My Gentle Caesarian Birth Story

Assalamualaikum & Greetings Dear Mummies,

Below is my Gentle Caesarian Birth Story. Hope it benefits all InshaAllah.

This was my 4th Birth, Alhamdulillah.

1st & 2nd Birth: Medicated SVD (normal birth). I was on Pitocin to augment labour & also Pethidine for pain relief (2008 & 2011)

3rd Birth: Drug Free All Natural Waterbirth (2014)

It was an uneventful pregnancy this time around, Alhamdulillah. Well, uneventful until the last minute😬

At 35 weeks appointment, doctor said my baby was already engaged🤗 orang kita sebut "baby dah turun". And also in cephalic position (head down). so just waiting for time.

At 37 weeks appointment, blood pressure not so pretty. Advised for diet control (less salt) & home BP monitoring. Fyi, I had a history of Pregnancy Induced Hypertension with my 2nd pregnancy, which ended up in spontaneous preterm labour at 36weeks😅 With home monitoring, BP still wasnt so pretty but wasnt that bad..especially in the evenings. Probably due to dehydration/tired since its the fasting month & I am fasting? We continued to patiently monitor..

Another issue I had this time around was premature contractions. It started eversince I entered 3rd trimester (around 28 weeks) so I had to be on tocolytics (to reduce the contractions). Most of the nights, I could not sleep at all because of the intense contractions & back pain.

Time to time, I did belly dancing to reduce the discomfort. It really helped especially for the backache & pelvic pressure.


Anyways, back to the birth story. At 38 weeks on dot, I couldnt stand the contractions & noticed some leaking. It wasnt all that painful until you feel like dying😅 but it was pretty unbearable until I couldnt do much anymore. And I had some liquor leaking & show which started around 1pm 13.06.17.

Rested at home, tried walking around until around midnight. Pestered hubby to take me to hospital then..brought all the essentials (gym ball, essential oils, bunga akar fatimah, dates, air zam-zam etc).

Checked in into the same labour suite as my previous birth, had a sense of familiarity already😊

On assessment, contractions 1 in 5, moderate intensity, cervix not favourable, os not open.
Ok...so decided to wait until tomorrow morning..
A bit frustrated that os wasnt open yet😔
However, doctor asked to be admitted in view of leaking liquor & regular contractions.

14.06.17 (Wednesday)

11am: Doctor came to review. Contractions getting intense but still no os opening. I was so exhausted from the surges..in view of leaking liquor for almost 24hours & me being exhausted of surges, we decided to augment the labour using prostin..

6pm: Still no progress😓 contractions more intense. 2nd prostin inserted. Rested, walked, ate, showered, squats using gym ball, hip rotations using gymball etc..


15.06.17 (Thursday)

11am: Os only 1cm. Contractions intensifying. I didnt take any painkillers just yet..hoping labor would progress soon.. 3rd prostin in..
Cried to myself feeling so demotivated & exhausted at that point.. felt that I did my best to keep the pregnancy as healthy as possible.. ate well, exercised etc.. wondering why it was sooo difficult this time around.. back pain unberable.. still continued to walk, exercise, stretch, eat etc

6pm: Os 2 cm. Surges 1 in 3. Doctor came to review. It was these options

1st: take a "home leave". Go out or back home for a while and come back later to monitor progress.

2nd: induce labour. Start pitocin & rupture waterbag.

3rd: have a caesarian section.

8pm: Me & hubby did lots of thinking. And prayed. After considering many factors like..

Why we didnt opt for induction of labour? Doctor warned us of the dangers & risks..hyperstimulation, risk of fetal bradycardia (low heart beat)..& considering the fact that, if vaginal birth were to happened, we strongly felt that it would have already happened naturally or with just prostin augmentation.. how come was so prolonged this time around? And our intuition felt something wasnt right.. plus my BP was on the rising trend.. and prolong leaking liquor wasnt so good as well, risks for infection..hence, we opted for a caesarian.. it was a tough decision to make, but Alhamdulillah we finally came to a conclusion..

So we called the doctor and agreed for a caesarian that night itself.. i expressed some breastmilk before going into the operation theatre..and requested for hubby to have the honour of skin to skin with baby right after birth..

11pm: At the OT, it was time for epidural. MashaAllah, only God knows I am sooo scared of needles puncturing me, what more an epidural!!! Its like my worse nightmare. But Dr Idora was the sweetest, she hugged me tight when the anaesthetic doctor gave me an epidural knowing I was super scared of it.. she was really a gem, I cannot forget that moment, I was so touched..

11.40pm: Surgery started. Hubby witnessed it together with me, he was just beside me the whole way, comforting me, Alhamdulillah.

11.46pm: Saw the amniotic fluid being sucked out! Big smile on my face. I knew baby was coming!!! Soon, I heard a cry & saw my baby. MashaAllah tears of joy & relief rolling down my cheeks. I was given the chance to hold his little hands & did some cheek to cheek skin touch with him. Soon, hubby got the honour to clamp the cord. And off the two of them went to have some father & baby skin to skin time for two hours while I finished with surgery & was transferred to ward.

Baby was in occiput transverse position & had short cord. Probably that was the cause of prolonged labour🤔

Post op, I was paranoid for a while. I couldnt feel my legs! Yeah that was expected of an epidural but it was the worse feeling ever. My legs were as heavy as it can be & At that moment I realized.. how ungrateful I had been to God's blessings..
Honestly, this was an unexpected pregnancy, and I am not ashamed to admit that I was tired of raising my 3 kids, let alone thinking of raising a newborn..I was in denial most parts of the pregnancy even though I tried my best to eat well , exercise & stay positive..
All that was running through my mind NOW AFTER NOT BEING ABLE TO FEEL MY LEGS was how lucky I was to have been given good health all this while.. and I shouldnt be complaining at all of how tired I am raising kids..instead I should be thankful of this wonderful opportunity! My paranoia with my legs continues up until the ward, i kept asking when would I be able to feel my legs? The nurses were sweet comforting me, saying soon it will be ok.. and true enough, in a few hours time, I could already feel them, Alhamdulillah..

At the nursery, hubby did skin to skin & the nurses fed my son my expressed milk. MashaAllah, I was so happy he got skin to skin time with daddy! And we delayed bathing him until the next day, let all that beautiful vernix (whitish substance on the skin) stay & do it's magic.

When I was back in the ward, about 2 hours post birth, I got some skin to skin time & also started breastfeeding baby.

Alhamdulillah, it was a new amazing, humbling & eye opening experience for me😊 I have no regrets or remorse that I opted for a caesarian because I knew I tried my best to have a healthy pregnancy & natural birth.. & I understood the need for caesarian in this situation. And it was done so gently & respectful of our requests & consent.

I hope sharing this birth story benefits other families InshaAllah❤️I am finally a lucky mother of four beautiful children❤️

Blissful Water Birth of Our Son

Assalamualaikum.
Just to share the pregnancy and birth story of our miracle baby :-)
Hopefully it inspires other families to consider more on gentle birthing, InshaAllah.

First Trimester:
Got to know I was pregnant just a 4 weeks. Could feel some changes such as light headedness and increase olfactory sensations. Did a UPT and it was confirmed :-) Shared the news with Hubby, family and some friends.

It was indeed a miracle since just few weeks before that, I got really interested to know more on gentle birthing, bought the AMANI Birth book & so inspired by it and some of the gentle birth stories I read. As I was wishing to experience a gentle birth someday, Alhamdulillah, Allah blessed us with this new pregnancy!

Surveyed for a healthcare provider and the options we had for antenatal care and birthing. My hubby was new to gentle birthing concept but he just kindly agreed to my wishes.. Alhamdulillah, heard so much about Dr.Idora from Pantai KL and decided to make an appointment to meet her at 7 weeks pregnancy. She seemed to be supportive of my ideas of birthing Alhamdulillah, so we decided to continue with her throughout the pregnancy.

My only drawback at first trimester was having GERD annd terrible vomitting until I lost 5kg during the first trimester. At first, I tried my best not to take any medications and tried all sorts of natural remedies like ginger, honey etc. None seemed to work, and with worry that I might not provide enough nutrients for my baby, I resorted to taking PPI for 2 weeks. Alhamdulillah, at 14 weeks pregnancy, vomitting resolved and appetite caught up :-)

2nd Trimester

Blissfully uneventful. Found out we were expecting a boy at 15 weeks POA. Felt fetal kick at 16 weeks POA while performing terawikh on 1st Ramadhan during 1st rakaat Terawikh. Alhamdulillah managed to fast the whole month of Ramadhan.

Did Antenatal Exercises like Tailor Sitting, Squats, Walking on Treadmill & Belly dancing.
Alhamdulillah felt perfectly healthy during my 2nd trimester. Happy that I got to resume with daily chores as usual.

3rd Trimester

Pressure symptoms like pelvic pressure, frequent urination and sciatica catching up. Many sleepless nights & indeed exhausted. Slowed down on exercise, just did normal household stuff like cooking, light walking here & there and concentrated more on Kegel exercise. Getting excited & nervous at the same time :-)


THE BLISSFUL BIRTH STORY

Sunday, 30 November

4 a.m: Woke up with painful surge. Timed surges around 1 in 10.
6 a.m: Waited for Subuh, showered and prayed. Applied clary sage essential oil on my ankles to help increase surges. Went to sleep soon.
10 a.m: Woke up with surges again. Told hubby about it. We called labour room to book a waterbirth suite for us.
4 p.m: Arrived at labour room. CTG showed contractions 1 in 6. Upon VE, I was told cervix was still posterior & only 1 cm dilated. Adviced to go home & rest, let nature takes it course.
Feeling a bit dissapointed, we went hime  tht day.

Next 2 days was just the same. I was restless & exhausted with on & off contractions.
On Tuesday night, 2nd December, Hubby let me rest alone in our room while he took tge kids to another room to sleep. I on the diffuser & put some Balance Essential Oil in it. Again applied clary sage oil on my ankles. Alhamdulillah, I got such wonderful sleep that nightt.

Wednesday, 3rd December 2014

1 p.m: Felt surges becoming stronger. Rested on bed after Zuhur prayers.
5 p.m: Woke up with painful surges again. Told hubby & we decided to go to labour room after Magrib prayers.
9 p.m: Contractions showed 1 in 3 at labour room. Upon VE, cervix still only 1cm. I was upset but Hubby was convinced that I was in true labour this time around. We stayed on in labour room that night.

Hubby on the diffuser with Balance essential oil.
Time to time he fed me with dates & also let me drink
"Air Bunga Fatimah". Both are supposed to provide energy & help with muscle contractions.

12 a.m: Surges getting stronger. I was so restless, walking around the room & squatting with each surge. I felt squatting helps to relief pain & also help open pelvic outlet to descend baby. I called the midwive for VE. Still no progress..definitely was upset but hubby told me to stay strong & reminded me, every surge is bringing us closer to the baby..

Hubby put on the Ocean Serenade music to keep me calm while he dozed off a while. I worked on tolerating the contractions, reminding myself not to fight the pain but to work with it as it serves as a purpose (to help me bring out the baby). I tried relaxing all the muscles including my jaws while the contractions came so that all energy can be focused on the uterus doing its job. This went on until 6 a.m.

6 a.m: Cleared my bladder & requested for VE. Had some bloody show. Upon VE, dilated 3cm. Hubby informed the nurses that I am a fast progresser once dilated. They got the water tub ready for me. He also applied Helichrysium Essential Oil on my back to prevent hemorrhage.

8.30 a.m: Was in so much pain, started losing control. Upon VE was 5 cm dilated.
Started behaving differently & was in so much pain. Thank God hubby was with me all the way, holding my hand, rubbing my back & praying for me.

9 a.m: Dr arrived. VE 7cm. Was told that I could get in the water tub.
They nurses helped me into the tub.
Subhanallah, the warm water was such a pain relief!!
They on the Ocean Serenade music again to comfort me.
The nurses kept on pouring warm water and comforting me.
Dr Idora was so gentle with her words. I remember her saying " Just go with the urge". & " Keep breathing well "..

9.15 a.m: Felt urge to bear down. I was in a sitting reclining position.
wanted to squat but had no more energy to do so.
With each surge, I breathe my baby out into the world.
Hubby was there stroking my head and saying kind words. After few pushes, my baby's head was out along with his amniotic sac. It broke when he was halfway out.

9.20 a.m: Baby was out & on my chest. Muhammad Saiful Islam was born at 3.14kg.
We came out of the tub & Dr. Idora started stitching me soon (I had just 2 stitches for some superficial tear).
while stitching was going on, my baby latched like a champion, Alhamdulillah. He did the breast crawl thing & found his way to latch!
Soon the cord dried out (we had about 10 minutes of delayed cord clamping)  and my hubby was given the honour to cut the cord. Few seconds later, felt the urge to push out the placenta & it was out naturally.
We then had 2 hours of skin to skin time.

Alhamdulillah, felt so empowered and refreshed by this experience. Hubby seemed amazed too & mentioned he was proud that I did it without anaesthesia! To me, he was my pain relief..nothing can beat a loving support during labour!

p/s: Couldnt have done it without my hubby! Special credits to all who supported & encouraged me towards gentle birthing. Love u Mummies!

My 2nd Pregnancy & Birth Story

Assalamualaikum :-)

I am indeed sorry that I took such a long time to write up this 2nd birth story.

FINDING OUT ABOUT THE PREGNANCY:

I found out I was pregnant with my 2nd one at about 5 weeks of gestation. The line on the pregnancy test I took was really faded, so I took another test 1 hour later ( I was working in a clinic at that moment, so it was convenient for me to grab another test right away :-) ) The other test was also faded, but both tests did darken with time.

As a working doctor, with ultrasound at the clinic at that time, I decided to do an ultrasound right away on myself (too excited!). And indeed I saw a gestational sac! Was so excited, over the moon, MashaAllah!
We really wanted a sibling for my eldest daughter.

I went for my first antenatal check-up with OBGYN. Everything seem normal at that time except that I started having quite sever nausea and vomiting.


THREATENED MISCARRIAGE:

At about 7th week of gestation, while I was bathing my eldest daughter, suddenly I felt a sharp lower abdominal pain, and a gush of blood came..and the amount was so scary! It was literally a pool of fresh blood! I called for my mother in law and hubby who came rushing to help me lie down on the bed.

I was a bit panicked at that moment of time even though I experienced similar bleeding problem with my first pregnancy. However, this time around, the bleeding came gushing with fresh blood as compared to menses-like bleeding the first time around. We went to the hospital that night and at the ER they gave me a progesterone jab along with some progesterone tablets to start on. Ultrasound showed subchorionic bleed and there was fetal heartbeat (so I was relieved!).

A week went by, and the bleeding subsided Alhamdulillah!


APPENDICITIS IMPENDING RUPTURE:

As for my nausea and vomiting, it started at about 6 weeks gestation but became worse at about 10 weeks gestation. I was wondering why it became worse when it was supposed to subside with time..
It came to a point when I could not even take liquids, I would throw everything up..and I had this aching pain at my right hypochondrial area for a few days..went to the OBGYN but could not find anything on her ultrasound..she suggested I make an appointment with the radiological department for further detailed ultrasound of the abdomen..

Next day, while I was at work, I developed fever with nausea, vomiting and chills. Went to the ER and they referred me to radiological department after taking my blood for blood tests. According to the radiologists, they saw my appendix was swollen with fluid around it and alerted the surgeons. I was scheduled for an emergency appendicectomy and was put on General Anaesthesia (because the appendix will most likely rupture if they do not remove it, and that could be fatal for me) . Only God knows how worried I was at that moment, a surgery under general anaestesia at 12 weeks gestation! But the benefits outweighed the risks and my husband and I surrendered to Allah Almighty to save me and the baby.

Alhamdulillah, surgery went well, I recovered quite fast and was able to eat and drink normally again! Ramadhan came along soon after that, and Alhamdulillah, I managed to fast for the whole month without missing a day :-)


 PREGNANCY INDUCED HYPERTENSION & LEAKING LIQUOR:

I gave birth to Nur Nabeeha while she was just 36 weeks of gestation..which is 4 weeks earlier than my expected due date.

Just two weeks before giving birth, which is about 34 weeks of pregnancy, I found out that I had pregnancy-induced Hypertension..which was quite a surprise for me as my blood pressure had always been on the lowish side. I was negligent too I guess, was too confident that everything is fine and was busy with household stuff and work that I neglected my last follow up and went for check-up two weeks later..It was an irony too, because I was working in a clinic at that time, and the blood pressure machine was always just beside me all the time, but never did I bother to check on my blood pressure!!
So anyway, doctor told me to monitor my blood pressure 4 times daily and get plenty rest, and didn't start me on any medication yet.

Besides the hypertension, I also started to leak some liquor (that's the main reason I  went for the check-up that day)..So again, I was told to monitor the leaking and given a follow-up the following week.

Interventions were taken that day too, like steroid injections for baby's lung maturity (just in case I deliver earlier that 36 weeks..) The doctor was hoping to buy some time before planning to induce my delivery until baby is 36 weeks and until more that 2kg..(at that moment of time, she was merely 1.8kg)..

So a week went by and I went for my follow up the following weeks..still leaking, and blood pressure fluctuating. So the OBGYN suggested to induce delivery on the 29th of December 2011 and although we were reluctant with the thought of induction, at that point of time, that was what we thought was the right thing to do in the best interest of the baby..



THE LABOUR :

The following morning after the check-up, I woke up for Fajr prayers, and realized that my waterbag has broken..It was about 6.45am..I woke hubby up and told him..
Then I packed up my hospital bag..and also packed up my elder's daughter bag (to send her to her grandma's).
I told hubby to get some rest as it's gonna be a long day :-)
Then he woke up at about 9.30a.m, saying he's worried that I would be in pain and couldn't sleep anymore. At that point of time, I had no pain yet, just discomfort from the water gushing out.
So we had roti canai for breakfast, and left house at about 11 a.m. We sent off my elder daughter and the maid to my MIL before going to the hospital.While on the way, I took sips of water which I soaked Bunga Kembang Fatimah with (it's suppose to help to accelerate labour).

We reached hospital at about 12 p.m and went straight to labour room. I felt my first contraction while we were in the car. At the labour room, the midwife checked and said that it was going to be a long way till delivery because cervix wasn't favourable at all..At about 1pm, my OBGYN came and did a V.E. She said I was already 2cm open..Alhamdulillah! However, she suggested that I was started on Pitocin to speed up the labour (with the reasons that I had been leaking liquor for some time and she did not want any infection to develop if the labour took "too long". She also was worried that a long labour might accentuate my hypertension). At that moment, I consented.

So she asked if i wanted epidural..I declined because I didn't like the idea of a needle poking nearby my spinal cord and also didn't want the side effects afterwards. I didn't take it for my first delivery, so I thought probably I might not need it this time as well..

At about 2p.m, I felt intense pain, and was already 3cm open. I requested for pethidine, and was given a shot. My BP shot up at that moment of time too so they gave me some anti-hypertensives and off the lights and told me to rest..
After that, I couldn't remember quite clearly anymore..All I knew was I keep waking up because of the intense pain..and at about 5pm, was told that I was 5cm open..and about 30 minutes later, I felt like pushing already..I told the nurse to check and to her surprise, I was already fully dilated and baby's head was ready to pop out..

So I started pushing, but to my despair, the nurse took a sanitary pad and blocked the opening, told me to stop pushing until the OBGYN comes. I was so angry at that point, I started shouting away. Luckily, the OBGYN  arrived soon and only after 1 push, the baby was out! Alhamdulillah, I heard her cry and all the pain went away after that. To my delight, I was told that perineum was intact and no stitches were needed.

My 2nd Daughter (Nur Nabeeha)

When two sisters meet for the first time :-)

I was saddened that they did not allow me skin to skin time with my baby with the excuse that baby was small and had to be put to warmer. It really did hurt me but I was too weak to fight for it at that moment.
All I was thinking about was how glad I was to have delivered a healthy baby!

So overall, my active phase of labour this time was only about 5 hours, Alhamdulillah..compared to the 12 hours the previous time. I probably could give some credit to me making a habit to walk at least 15 minutes daily this time around :-) Hubby was there all the way beside me, giving me support and reminding me to be patient and salawat as much as I can..He was a gem at that moment, I cound't thank him enough..I held his hand all the way through the contraction pains..

Alhamdulillah for the fast and safe delivery :-)

As for my blood pressure, it went back to normotensive state about 2 weeks post-partum :-)


Even with the bad experiences during the labor this time around, I am thankful for a safe delivery and healthy baby, Alhamdulillah!


The past two birth experiences has encouraged me to look deeper into Gentle Birthing and hopefully I get a peaceful, calm gentle birth the next time around, InshaAllah!

My 1st Pregnancy & Birth Story

Assalamualaikum.

This is indeed the first entry of this blog, Alhamdulillah.

Honestly, I was thinking of where and how to start and it clicked to me that probably I should start with my personal birth stories. That way, it would be a good platform of me introducing why I am taking up the AMANI Birth Childbirth Educator training and what I wish to convey to all mothers and mothers to be, InshaAllah.

Do take note however, that even though I delivered both my daughters vaginally, both deliveries were not all natural/gentle birthings. InshaAllah, I will discuss on various topics/issues with regards to my birthing experiences in following posts.

Overall, my first pregnancy was a healthy one except I had two episodes of bleeding during 6 weeks gestation and 8 weeks gestation. Both bleeding episodes lasted for a week with bright red to gradually brownish blood. It was diagnosed as threatened miscarriage but Alhamdulillah, the pregnancy survived!
I was adviced bed rest during the bleeding episodes and was also given some hormonal medication (Duphaston). I took the medications but didn't manage to get complete bed rest because I had to attend my classes and hospital bedside teachings, but at home, Hubby made sure I got ample bed rest (he took care of our meals and household chores). He also carried my to the bedroom (our bedroom was upstairs and I was adviced not to climb stairs). Luckily, I was still lightweight at that time! :-)
Honestly, I will want to look further into bed rest during bleeding in early pregnancy. I have heard so much of it, but have not came accross a study which really proves it's efficacy. Hopefully I will have time to look it up soon, InshaAllah..

Moving on to my labour story..

On a Friday night, 16/5/2008 (when my  baby was 39 weeks 2 days gestation)..while I was watching television at around 8pm..felt my back aching and the kind of pain when my menses was going to come..
Hesitated to call hubby as he was in Tesco, doing some groceries shopping. Anyway, the pain was gradually intensifying but still torelable..and I decided to call him as I was alone and also quite scared :-)
He came back immediately after receiving my call and we went to my dear OBGYN, the loud but kind lady doctor.

Alhamdulillah..after a V.E, she said I was 1cm open, and my cervix was favourable. She gave us two options. First was to go back home, rest, let labour progress naturally and get admitted to hospital when contractions started or intensified (which could take a few hours to a few days according to her). Second option was to get admitted to hospital tonight, and augment the labour if it did not show any signs of progress by tomorrow morning. 
Hubby left the decision to me, and I asked, " if I chose the second option, my baby would be delivered by tomorrow right?" My OBGYN said "Yes"..So I agreed for the second option. My OBGYN then asked me to have a good dinner and get myself admitted by tonight.
Let me explain on why I chose the second option, which is to augment the labour. Hubby and me were final year medical students at that moment. In our institution, there was no such thing as "maternity leave". And there was a certain limit of attendance of which we have to achieve to be able to sit for our exams. It so happens that it was a Friday night and also a start of 2 week term break. So I thought, the timing was right, because if I delivered the next day, I could at least have 2 weeks of break and fully spend time with my baby for 2 weeks to get some nesting in time and establish breastfeeding. At 38 weeks of pregnancy, hubby and me had saved up to hire a helper to help take care of the baby while we were attending classes. So I thought, two weeks was a short but at least some ample time for me to also get the helper familiarized with the baby before I start classes. Therefore, I chose the second option. Might not be the wisest choice, but God knows at that moment, it did really seem like the right choice..


Back to the labour story..

So my hubby asked what I wanted to eat, and I said `Lets go eat TOMYAM' . So we had dinner at a restaurant..and headed home to shower and bring along the `BUNGA KEMBANG FATIMA' which my mother in law brought from Mecca (a kind of flower which blooms when you soak it in water..Supposed to help facilitate labour).

-checked in at midnight
-7.00 a.m next morning, V.E showed still no improvemt in cervix dilatation..there were contractions but mild and very far apart..so we decided to augment using pitocin. I was also strapped up with the fetal monitoring machine, and it did feel very restrictive and uncomfortable. However, I did not mind at that moment because I was too nervous to walk about :-)

A snapshot of our labor room. Alhamdulillah, I didnt' have to give birth lying on my back with legs hanging in the air.

-7.30 a.m..I was on pitocin infusion..and contractions started becoming stronger..my gynae already warned she didn't want me on epidural or painkillers (saying that it would make me lazy to push later because I didn't feel pain)

-12 p.m..still tolerating the pain..only 3cm open..hubby got me lunch (rice, chicken and vege) and convinced me to eat, saying I need energy to push later..he fed me lunch and I actually finished the whole plate.

-1:00 p.m..waterbag broke..gush came the amniotic fluid..felt like a balloon popping in my tummy..
 at that point I was begging for painkillers, so the midwife came to my aid and gave me a jab of pethidine at the gluteal region..

-Slept....hearing my hubby's voice reciting Yassin beside me..I literally though I was dead and asked him "Am I alive?" He just comforted me..and he reminded me to keep on salawat.

-4:00 p.m..V.E showed 6cm dilated..begged for another jab of painkiller..all was fuzzy during that time..was just sleeping and waking up time to time in pain..

-6.30pm...heard my loud gynae's voice waking me up..she said I was ready to push..

My hubby said that I was actually smiling when I heard that..Of course !..I was happy that it was end of the journey of labor..Alhamdulillah, my OBGYN told my hubby to support by back and thought me the sitting squatting position..She thought me how to wait until contraction started, take some deep breathes and when I am ready, to take a long deep breath and push as long as I can while holding my breath..Alhamdulillah, I was concious enough to co-operate and I was ready to strive till the end..
I felt my OBGYN do an episiotomy but did not feel any pain from it at that moment. I presume it was a compression episiotomy which she did during crowning..

Alhamdulillah, after 3 pushes,and at 6:48p.m..I heard my baby's cry and all the pain went away..My husband caught her himself and she came out smiling with eyes open according to him, MashaAllah!
A healthy 2.65kg baby girl!

The birthing staff did put my baby on my chest but I was too weak to even hold my baby..I think we managed to achieve some delayed cord clamping because Hubby was busy snapping photos of my little girl and the staff let him do it before proceeding to cut the cord, Alhamdulillah! You may see the photo with the vernix and fresh cord, Subhanallah!

Moments later, I felt some blood gushing and  placenta came out naturally Alhamdulillah..The OBGYN stitched my episiotomy while my baby got cleaned up and weighed.


After the stitching and fussing over me was done, I was pushed in a wheel chair from the delivery room to the ward room. On the way, I asked to stop by the nursery so I could hold my baby for a while. MashaAllah, she was all alert and smiles despite the pethidine! I held her for just a few seconds, but I was so dizzy and afraid of dropping her, so I put her back in the cot.

At the ward room, my mother attempted to feed me dinner, but I vomited out everything (probably because of the analgesics). I lied down for a while and when my relatives were back home, I asked for my baby at night (about 9 pm) and we had a quite moment just staring at each other and I attempted to nurse her, Alhamdulillah..MashaAllah, I can never forget that quiet moment, just the two of us..

Hubby came in a little while later, and he joined the bonding moment, just the three of us.

We got some rest and Alhamdulillah, was discharged the next morning..