The Birth Entry

Little Alya after being cleaned up

15 hours!

That's how long it took little alya to finally see the world!

Wat's the feeling like? Out of the world!

On 17th Aug, at 1.20am, I felt a sudden leak of liquid flowing out. Unsure of what it was , I went to the bathroom to check it out. Then suddenly a gush of clear water flowed out. It finally registered to me that my waterbag had bursts!

Ah...!! Finally the long awaited moment came. I'm finally going into labour! Quickly woke Saiful up, told him abt it and he said: ohh... jadi dah nak beranak ah ni?? or something in that line... we've been anticipating the baby's arrival for quite some time and finally at 39+ weeks, the time has come..

yah..yah.. go get ready quick! We both managed to squeeze in a short shower before driving down to the hospital. Being a Strep B carrier, my gynae had reminded me to get to the hospital as soon as the waterbag bursts as I needed to be on antibiotic drip immediately after the bursts to avoid infection to the baby.

The 20 minutes journey to Raffles Hospital seems to take forever as i started to feel intermitten menstrual-cramp-like pain. Upon admission, I was quickly hooked up to the foetal monitoring machine. The midwives there were quick and efficient as they bustle about preparing me in the labour suite and asking medical questions. After an internal check and upon consultation with my gynae over the phone, I was hooked with a glucose and antibiotic drips. So there I was, lying on a bed, strapped with a monitoring belt and hooked up with 2 kind of drips. With a smile, one of the midwife gently told me labour will only be in about 7-8 hours time, since my cervix is only abt 1.5cm open.

Go and get some sleep. You will need the energy later.

Yah..rite..sleep in between pain? But then, the pain is still bearable, maybe i could still get a wink or two.. and that wink lasted for over 2 hours.

With a TV in the labour suite, Saiful and I managed to entertain ourselves in between catnaps while waiting for labour to be more imminent. Around 9.30am, contractions get stronger and the little cramp pains gets more painful. Internal check by my gynae revealed a mere 4cm opening of the cervix. Damn..!!

You want to take the epidural? Its better to take now. Don't wait till the last minute.

Thinking that labour could be anytime soon: Its ok. I can still tahan. Boyy...labour doesn't come till hours and hours later... and i tahan and tahan and tahan until i cannot tahan anymore... my face crumble like a prune, my back felt like its snapping into two and the rubs that saiful gave on my back barely helps.. at 11.30am, i surrender! the pain was just too much too handle. Epidural pleaseee...... hurry!!

With the epidural finally sinked in at 12.15n, I heaved a sigh of relief. The lower part of my body felt numbed and i cant seem to move my legs. The pain totally disappeared. i get to sleep longer and even managed to smsing my friends and colleagues.

eh, you in labour also can sms ah?

Im on epidural pe...

Then suddenly at 4pm, 2 midwives came over and propped my legs up. Ok, u r in labour, get ready to push when i say push ok! Huh? push? It didn't register to me that im about to give birth though im starting to feel the pain coming back. Saiful, looking confused, holds my hand and confidently echoing the midwives. ok, i..2..3, pushhhh..... more..more... The hubby: Come on zu, i dah nampak rambut dier, panjang and lebat! Push harder k... after abt half an hour of pushing and still failing to deliver, my gynae finally came in with another 2 assistant. Dr Goh is here, now you have to work harder. and i do have to work extremely hard! Come on zuraidah, pushhh...harder..give your all... don't sleep, look up (i'm not sleeping ok..) finally, at 5.15pm, after the snip, snip, out she came at one final push, together with the placenta...

fuhhyuhh.... alhamdullillah... and ouchhhh....

Looking at her tiny fragile body and the delicate hands and feet and her tiny red face; The long wait and the pain is all worth it!! Welcome Little Alya!