My Number THREE

I guess I have not been updating for quite some time. Reason being, I delivered my Number 3 in May. Thus the lack of post.

I delivered My 3rd Princess on Labour Day. What a day to go into labour :)

Here's my delivery story:

The day before Labour Day, I had just turned 38 weeks. I went to see my gynae for a check and I had to go through the CTG. From the CTG, they detected irregular contractions. My gynae checked my cervix and noted that I was 2cm dilated. Gynae asked whether I wanted to induce or wait. So I told her wait. She reminded me to quickly go to the hospital if my contractions gets stronger and more regular as my previous deliveries were all very quick (You can read my story for my 2nd delivery here).

So hubby and I went back home with the kids. Throughout the day, I was feeling minor contractions, irregular. Nothing painful. But I started timing myself. Experience has taught me that once the contractions get regular, and the period of contractions gets shorter, that means I'll be going into labour. Again, timing was irregular. But I continued to time myself. 5am in the morning of Labour Day, I noticed that my contractions were getting closer. However, I was not in pain still.

6.10 am: I called my aunt who lived nearby to help me fetch Auni and Ulfa.

6.15 am: Aunt came with my cousin and grandmother. They took my girls and their bags (I've pre-packed).

6.35 am: Hubby and I left for the hospital (KKH). Contractions were 2 mins apart. I could see hubby's jaw getting tight. I knew he was afraid that I might just deliver in the car. He was holding on to the steering wheel tight till his knuckles were all white. I told him not too worry as although the contractions were not far apart. It was not too painful and I can wait till we reach the hospital.

6.45 am: Still in the car. I was still timing my contractions. I noticed they were getting further apart. Like 4 mins apart.

7 am: Checked into the hospital. I told the nurse checking me in that my contractions went from 2mins to 4mins apart. She asked me how come I still looked so happy even though I was having contractions. I told her coz I was not in pain.

7.15am: They put me on a drip. Antibiotic drip for my GBS. The staff nurse confirmed that my contractions were 4 mins apart.

7.30am: Gynae came (Dr K T Tan). Cervix opened 5cm. Gynae told me that she'll only burst my waterbag when the antibiotic have all gone in. And I need 2 rounds just to be safe.

8am: Contractions became 7mins apart. What???!!! I was not so sure whether I was going to be delivering.

10am: Gynae burst my waterbag. Told me to let the staff nurse in the room know if I feel the baby pushing.

10.05am: Contractions immediately start to get stronger. Again, it was irregular.

10.20am: I requested to pee. I couldn't pee. The nurse suggested using a catheter. I refused. She told me that it will be very difficult for baby to come down if my bladder is full. In the end I relented. So she used the catheter. Hubby was shocked to see the amount of urine...hehe...apparently it was a lot. The nurse then checked my cervix. She said that the baby was already coming out. Strange! I didn't feel the baby pushing to come out, like my Number 1 and 2.

So gynae came.

10.29 am: After 4 pushes, the baby came out. I thought that this delivery was harder than my Number 2 coz I didn't feel the baby pushing. My gynae also commented that my contractions were very irregular all the way.

They cleaned the baby while gynae stitched me up. Then they put the baby on my chest to calm her down by letting her feel my warmth and listen to my heartbeat. After that I breastfed her. Thereafter, they took her to the nursery for all the necessary checks and vaccination and I was sent to the ward.

I notice that all 3 deliveries are different. Thank God all my labours were not difficult or long. In my next post, I'll update on Tandem Breastfeeding and Dealing with Three.

Princess Having Bronchitis

Brought Baby to polyclinic today for jaundice check-up. Jaundice level is down to normal level so Baby need not go for anymore check-ups on bilirubin level.

Brought Princess to a GP today as she was coughing badly and had fever of 39.2 celsius yesterday night. Her usual doctor was not in but another doctor was around to see her. Would prefer her usual doctor actually...

Anyway, the doctor said that Princess had moderate bronchitis and that if her health worsens the next 2-3 days, she needs to be brought to KKH. The doctor prescribed antibiotics, cough syrup, salbutamol and singulair. So far Princess seems alright. She is still very lively but her cough is pretty chesty. I really hope that she'll recover soon.

In the meantime, I'm not allowing Princess to attend childcare as she is not feeling well. This means that I have to take care of Princess and Baby at the same time, without hubby around as he is working. This is the first time after I gave birth to Baby that I'll be taking care of both of them on my own. I'm kind of excited, actually.

Hope that Princess recovers soon. I worry for her.

Finally Gave Birth!!!

I gave birth to a bundling baby girl on 19 March 2010. Baby arrived at 3.29a.m. and weighed 3.275kg. Baby arrived a day after sis-in-law's baby. We ended up being in the same hospital and were discharged the same day. Great that I had company at the hospital!

However, I totally didn't expect baby to arrive the way she did. It was totally unexpected and I almost gave birth to her in the car!

I waited up for hubby that night (19 March 2010) as he was working late. Hubby returned at 2a.m. and I was online. Shut down my notebook and talked to hubby for awhile. At 2.30a.m. we decided to sleep. As I was lying down and trying to get some sleep, I felt pain in my lower back area. I thought that it was nature call and went to the washroom to relieve myself. But when I came out from the washroom, the pain was still there. I told hubby about it and he made me a glass of hot Milo thinking that it was just stomach pain. As I drank the Milo, I realised that the pain was just around the lower back area and when I looked at my watch, I noticed that the pain came every 5mins. I told my husband that I might be in labour. Called Mum and told her that we were sending Princess over to her place as I needed to go to the hospital.

On the way to Mum's place, I called again and asked for Dad to come down to get Princess from us as I didn't think that I could wait any longer. Reached Mum's place at 3a.m. Dad took Princess from us - she was asleep and luckily I had packed her bag in advance so all her necessities were in the bag - and we gave him Princess's bag.

Hubby then drove us to KKH. On the way, I looked at the clock and noticed that the contractions came every 2minutes. I asked hubby how long it would take to reach KKH and he said 15mins. I told him that I need him to reach there in 5mins. The contractions then came every min or so I thought. I could feel the baby pushing out even though my waterbag hasn't burst yet.

We reached KKH at about 3.20a.m. When we got out of the car, I couldn't walk anymore coz baby was pushing out. Hubhy wanted to carry me but I told hubby to get help - seriously, how could he carry me??!! Unfortunately, there was no one around. Hubby ran and got a wheelchair. I couldn't even sit in the wheelchair. I was in complete pain. Hubby rushed me to the delivery suite.

When we reached the delivery suite, the nurse took over and asked me how frequent my contractions were. They wheeled me into the delivery suite at 3.25p.m. Quickly got me undressed and dressed me in the hospital robe. I told them I'm GBS positive and had to have the antibiotics. Nurse tried to put the ctg while asking me not to push. I told her I couldn't as the baby's coming. The nurse then wanted to check how far my cervix has dilated and that was when my waterbag burst. Hubby said he could see the baby's hair sticking out at that moment. As soon as my waterbag burst, the nurse pressed the alarm for "Code ....". I've no idea what code it was. She asked my hubby to put the oxygen mask on me. I kept pushing it away so hubby had to hold it down. My gynae swept into the room just in time. One push and baby was out at 3.29a.m.

So to say, I wasn't administered any antibiotics as there was no time. Luckily baby is fine though I have to monitor her. So far, everything's fine. I'm thankful that my gynae was around. Gynae told my hubby that for the 3rd child, he might have to come earlier or I will give birth before I reach the hospital.

The nurses then came to congratulate me and kept telling me that my delivery was very fast. One told me that I probably had a very high threshold of pain and that is why I didn't feel anything prior to the first pain I felt.

I was just thankful that we made it to the delivery suite in time. I guess for the 3rd one, I better make an appointment to deliver before EDD. At the same time, there is a fear of having the 3rd one for fear that I might not make it to the hospital in time. That was the only time I learnt to appreciate my hubby's F1 driving skills.

At the same time, I have to say a big Thank You Doc K T Tan for delivering my baby! And thank you to the wonderful nurses in KKH! I've heard people complaining about the service there but seriously, I've stayed in the hospital thrice and each time, I felt that the doctors, the nurses and staffs there were all very professional and caring towards their patients. I really enjoyed my stay there!