The birth of Vernon Tan - 20 Jan 2007

On 3am 20 Jan 2007, I felt some discharge trickling down... shortly after, i felt my pants are wet. Feeling amiss, i woke up to check and realised that alot of foreign liquid dripping non-stop. At that moment, i think my water bag burst and the call to my gynae confirmed that I need to check in to hospital for observation.

I quickly bathed and washed my hair and rushed myself to the hospital. Throughout the journey, the dripping has not stopped. It was disgusting. I was checked into my lovely single beded ward.

I waited and waited, at about 5am-ish, i felt some back pain, then followed by slight contraction. It seems to be what everybody described - menstrual cramp. The contractions come at a regular interval and get more intense and closer. At about 8am-ish, I felt it every 5 mins and the pain is rather immense that i have to groan and hold on to andy. The thoughts of epidural keeps visiting me. At that time, Dr ang came to give me a check too and said that my cervix have only dilated for 2 cm and it is still too early. He predicted that Baby will be out on in the afternoon or evening.

That was the deciding point for epidural. I can bear the pain, but not for possibly another 8 -10 hours. I was then sent to the Observation room at 9am - and they asked me to clear my vowels (big and small), etc and inject the epidural. It was quite painful and nervous process. But after the epidural was injected at 9.40am, it was really so relief. I don't feel anything at all, i am literally lying on my bed without any feeling and wait for the time. The nurse checked my cervix at 11.30am and told me it is still 3cm. My first thought is - so slow?!!! luckily, i have epidural.
I was so sleepy and i think i dozed off here and there till 2am when my epidural starts to wear off before they can replace another pack. Being too gang ho, i did not alert the nurse.. the pain starts to be really really bad and by the time i alerted the nurse and for them to change, i was quite in distress.

That was about 3pm - when Dr Ang came and checked on my cervix and oh mine, it was so painful (as the new pack of epidural has not taken its effect yet). He said that my baby is a "OB baby" - meaning that the face of the baby is facing up. He told the nurse that i can be sent in to push already. Finally, it was 10cm dilated.

After that, i was told that i have pushed very hard as OB baby is harder to come out. In the event that it takes too long, i have to go for C-section. It will be likely to be an assisted delivery. I pushed with all my might - no pain though - trying to squeeze out the baby with the help of the nurse and my hubby. They encouraged me saying that they can see the baby head pushing out - that i realised that i have pushed correctly. I continued with all my might.. and shortly after, Dr ang came in... I don't know what happened. All i knew was that i pushed alot and there alot of movement below - and finally my baby arrived.

My hubby was asked to cut the umblical cord of the baby. Shortly after, I was asked to carry him. He looks cute and i saw his "small chi chi".. hahah... I was still feeling very energised and asked alot of the questions. I realised that my baby was vacummed out - as such his head is abit pointed - but it will be rounder after a few days...:p

I was lying there be stitched, while baby was happy cleaning up and weighing himself, while the overwhelmed daddy is happy cuddling him and taking photos of him.

That the birth of my baby Aquarius /baby dog....

[cant upload any photos, :( ]