Early in the morning about 4am (Feb 15, 2011), I had the very first so called contraction. I thought my stomach ache and went to the toilet and try to pass motion. Somehow, nothing comes out. I went back to bed and try to sleep. But the pain comes back. I went to the toilet again. I remember I went to the toilet 3 times with nothing comes out. Only after that it rings my bell that the pain is not stomach ache, it is my labor contraction. I timed the pain to make sure it is a regular pain and comes in approx every 5-10 minutes.
I called my god sister (a mother of 2) at 5.30am and tell her what happens to me. She confirmed that it is my contraction and asked me to clean myself and take a nice warm shower then eat something before admitting to hospital. After my shower I checked myself, I saw some blood.
By time I reached hospital, is already 6.30am. My contraction is getting nearer and more painful. Nurse took a checked in me and told me I already 5cm dilated (u need to have 10cm dilated before the delivery). Doctor later said i should be able to deliver my baby around noon. I took an epidural around 8am. My water bag burst itself around 10am. After the epidural, my contraction pain disappeared. I enjoy the waiting time by listening to music, checking mails via my phone, reading book. Somehow the dilation is so so so slow. By noon, I only 6-7cm dilated. Then doctor said I should able to delivery around 3pm…. Wait wait wait….
Up until 3pm, I started to feel the contraction again. And the pain is getting nearer and severe. I thought I should be pain free after the epidural. But I can still feel the pain. IT IS SO PAINFUL!!!!!.... The nurse added my epidural dosage, but the pain is still there, I don’t know why. I thought I should be fully dilated by then but I only 8cm dilated. And it took like century to get 1cm dilated. When I am 9cm dilated, Mr Kuan keeps asking the nurses, can i start pushing now. The pain is really killing me.
I remember, I tried to push my baby out lasted for 1.30 hours, but the baby cant come out. The doctor said he needs to do a forceps. I refused and said I want to push my baby out myself. The doctor was stunt at that moment. He said normally people will give up after 30-45 minutes of trying. But I have tried for 1.30 hours. And it has already passed the threshold time of 1 hour. He said he must do a forceps if not I am putting my baby at risk.
With the severe contraction pain… I only delivered my baby at 7pm in the evening. From morning 4.30am to 7pm… approx 15 hours.
Very naturally, when I hold my baby, the purple, bloody, sticky baby… I cried of joy.