The Birth Story of Amanda Grace Winston (15.01.2012)

Actually my labor started weeks before her actual birth. It started with contractions (every 10 minutes) that becomes more intense, closer and then stall and fades away. This happened for I think 2 weeks prior to her actual birth. During this period of time, am so thankful for the support of my bestie, Dr Deburra P Ngadan and also the kind ladies of the Gentle Birthing Group Malaysia.

Before going into the details, let me share the preps that I did during my pregnancy. I read (oh boy, you should see the stacks of books and parenting mags that I read) and read some more. And then I was added to GBG by my friend Evelyne (I think I actively followed in my 3rd trimester kot... Busy with schoolwork before that so limited time spent online). And they introduced me to hypnobirthing and natural birth. Oh yeah, always wanted natural birth (actually assumed that ALL births will be natural. Apparently NOT). For you mama-to-be out there, I seriously recommend buying the hypnobirthing book and I really2 suggest you get 'Ina May's Guide to Childbirth'... These 2 books are very good and Ina May's book is very2 inspiring and informative too. Ina May's book is filled with many positive natural birth stories. Get it. Seriously.

Ok, back to the birth business...

My EDD was 13/01/2012 and because I was diagnosed as both GDM & PIH (Pregnancy Induced Hypertension) as well as having asthma (Full Package according to the nurses at the KKIA), I was not allowed to exceed my due date. My gynae in Kch would probably be too happy to induce me on THAT exact date but thankfully my gynae in Sibu (Dr Toh SG) still allows me to go post-date and only induce on 16/01/2012 if still not in labor. He also told me to go for 1-hour walk daily since week 38 and etc to naturally encourage labor to happen. He was actually pro-natural and not quite as eager to induce as my gynae in Kch...

So 13/01 comes and goes. Still no sign of any action. My Hubby jokes that baby doesn't want to come because it's Friday 13th... Duh! *slaps forehead*

14/01/2012 - By now I've already resigned myself to the fact that whenever baby wants to come, she will come (but still I kept telling her to please help mummy and come soon so we can avoid induction). That evening around 5pm, I went out with my Hubby to town. There were some contractions that were quite mild at first but I brushed it off as just another case of BH. Then I told my Hubby that I want to have McD's Prosperity Burger (alasan: after giving birth I will not be allowed to have it and prosperity burgers are seasonal..he he he). Enjoyed my meal as the contractions/surges becomes a bit more intense. Returned home and I rested on the bed while SMSing with my BFF, Grace. She asked me if I'm in labor yet and then she replied that my baby is stubborn when I told her not yet... Within seconds after her reply, suddenly I heard a loud SNAP sound (the sound when you stretch a rubber band taut and release it). I was puzzled by the sound and I thought it couldn't be my knees because my knees never made any sound like that for sure. So I stood up, and as I stood I felt fluid trickling down my legs. "Did I pee???" I tried walking and sure enough, more fluid trickling down my legs... Then it hits me, MY WATER JUST BROKE. So I calmly told my hubby that my water just broke and my FIL also heard and what happened next is right out of a cartoon movie. My FIL freaked out... My MIL freaked out (and the scene involves tudung periuk, kain sarung and selipar... Ha ha ha)... Only my Hubby & I were calm. We went to the Hospital and after being monitored by the nurses (EFM and CTG) and my Doc was notified that I was 2cm dilated. I was admitted to my room and the nurses told me that I could eat and drink :-)

So the surges came but not very intense, started and concentrated at the back mostly. My in-laws came and my parents, bro, sis and their spouses also came. Nasib baik private hospital, sukahati la nak bawak satu kampung masuk bilik... Kat Govt, siap la kena bambu ngan Misi2 ganas...

The nurses gave us privacy and only came every hour to monitor my BP and baby's heartbeat. I enjoyed my dinner and drank loads of Milo and ate raisins for energy. By 1 am, the midwife asked my permission to do another VE to check my progress and found out that I was still at 2cm dilation. Effacement showed progress though. She consulted my gynae and since my water broke at 7.10pm, it has been 6 hours without much progress. So he suggested augmentation/induce. I was sent to the Labor Room and my Doctor came and inserted the IV drip. I was then hooked on the CTG and EFM.

Induction is no fun. Seriously. For me it's hard because of the EFM and the CTG, my movement was restricted. The moment the induction starts to take effect, the contractions was for me, clockwork and relentless. I think I can tolerate the pain better if I lean to my left side but darn that CTG and EFM!!! By 2.30 am (I think) I was vomitting and Hubby was there by my side to hold the plastic bag... By 3 or 4 am my Hubby went back to the room (surprisingly I was glad he did because it would be hard for me and harder for him to sit there and watch me w/out knowing how to help me).

The pain continued but I kept telling myself and repeating the Birth Affirmations (well, the parts that I can remember).

I put all fear aside as I prepare for the birth of my baby.

I am relaxed and happy that my baby is finally coming to me.

My cervix opens and allows my baby to ease down.

I am calmly prepared to meet whatever turn my birthing may take.

My baby gently moves through the birth path in its journey.

Each surge of my body brings my baby closer to me.

My baby’s size is perfect for my body; we birth easily.

I repeated it over and over again in my mind (insert an Ow every now and then when the contraction is at its peak). By now I had no sense of time. I was groaning and vocalizing (if at Govt hospital sah-sah aku kena maki ngan Misi dan aku akan maki balik itu Misi) to my heart's content (Aku sakit, sukahati aku la). I think by 5.30 am I was having irrational thoughts. First I called my Hubby and told him I want pain relief (epidural). Thankfully my Hubby told me that I do not want that and it's probably not much longer anyway. (Thanks Hubby. Love you for being the sane voice in my temporary moment of insanity). By 6.30 am I was thinking that I want to BITE the midwife who was sitting next to me all these while (crazy thought??? Apparently I was in transition at this point).

I kept telling the midwife that I wanted to poop, she told me that it was the baby's head. I then commanded (requested is not strong enough to describe my tone) her to check my progress. She was surprised that I was already 8cm dilated. According to her, usually it takes longer than that for 1st time mothers. By 7am I was SO ready to push and true enough I was almost fully dilated. My Doctor came and a few pushes later, Amanda Grace was born at 7.30 am. The nurses at the Labor Room was going absolutely GaGa at the sight of her - very fair with a head full of hair. They asked me, "Your husband must be fair kan?" (isk... tau le my skin tak putih sgt... T.T). The moment they placed her on my chest, I fell in love with her (walaupun nampak samar2 as I was not wearing my glasses... Huhuhu)

Then the placenta was delivered, stitches were made and then I was wheeled back to my room.

Oh ya, actually they called my Hubby to come to the Labor Room for the birth but he was locked outside the Labor Room so he was not able to see the actual birth (agak-agak pengsan kot?) but he was ushered in (thanks to the janitor assistant) just after Amanda was born. He he...

My take on the whole birthing process: The rupture site of my membrane must be high up (high leak), hence the slow progress of labor. Induction is no fun but what's even more no fun is trying to lie down immobile while the contractions were coming like a runaway train on high speed (my tail bone was sore for days... Punggung tonggek, mana tak sakit kalau on my back for hours). Mental strength is important and place all trust in God Almighty. He knows what is best (Ye la, kata nak avoid induction on the 16th, turns out I need an induction also. What to say, God's plan).

p/s: I would like to thank Siaw Ying L & Angelina Ong for their help and support. Their birth stories are inspirational. Thanks to Siaw Ying L for lending me her hypnobirthing book and materials. :-) Many thanks too to all friends & family & the ladies of Gentle Birthing Group Malaysia who have supported us by their prayers, kind messages and thoughts during the whole labor process. Sincere appreciation to the kind attention and care of Dr Toh SG, midwives, nurses and staff of SSMC. God bless you all!

Amanda Grace - Day 9