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| Wearing the "uniform" given by the confinement center. The cap is for show, as I didn't wear that at all. |
Exactly 7 days ago, I gave birth to my first child, via elective caesarean as delivery method.
It was not as romantic as vaginal birth, but I thank God for the wisdom/guidance as baby had a short cord (less than 50cm) which would cause complications to both of us if we’re on natural birth. It could cause placenta abruption, broken cord, etc. We prayed for safe delivery, and God delivers.
So last Wednesday, at 7am, we arrived at the hospital with our bags and got ourselves checked in to the maternity ward. We were scheduled for surgery at 8.30am.
We got a twin sharing room as our private room. It’s much better than private room, as LK would have a full bed for himself than sleeping on a sofa bed.
I changed into the hospital gown and lied down on the bed. Later on, a nurse came to conduct a stress test (I think). She strapped on some belt around my belly to monitor baby’s heartbeat for about 10 mins. Then I was free again.
Later on, another nurse came and asked for my preference whether I like the IV and catheter to be inserted before or after spinal epidural. I answered at once, after epidural so that I won’t feel the insertion on both my left wrist and urethral opening, and to ensure I have full mobility/freedom until I was on the operating theatre.
Thankfully, I made the right choice. At 8.15am, the same nurse walked in to inform us that there’s some emergency with another patient, hence my procedure would be delayed indefinitely.
So LK and I just chill and watch tv in the ward. I was thinking if I would asked to come back another day, or would my water breaks/contractions before the surgery? God says no. At 9.05am, a few nurses came to prepare me for the surgery. LK and I prayed.
I saw some videos where the mom literally walk to the OT, and she would then be given the epidural. For my case, they put me on a bed and wheeled me into the OT.
Birth plan:
1. I want my husband to be in the OT. Not granted due to COVID-19, no one is allowed.
2. I want to listen to my own music. Granted! My Gynae allows me to play my songs from my phone’s speaker in the OT. I selected 1hour worship songs.
3. Delayed cord clamping to 1min. Granted.
In the OT, the Dr Arun (anaesthesiologist) greeted and kept me informed of the procedure. He told me I’d be administered local spinal. He asked me to sit up right, with my heads down, he slowly to locate the right spot to poke the jab. I could feel the injection and insertion of the fluid. It’s not super painful, manageable and you slowly starting to feel numbness towards your toes. Then I laid down and they started to insert the catheter and IV on my left wrist. And on my right arm it’s where they monitor my blood pressure. Just imagine, I was lying down my hands open on both sides. By that time, I couldn’t feel my bottom half anymore.
Later on, the nurse pulled up a “divider” - a long horizontal stick across my upper chest - to hold my gown as they sanitize my lower body for the surgery. Dr Arun also put in warmer (to keep me warm) to my upper body as I told him I shiver a lot during my previous surgery.
At around 9.30+, my Gynae, Dr. Aida came in to the OT. Cheerful as usual and greeted everyone else. And then she got into action (lol - I couldn’t see but I could feel hands tugging or touching my belly. I think they sanitized me with iodin, etc.
I felt tingling sensation throughout, no pain, not ticklish. I was also conscious about vomiting (shealing said she vomited throughout) and I’d concentrate on my breathing if I felt nausea. Thankful that I didn’t vomit.
I was just listening to the Hillsong played in the background while praying & praising God. There I was delivering my first child, after 9 months of pregnancy. A rainbow baby. God is amazing and I kept saying praise to Lord while listening to the song. I was a bit panic, if I’d ever be a good parent, but I also prayed for wisdom and compassion to be one.
What felt like eternity, I heard Sarah. She has a powerful crying voice. I teared. That’s it, no turning back, I’m a parent now! And I kept praying that she’s healthy and perfect. I was curious what she look like.
Dr Arun was trying to unlock my phone to take pictures of Sarah, but failed. So he used his phone to snap Sarah’s first portrait but didn’t show it to me. I heard him saying, 10.05am!
I continued to be patient as I know Dr Wong (paediatrician) would clean her up to conduct high level inspection.
And then dr wong showed up next to my right face and shoved baby to my face. Being long sighted, I couldn’t really see her face clearly haha. But I praised lord that she is fine. Then Dr Wong took multiple photos of me and the baby. And he continued to put Sarah next to my face. I was a bit clueless of what to do… should I kiss her? Would it be ok? What would you like me to do? Lol. So I gave her a kiss on her cheek and just look at her sleeping. She shut her eyes so tightly that won’t open even when Dr Wong swinged her up and down gently. I told him, Sarah was more active (kicking) at night than morning. He then joked, hope you’d have a good night rest then.
Honestly, there was no romantic feeling like oh, I’m so in love with her. I guess I was trying to digest that LK and I’m are now parents. Oh, so this is it? What’s next? Then Sarah was moved out of the OT, and I was all alone again, waiting to be stitched up.
As I looked up the ceiling, I could see some reflection of my open wound. I could tell it’s rather deep cut. Then I felt nauseous that I shut my eyes and tried to look somewhere else.
About 10.30am, it’s all done and I was wheeled into the observation bay. My right hand touched my butt and i didn’t feel it. It was like touching a slap of meat. Lol. I took a look at my phone, and I saw LK has already made some announcement to our closed family and friends, as I saw many congratulatory messages.
At about 11am, I was wheeled out of the OT. LK was in the waiting room, and he greeted me and accompanied me back to my room. Started my very first breastfeeding journey with baby. Sarah seems to latch quite well, i suppose. She was so fragile and I didn't know what to do. The nurse then guided me and told me so long baby's breathing fine, that's ok. LOL.
'The nurse then quickly put on compression socks from toes to upper thigh. The risk with caesarean is blood clotting, hence putting these will help to prevent that. She also put a girdle around my wound so i can move about easily.
I was given pain killers (both oral and insertion) and stool softener. I was sleeping when I can but I was excited to see Sarah. But the nurse would ask me to rest as much as possible and bring Sarah to nursery. The nurse also asked if we would like to feed at night, which they don't recommend as I would be drowsy with the pain killers, so we decided not to do it. The nurse will feed on behalf. 
Whenever we want to see baby, just give a call to the nursery and they will wheel baby over.
I could also start to eat after 1-2 hours later. We arranged for confinement food to be delivered by the center, so that's nice because I get to eat warm food. LK would then eat the hospital food. haha.
It is also recommended that we move our legs and start walking as soon as possible to prevent blood clotting. Therefore, LK would always pester me to move my legs, let's get up and walk around. I think I walked to the nursery the next day. The girdle really help me to get up /down of the bed.
On the 3rd day, both baby and I were discharged. Thankfully, baby's jaundice is low, as her parents' blood group are the same. Here's baby's first ride in the car which was not in car seat! I read in other countries, baby would not be allowed to leave unless they are strapped in the car seat.
We brought the car seat but decided not to do it. Looking back, I definitely would just put her down into the car seat, for safety reasons.
So yes, we are a family of three and I am a mum now. Here's the last picture of my pregnancy week 38!
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