In His Time

Finally, my second baby was delivered on Thursday, 09.12.2004 at 1.24am. Below is the chronicle of her birth.

8.30pm – Started to experience tummy cramp. Was wondering whether it was contraction pain. The same pain felt after they put pill in me to dilate my servic during Belle’s birth. Told myself to wait and see the consistency of the pain. Went to watch Amazing Race while waiting for CSI to start. After around 15 mins, the pain came back. OK, this might be contraction pain.

8.45pm – Went to take my watch to time my contraction. It came every 15 mins. The pain wasn’t painful, like menses cramp only. Better go wash hair first. After birth, can’t wash hair for at least a week!

9.00pm – Watch CSI Miami. Within 9.30pm – 10pm, the pain came twice only! Aik??? How come ah?

10.00pm – 10.30pm – The pain is at the interval of every 10 – 12 mins. Went to lie down in bed while waiting for David to come home from Prayer Meeting.

10.30pm – 11.30 pm – Should I sleep or go to the hospital now? Better go. Feel safer if I’m there if I’m really going to give birth. Take my packed bag since a month ago and send Belle to my mom’s place.

11.55pm – Reach the hospital. Register myself and the nurse took my particular. Then change to their pink garment. A blouse and a sarong. The nurse then asked me to lie down and she examined my tummy. She couldn’t feel the baby’s head. She told me, the baby might turn sideways instead facing down. I panic. I asked her, “Can you turn it around by massaging it?” She told me that it is risky at this last stage. Then she put her finger in my vagina to check whether my servic has dilated. Then she feels the head there! What a relief! Oh ya, service have dilated 6cm. Can give birth anytime already. Then she asked me to lie down on another bed for the doctor to examine me. The same procedure was done on me, checking the service dilation. Then I got to wait for the doctor to write a report on it and the nurse to open a file for me.

1am – A nurse pushed me in the active labor room. Room 4. Shortly after, a young lady doctor came in with a long instrument that looks like a straw/chopstick. She told me that she is going to break my water bag to expedite the birth process. She was very gentle and I don’t feel discomfort at all.

1.10am – The contraction pain became more intense but bearable. No crying this time. A midwife passed by my room and asked me casually whether I feel like pushing already. I replied, “Can also” Actually I don’t really have the urge to push yet but it is coming. I want to give birth fast so that’s why I replied her that way. Then she went to call my husband in and another nurse came in to prepare me for delivery.

1.15am – Husband came in and they asked me to start pushing. First push, head can be seen, second push, more head can be seen. Then I rested a while, while waiting for the next contraction. You see, you only push when the contraction come. But the contraction came slow, so the nurse helps to stimulate my servic. This time I gave a long hard push until the baby came out.

1.24am – Clarissa was born. When the head and shoulder comes out, the pain was excruciating. I thought I would not cry during this delivery because during my first baby, I don’t feel a thing when the head came out. Only cry because of the contraction pain. I cried my heart out due to the pain! The midwife kept comforting me saying “it is over, don’t cry” She took Clarissa, asked me to confirm her sex. Then, cleaned her up and placed her on my body. She is so tiny. Later found out that she is only 2.9kg.

Midwife requested my husband to wait outside while she took out my placenta and stitch me up. I closed my eyes with my hands while she is stitching. I told her to stitch properly because my first delivery the stitches came out. She sprayed something cooling to reduce the pain while she stitches. I told her my stomach felt cramp. She told me that it is normal for second delivery and so on. The uterus is shrinking.

I gave birth within 9 minutes of pushing and that is fast. The midwife complimented that I’m good at pushing. hehehe. Praise the Lord for that. During prayer meeting, David requested the prayer meeting group to pray for fast and easy delivery. He is truly the God that answers prayer. Amen.

My newborn was hospitalised for jaundice on Sunday (12 Dec) till Tuesday (14 Dec). It was a nightmare for me! They strip her naked and put her under the UV light (top and bottom) in a plastic container. People told me that it was very warm but NO it is not. Most of the babies were crying most of the time in there because it was cold. Clarissa only stops crying when I hold and massaged both her tiny feet. I can’t bear to see her cry so I took her every hour and wrapped her warm and breastfeed her. I tried to hide my emotion but by night time when my husband came, I burst into tears. I can’t bear it anymore. Begged him to bring me home. Let the nurses take care of her. At least I don’t see or hear her cry when I’m at home. But my husband wanted me to fully breastfeed her, at least she has me to warm her up every hour. So I stayed and pray very hard that the jaundice will subside. Praise God, it reduces to 12.9 the next day and she was placed under one light with matress and in my room. It was warmer. She slept more of the time. On Tuedays, it reduces to 10.5 and she was discharged.

After being home for 3 days, the jaundice came back. I panic. The nurse is coming for routine check-up on Tuesday. I must get the jaundice level down before she come. Do not want to be hospitalised again. It must be the heaty food that my mom’s cooks. The pepper and ginger. I need that for my body but it is not helping Clarissa. So, no heaty food for me for the time being. Bathe her in a yellow water. Bought that from a Chinese shop that can help to reduce jaundice. Make her drink glukose water and goats milk. Yesterday, when the nurse came, she mentioned that the baby still have a little bit jaundice but did not ask me to bring her to the clinic for blood test. That’s good news.

When she is having jaundice, she sleeps most of the time. Now, she is better, she hardly sleep. Kinda tiring for me. Anyway, Praise God for His healing touch upon her.

Doing my confinement at my mom’s place. Got computer there but no modem Will write more when I started work. Till then… take care you people. Miss reading all your blogs.

written by my husband…

Saturday 3rd May 2003 seems like going to be a normal day for me. Saturday is quite a busy day in church, with all the activities as preparation for the night service. Though I’m not involved in the preparation, I also got tired looking at them practice their songs etc. But this Saturday is different from the rest of the Saturdays. As I was soundly sleeping, I was awaken by my wife Michelle. She told me that her waterbag leaks. I turned to look at the clock and it was 5.30am. Aiyaa… at this hour kah she wants to deliver?

“Are you okay?” “Come out a lot?” I asked her.

She said, “Not much, but the waterbag leak alreadylah.”

“So, you want to go to the hospital now?”

“Wait, I want to bathe first. If I deliver the baby then I won’t be able to bathe for one month.” Michelle said. “Don’t worry, not so fast the baby will come out. Anyway, I also don’t want to wait so long in the hospital. You go back to sleep firstlah.” Michelle said that and went to the bathroom to bath.

I tried to go back to sleep. The thoughts of the past few months came to my mind. This will be the first one for us. After 2 years of marriage and in the midst of it, one painful miscarriage, we really prayed that this time there will be no complication and the child will be safely delivered. Once we got to know that Michelle is pregnant, we have been praying for protection for the baby. Praise God, we had good doctors Dr. Lai & wife Dr. Wong who really took extra effort to ensure that the child is okay and growing well in the womb. Many church members had prayed for Michelle and the baby and thus far God has been protecting the baby from any harm. Praise God also that from the scan done, we are confident that the baby is a boy. Not that we are choosy or prefer a boy to a girl but it seems to please a lot of people (especially Michelle’s father) when we told them that it is going to be a boy. So we name the baby David Jr. Bong. I always call the baby Junior boy.

In the past few days, Michelle has been saying that she can’t wait for the baby to come out. Time seems to pass by so slow for her. She just want to get over with it and carry the baby with her hands instead of inside her womb. So for the past few days she has been praying that the baby will come out on time, which is today 3rd May 2003. As I laid back on my bed, I wondered and praise God that the baby will come out cun cun (exactly) on the due date. Then I doze off until 7.30am.

By then, Michelle has already got ready. She already called her mother and informed her about the situation. Then feeling a little bored, she put up the baby cot that was put at the side in our room. She arranged the pillows nicely as though the baby is already out. As I opened my eyes, she smiled at me when she saw me noticing the baby cot already set up. Then she told me that Vicki, her brother’s wife asked her to go to the hospital straight away, just to be on the safe side. She has also told my mom about the situation.

I washed up and after taking all the necessary things, we went to the General Hospital (GH) Melaka. Though at the beginning of the pregnancy, Michelle wanted to give birth at a private hospital because of the policy of allowing the husband to be with the wife during labor. But praise God that she slowly changed her mind as the cost to give birth in a private hospital is quite high. Also we were informed that should there be any complication, the private hospital will send us back to General Hospital. As such, the best option is still to give birth in GH.

“Drive slowly, dear. Don’t rush.”, Michelle said as I drove the car to the hospital. “How slow?”, I asked her. “Don’t too slow also lah. Just drive the normal speed. But don’t need to rush.”. As I drove the car, I wondered how long will it take for Michelle to be in the labor room and to give birth to the baby. Hopefully not long lah.

We went in to the maternity ward, where Michelle fill in the registration. The Malay nurse recognized her face and Michelle also recognized her face. They were former classmates in Malacca Girls Schools. After taking all the information necessary, I waited outside as they brought Michelle to the labor room for check-up. I called up the church to inform the situation and also SMS the news to our church members and my family members. By 8.30am and after the check up, Michelle was sent to the O & G ward for observation. Upon examination, the cervix has only open a mere 2cm. And as Michelle has not experience any contraction pain, there is nothing much that we can do but to wait. By afternoon, there is still no signs of contraction pain. My cell group member Low Chee Chiang and Siew Lan came to visit.

We waited until 5.30pm and still there’s no contraction pain. We prayed to God that God would give Michelle the contraction pain but still no contraction pain. Our fears is that Michelle will have to be operated on (caesarean) if the baby still do not want to come out. We prayed that God would allow the baby to come out naturally. By 5.30pm, the nurse gave Michelle the enema to clear her colon. Then they brought her to the maternity ward. After seeing her going into the maternity ward, I waited outside. There are a few people outside waiting for their wives to give birth. Managed to start a few conversations with a few of them from time to time. One man is still waiting for his wife to give birth. The wife has been admitted in the hospital for 2 days but still not yet delivered. So the doctors are going to operate on her (caesarean). Another man is also waiting for his firstborn.

After waiting until 8pm, I went back to bathe and freshen up. Went back to the hospital at 9.30pm but still there’s no news about Michelle giving birth. Later, Michelle told me that the doctor gave her the pill to induce the contraction at 6.30pm and by 8.30pm, she started to feel the pain. But it was slow and far apart and she has to wait further. I waited and waited and waited and waited but nothing. Went in to ask the nurse at the registration counter but I was told that nothing happened yet so far. One of the future father outside the maternity ward told me that it will take about 6 hours after the pill is given before the delivery can happened. If there is no effect, then the doctor will try for a second time and this also will take another 6 hours before the contraction pain comes. So I figured that the doctor has already given Michelle the second pill and it will take another 6 hours before the delivery. Maybe I can get some sleep before that.

Not wanting to feel tired or sleepy when the labor time comes, I went back home to sleep. Arrived home before midnight and went to sleep at midnight. Before I doze off, I prayed for Michelle and the baby. At 2am, the handphone rang and woke me up. I answered the call and on the other line was the nurse asking for Michelle’s husband. I told her that I’m Michelle’s husband and she said that Michelle is already in the active labor room. She said that I must go to the hospital as soon as possible to be with Michelle. Quickly, I dressed up and drive to the hospital. Took me about 15 minutes to reach the hospital (thank God that there’s no many vehicles on the road at that hour). The nurse then gave me the white cloth to wear and led me to Michelle’s labor room.

Michelle was crying when I went into the room. The dilation of the cervix and the contraction pain is too painful for her. Tried my best to console her and ease her pain but she continued to cry. The Chinese nurse (we heard they call her Chai) came in a few times to check on her. At about 3am she came in and gave Michelle painkiller jab to ease her pain. After receiving the painkiller, Michelle managed to doze off for a while. At about 3.30am, the doctor (Malay lady) came in to check on her. The doctor told Michelle to push whenever she feels the contraction pain to hasten the labor. After that, whenever the contraction pain came, Michelle pushed. Every time she pushed, the baby did not come out but shit came out. I had to wipe and clean her. I thanked God that I was there to clean her. If the nurses had to do it, they might have scolded Michelle and that will not be good for Michelle. It was the first time I had to do that job but praise God I did pretty well. It was not the best job though.

After about 3-5 times the contraction came, the doctor came in and did a final check on Michelle and the baby. She asked the nurses to come in and help with the delivery. The scene is not so nice to describe in details but I will share a few scenes/events/thoughts. The events are not in proper sequence but these are the things that I can remember: -

1) The nurses talked about other mother’s giving birth and they use words like “parit, longkang, sungai” i.e. “canals, drain, river”. I think they are talking about how fast the waterbag liquid coming out.

2) The doctor found out that Michelle has urinated in the process of pushing. So the doctor had to flush out the urine. She tried to insert the tube but to no avail. The Chinese nurse who is more experienced asks the doctor to push down the baby’s head and then slid in the tube. The doctor did that and I can see urine flows out into the steel bowl.

3) The nurse pour something like oil on their gloves and the opening. I think it is to reduce friction when they try to pull out the baby.

4) The way the nurses probe open the opening looked very rough. I guess it is necessary for them to do it in order to facilitate the delivery.

5) I tried to help Michelle by pushing her head and body (as taught in the Kelas Peneman) when the contraction came. But Michelle pushed in a way that her face turned red. After a few tries, the nurses asked Michelle to do it by herself so that her abdomen will help to push down the baby. That helps.

6) Everytime Michelle pushed, she asked the nurses whether they can see the head of the baby. I think three times she asked the nurses about it. Only when the nurses said that they saw the baby’s head, Michelle really pushed hard and after two times of pushing, Annabelle was born. I can see the head coming out. At first it looked so small. I was surprised and wondered why my baby is so small. But then, when the baby came out, I thank God because the baby is not so small as I thought.

It is a wonderful experience to see the baby come out. Then the nurses wipe her clean and with a tube sucked out the liquid in the baby’s mouth and throat. Then the sound that I have been waiting to hear came out from the baby. Her first cry. Ahh… it sound so precious. There and then I know my baby is okay. Praise God. Michelle was filled with joy and cried when the baby came out safely. The nurses asked her not to cry as it is not good for her body. “Jangan nangis. Tak bagus untuk badan lu. Nanti “bentan”. Masa pantang tak boleh nangis, bentan nanti”

The nurse hold the baby naked and asked Michelle to say the gender of the baby. Michelle looked at the baby and was surprised. “Ehh.. its a girl. Where’s my boy?” She was in disbelief because all this while we thought we will have a baby boy.

When the baby was wiped clean and the umbilical cord was cut, one of the nurse said, “Wah, betul-betul macam rupa bapa dia. (wah, exactly like the father’s face) “. I couldn’t agree more. Then the nurse wrapped the baby and put it on Michelle’s body. I took the baby girl and pray for her and dedicated her to God.

Then the nurse asked whether we want to see the placenta and we said yes. She then pulled out the placenta and hold it. It looked like two pieces of big meat (not so nice to see). She then explained briefly the functions of the placenta and the three holes where the baby derived her food. Thereafter I excused myself and waited for Michelle outside.

As I walked out from the labor room, I managed to thank the nurses. One of them asked whether I will have another baby next year. I smiled and told her “maybe”.

After I waited for another two hours or so, finally the nurses pushed Michelle and the baby out to the O & G ward for observation. Michelle had to stay there for two days (Sunday and Monday) and was discharged on Monday afternoon.

I’m alone in the office from today onwards till I give birth. My colleague went for check-up at GH today and was given a choice whether to wait for normal delivery or opt for c-sec tomorrow. Her due date is on the 10th Dec. Was told by the doctor that her baby is very big, 4kg+. Her first baby was delivered thru c-sec also, weighed 4.6kg! She is scared to go thru normal delivery so, she opt for c-sec. Tomorrow her baby boy will be delivered. Mine? Only God knows…

maggie’s wedding dinner, originally uploaded by miche.

See head in between David and myself? We have no idea who he is! Was so angry after looking at the picture! Later found out that guy was Quek’s friend from KL. So rude!

Another test from evie’s.

Some way or another, I know I am balanced with slighty more of the left brain.

Your Brain Usage Profile:

Auditory : 47%
Visual : 52%
Left : 52%
Right : 47%

miche, you are one of those rare individuals who are perfectly “balanced” in both your hemispheric tendencies and your sensory learning preferences. However, there is both good news and bad news.

A problem with hemispheric balance is that you will tend to feel more conflict than someone who has a clearly established dominance. At times the conflict will be between what you feel and what you think but will also involve how you attack problems and how you perceive information. Details which will seem important to the right hemis- phere will be discounted by the left and vice versa, which can present a hindrance to learning efficiently.

In the same vein, you may have a problem with organization. You might organize your time and/or space only to feel the need to reorganize five to ten weeks later.

On the positive side, you bring resources to problem-solving that others may not have. You can perceive the “big picture” and the essential details simultaneously and maintain the cognitive perspective required. You possess sufficient verbal skills to translate your intuition into a form which can be understood by others while still being able to access ideas and concepts which do not lend themselves to language.

Your balanced nature might lead you to second-guess yourself in artistic endeavors, losing some of the fluidity, spontaneity and creativity that otherwise would be yours.

With your balanced sensory styles, you process data alternately, at times visually and other times auditorially. This usage of separate memories may cause you to require more time to integrate information or re-access it. When presented with situations which force purely visual or purely auditory learning, increased anxiety is likely and your learning efficiency will decrease.

Your greatest benefit is that you can succeed in multiple fields due to the great plasticity and flexibility you possess.

God is in the hse, originally uploaded by miche.

I miss dance performance. Year 2004 was my last. We performed in church, a tamborine dance for the church new building 1st anniversary. 1st time seeing David and Jason dancing. Teaching guys are fun. They are so stiff and it is a challenge to make them soft! I hope I’ll get the chance to perform again one of these days. Wonder when???