Veron: The Arrival

5/5/2011
I am scheduled for the induction at 9am. Dr. Vijayan, one of my specialist told me to be prepared (shower, have breakfast...). When the time arrives, a nurse escorted me to the treatment room. I waited for about 30 minutes before the doctor came to attend to me. (Well, he has to go round the ward to follow up on patients' cases with a team of doctors).

The procedure did went fast and it wasn't a painless one. I was a bit terrified about this procedure as I heard a lot about induction stories.

After I returned to my bed, there are a group of nurses surrounding me to monitor my progress for every 15 minutes on BP & contraction monitoring and also CTG. As usual when the nurse asked me, "Ade rasa contraction tak?" I told her, "Saya tak tau beza contraction dengan baby gerak.." And then she asked me again, "Ade rasa macam perut kejang?" "So far tak ade nurse." It has been like this until 11am. At the mean time, I was enjoying the selection of songs in my iPod to keep me relax. I started to feel my back getting crampy and this time around I told the nurse that I started to feel the pain. So this is contraction pain... I texted Hubby at about 11.30am on when is he coming to pay me a visit. He replied that he will be arriving at about 12.30pm. He also asked me is there anything that I need. I told him that I need a big bottle of minyak cap kapak because I know it is going to get crankier later.

Lunch was served at 12pm and I find it hard to concentrate as the pain is getting more intense. I did force myself to the hospital food. Too bad they served fried fish so I just ate rice and the veggies. The nurses were impressed as I still can eat at this stage. Hubby arrived not long later and I was frowning most of the time when talking to him.

Contraction getting stronger this time. At 1pm, it is 5/10 and I am still pulling through. I felt as though my back is going to break. I asked
Hubby to give me a strong massage at my lower back each time the contraction comes. It is getting more and more regular & intense. I
asked the nurse how long do I need to wait for my VE as I am afraid I might not in time for my epidural (need to dilate to either 3-4cm). She
then said have to wait for my specialist to come first which is at 2pm before they can decide on anything. I never felt such an intensity in my
life before and I was moaning in pain this time.

I cannot wait any longer. Every second feels like hell. According to the other doctors and the group of nurses, I was progressing too fast. At
1.50pm, I was requesting for a VE. The nurse said OK but I need to walk to the treatment room. I told them it will be impossible as I cannot
focus on anything accept the pain. I wanted to be examined on my bed itself. There were no curtains at my ward so they have to surround
my bed with the dividers.

I felt I was leaking. I told one of the nurse that my water might have broke. Yea indeed, my pad was soaked when they removed it. I was
already 6cm when they examined me. I still put my hope on the painkillers. This time around I requested to be sent to the labour room
immediately. When one of the nurses asked me do I have the urge to push, I just said yes.

I was transferred to another trolley bed to be shipped to the labour room. It was a temporary relief until I was left at the corridor. I was
thinking, "What? I still need to wait?" One of the nurses said the doctors need to compile their reports and signatures before they can send
me to the labour room. I shouted, "What am I waiting now? I cannot wait anymore as I have the urge to push already." One of the doctors
said, "You cannot push now as it will caused ruptures. Please hang on." I replied, "I really cannot hold it anymore. Please hurry up!!" I was
resisting to push, it was so difficult for me and without realizing I was shaking badly.

Hearing that, the nurses pushed me to the labour room. The room was air-conditioned and were filled with a lot of people inside. There were
2 doctors, 3-4 trainee doctors and a nurse. One of the Chinese doctor, Dr. Tan said that the room is too crowded and someone need to
leave. I immediately asked for my painkiller which the doctor quickly replied that I am too late for that. I refused to accept that fact and
without realizing I was begging for it. The doctor inserted some sort of a tube down there to release my urine. Then, he ruptured something
and the brownish fluid splashed everywhere. I thinked I have to accept the fact that I am too late for epidural. I then requested for the
"laughing gas" which I doubted its effectiveness on me (based on past experience..). I started to inhale the gas deeply as it will take some
time for it to take effect. How much longer do I need to wait as the last time I was told my dilation was 6cm?

They started to fix the 2 poles at the sides of the bed. Dr. Tan appointed one of the younger lady doctor to give me instructions. It was then
Hubby was allowed to come into the room. I asked him to assist me with the gas in the event when I needed it. I asked the young lady
doctor whether I can start to push now. I was delighted when she said yes. In an instant I started to push when the contraction comes. This
time I was shouting and lifted my buttock. The lady doctor also raised her voice saying I should not "make that noise" and do not lift the
buttock up. I was wondering how long this is going to take as the last time I took 45 minutes just to get Anne out. The next push is the longer
one, the longest push that I have ever made until the doctors have to stop me. I was still moaning but with my mouth closed. The head was
out. Ok, one final push and I can feel she is all out. What a relief!

Leia was born at 2.40pm. She was 3.24kg at birth.