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.