scissors cutting my hoohaa or any form of needle or knife. I WILL CRY.
Inside the room, I saw the labour bed, a bunch of wires and then next to it the place where they put the baby. My heart skipped a beat. In the next few minutes (haha! How deluded I was…minutes… so cute!), there will be a baby on that thing. Our baby.
9 am
Contractions were at a constant interval and everytime, I would hang on to Dean and clutch his hands/collar/shoulders/whatever was nearest. At this point, it was pretty good still because I could walk around, sit down, lie down, have breakfast, go to the toilet.. Both our moms were there too coming in and out whenever they can. It was like our own private suite. Haha.
I spent a lot of the time reading the Quran actually. I was calm, but I still felt like I wanted to be close to God. You really never appreciate religion until you realize you really really need Him because at the end of the day, it’s all up to Him.
Doctor came in and put on his gloves. “Ok, let’s break your water bag.”
“No thanks. I heard that when your water breaks, the contractions get crazy painful.”
The doctor laughed gently, said “No, don’t worry,” and put on his other glove.
“Eh, wait wait waitttt… Is this going to be painful?”
“No.”
“I don’t believe you. Can I have the epidural first at least?”
And he broke my water bag. It did not hurt, phewwww!
I always thought once the water bag breaks, a big flood will happen around you and it’ll be all dramatic like in the movies. But actually, the water comes out bit by bit, sometimes as little as period and other times A LOT until they have to change the hospital bed sheet. Water just kept coming out that I started wondering if there’s even a baby in there with that much water coming out of me. And then of course… I thought “Oooh have I lost weight?”
10.30 am
I sometimes hear moms-to-be going “Yeah I’m going to do it drug free. I want to feeeeeeel the labour pain.” I just continue on chomping my ice chips and saying “Oh yeah yeah, I completely understand.” I really don’t. That’s super heroic of them, but from the start, this chicken was all wheres-the-sign-up-sheet-for-happydural-town?
People like to scare you with stories on how big the epi needle is (one even told me it’s the size of a pen) and whatnot, but I was thinking stick whatever you have to in me because if THIS is the contraction at 1-2 cm, I am not curious at all to find out how the pain will be at 7-8 cm.
And let me be the one to tell you because you know I’m such a scaredy-cat when it comes to pain… epidural was not painful at all. I thought the water drip they gave me after that was way more painful! (I still hate that thing)
The doctor was reallyyyyy good and calm, and told me to just relax. I hugged a pillow and Dean hugged me tight because he knew I was nervous. You can’t move when they do it on you, so I made sure I was as still as possible and I just focused on zikir the entire time. They injected the needle into my back and even though I felt the pressure, I couldn’t feel the pain. It was good, Alhamdulillah. Within minutes I could still feel my legs and all, but I couldn’t feel contractions anymore even though my graph was soaring up and down indicating my volatile contraction levels. I just smiled looking at my graph while sipping water through a straw.
Ahhh… epidural = juice from heaven.
After the epidural, you can’t walk around anymore so more Quran time.
12 pm
4 cm dilated.
1 pm
8 cm dilated.
1.30 pm
9 cm dilated.
Doctor said “Any minute now” and a few midwives came in to prepare the utensils. I gave Dean the I-don’t-want-to-see-anything-sharp look. The midwives propped my legs up on the leg-opener thingy so I was already in the “pushing position”. My contractions were high, but thank God I never felt them.
Suddenly I felt super light-headed and I felt like I was going to pass out. Dean asked the midwife why I was looking so pale. They gave me some water and I asked for some dates because I needed sugar. I’m not sure what happened there but I think I was just feeling a bit nervous because the moment was about to come. I was about to meet my son and thinking about it made me all pale. (I’m sure Baby D will feel so loved when he reads this later on bahaha)
I looked at Dean and that gave me happiness. I thought of God and reminded myself He’s there helping me. I thought of all our family members just outside the labour room waiting and their prayers gave me strength.
Ok I can do this.
2 pm
PUSHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
This went on for several rounds. I had to do a LOT of pushing till Baby D’s head came out. The doctor said he was going to use a vacuum but I refused (stubborn even when my baby’s head was in my hoohaa) and I pushed even harder.
At one point, I even thought “Oh man… I’m pretty sure I don’t look so attractive pushing I can’t believe my husband has to watch this face.”
2.15 pm
Baby D’s first ever cry.
That was the cutest cry anyone has ever made, I thought inside. (Now his cries are not so cute anymore… especially the ones at 4 am.)
They wrapped Baby D up and was going to hand him over to put him on my chest. He was all yellow-mucous with blood bits on him. Until now, I cannot believe these words actually came out of my mouth:
“Waitwaitwaittt he’s got stuff on him…clean him up first!”
Worst. Mother. Ever.
I looked over at Dean and there he was, wiping his happy tears and looking at Baby D with so much love and affection.
Oh great, make me look like the bad guy.
We both gave Baby D our salam and Dean started reciting the Azan to his ear.
(It’s a Muslim thing when a baby is born… Don’t worry, we’re not actually telling the baby to pray now or anything)
10 pm
It must have been the drugs or the hormones earlier, because that night I just couldn’t get enough of Baby D. I kept walking really slowly to him and putting my finger under his nose to check if he was breathing. And then just stare at him for ages with loved up eyes.
“Baby of Vivy Sofinas Yusof” written on the tag. Made my heart flutter with joy.
So then I thought about quitting my job.
Bahahah I’m telling you! Drugs and hormones!
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On a serious note, I was feeling so much love for Allah swt for giving Dean and I such a beautiful son and a good labor experience with it. It was almost unreal. We had both our dads’ prayers, both moms were waiting hand and foot from the very morning, my sister and sil were both there for us, my bils were also outside the labour room, Asma’ and Toots were praying for me, and the FV team came to see Baby D right after work. We got so much love from our close friends and relatives that I can’t wait to tell Baby D how blessed he is.
So he better be a good boy and listen to Mommy!
MasyaAllah…. Certain parts gelak bahak2, bila part Dean nangis, I pun nangis jugak.
Baby D, be a good boy ya 🙂 *kiss n hug*
So much love Viv, it’s the most life changing experience you’ll ever go through (in a good way). there’s no way to really describe it, but once you feel your baby kick for the first time it’ll bring tears to your eyes. you’ll wonder how you can love someone you haven’t even met so much. Hug and kisses to Baby D:)
Awww, i cried! Heheh
Alhamdulillah for everything. May Allah SWT blessed u and ur big family. 🙂
Hi Vivy! You’re so good at telling stories 🙂 all the best with motherhood!! ❤
there is no way that you finished this whole post at one go. the first half must’ve been saved in draft before you continue on with the second half especially if baby D is fully breastfed. they are hungry 24/7 at this stage. i don’t think they’ve ever slept through the night the first second month 🙁 anyway i was one of those moms who brilliantly decided on going drug free. i cried the whole time. not wise.
salaam vivy…
congratulations for your newborn..
You are a good daughter yourself..and may Allah grant you a good son. ameen
and may Allah make us all a good mom..allahumma ameen.
btw the light headedness may have been the side effect of epidural as it tends to lower the blood pressure and the headache is due to the leakage of spinal fluid. (i sound very webMD haha!)
bagusla tak guna vacuum..my cousin sorang tu doc used vacuum, the mother memang taknak but she couldnt do it anymore. kepala affected and dari baby sampai skarang, he’s 40..terencat akal cousin i.
All the best, Vivy, with motherhood! Btw, the jahit your hoohaa thingy, was it like, super painful?
OMG, I am in labour room rite now, just had a pill inserted in my hoohaa, and perfect timing for me to read this la kan. Your story lift me up *awww* *awww* a little. happydural.baby.i.need.you.too
I think i’m gonna bookmark a
I think I’m gonna bookmark these 3 Parts of your labour story for my future reference. It’s super helpful and informative which I’m glad you didn’t mind sharing. Thanks a bunch :’)
Reading this while makan for sahur and taking care of my baby.
Vivy, this post makes me wanna have another baby!
Babies are so cute especially when they make their first appearance in this world. All looking confused, so innocent, a bit blur until they meet Miss Boobies.
There are shouting and crying when Miss Boobies are ‘late’ for work. I mean, feeding time.
There were times I cried when my baby was crying and she looks so confused haha!
Enjoy your confinement and kiss Baby D for us, your readers!
For a primigravida, your labour progressed well, 4 cm within an hour is super fast! Alhamdulillah and congratulations for Allah swt made it easy for u…
So btw, did the doctor cut your hoohaa? Hahaha just wondering here 😉
Alhamdulillah vivy..best kan da der baby D, hahaha utk part suh clean up baby D first tu, sure dia pun gelak bila baca nanti..nanti jgn lupa jaga kaki cantik cantik sbb baby D nak tgk heaven like u alwiz tease yr mum abt surga under her feet….hihihi…love u vivy, keep writing k…kiss kiss for baby D ya 🙂
ok vivy, i sanggup baca sampai pukul 9am je. thanks for the info babe.
my first until 3 rd children I didn’t get an epidural (or happydural so they called it), until the 4th, I decided to get this happy thingy…… Mmg happy betul!! Menyesal I tak ambil dari first.. hehehehe.. but you are right, when I got this epidural, more time for me to think clearly, and I decided to recite more doa, and more Quran to make me more calm and relax. And guess what, I enjoyed every moment of it coz I can see clearly the process and it made me appreciate the moment more… (spek x payah cabut bile tgh rileks so nmpk terang lah hehehe, waktu bersalin before yg no 4 nie, mmg spek cabut and I closed my eyes the whole time giving birth process because of the pain, baca doa pon laju2 dan apa yg kluar dr mulut hanyalah, cepat kluar cepat kluar, sakit sangat dah nie.. heheheh ;))
Hi vivy tqsm for sharing ur xperience wz us.. Tq dear.. Mind to share abt ur xperience taking care of ur little D n breastfeeding experience n owhh d tali pusat also.. Hehehe
Ok reading dis buat i rindu nak mengandung & bersalin lagi. My baby baru 7w ok!
Whether u’re taking happy dural or not, its for the sake of baby and for Allah.. so be strong on your decision… insya Allah He will take care evrything.
So happy for both of you, even my hubby cried when we had our 1st baby.. take care vivy
so, no episiotomy for you? lucky !! i super hate the cut and stitches after that, soo painful 🙁
I felt the same when my husband had to watch my ‘pushing’ face! Hahhahahahhahaha… well at least i know that its not only me who felt that way.. hahahhahaah
Congrats to you!! I gave birth on 9 July to a 3.6kg baby and my gynae had to use a forcep. I was pushing for one and a half hour and even vomited while pushing!! Anyway, in Spore, husbands or family members are not allowed to be in the room when the anaesthetist is injecting the needle to give you epidural. Its just you, the anaesthetist and the nurse. Was surprised to hear that they allowed it in Malaysia, lucky you!
That part where you asked the nurses to clean baby D up first before holding him was just hilarious!
Awwww~ this is very heartwarming…makes me wanna have another baby.. Hehe congratulations Vivy and Dean… Welcome to parenthood ☺
awww… im so touched reading this… be a good boy Baby D… best kan dah jadi parent..:)
So I read all three before deciding to leave a comment. Got goosebumps reading the whole experience start to finish(!) So glad you decided to write it all down in the end. I like how you said each and every pregnancy’s different so if you do decide to have a second baby, I guess you’d have a new story to compare against this first one. Bit surprised to learn a few things from your story, though. I’ve always heard that the epi hurts and that the needle’s crazy huge, etc. But it’s nice to have these “myths” dispelled. Lol. Daniel looks absolutely beautiful. You and Dean are lucky. Congratulations, new mommy & daddy (‘:
Thank you for sharing your beautiful experience, you! As a long time reader of your blog ( from your wordpress-kampung-london days) ive seen your relationship with dean morphing from your student years to LDR, wedding preparations to getting married, setting up & managing FV together and now…seeing you both embarking into parenthood is seriously so heartwarming! Im a sucker for anything romantic, but hands down, Vivy-Dean makes my heart tingle moreee than Carrie-Big or Blair-Chuck’s happy endings (yours is a non-fiction, hello! :p ) i hope you’ll continue on inspiring & brightening up your readers’ lives with your wit, humility & determination thru your writings 🙂 congratulations again to both you & hubs, you’ll be great parents, insyaallah.
Congrats Vivy & Dean! Your experience is almost similar to my experience. I was induced twice too when I gave birth to my firstborn. Glad I took the happy-dural too coz I was able to relax and enjoy the birthing experience. Did the same for my second n third babies too. So far Alhamdulillah, I haven’t experience any back problems etc. My firstborn is now 14yo. Make sure you get a good makcik urut during confinement. Give my kisses to Baby D! Mwah mwah mwah!
rasa berdebar-debar je baca. tapi part kelakar, gelak tak habis. Muahahaha,
Kita nak kahwin ni, tetiba rasa macam errr cam ne nak beranak nanti. Hahaha. I dah la suka nangis kalau sakit. Hahaha