I started having lower stomach pains at 11 plus Friday ( Feb 1) night, till it got to a stage where sleep became impossible. It didn't cross my mind that I was actually having contractions because that Friday morning I had just seen Dr Garner and he said he didn't think the baby would be here over the weekend. In fact, I had scheduled myself for an induced delivery the following Tuesday. I hadn't had any Braxton Hicks contractions prior to that Friday night, and was totally clueless about the signs and symptoms of real labour. It wasn't pain that I felt, but more like stomach wind being at the wrong place, so not surprisingly, I mistook the contractions to be constipation discomfort.
Just for the heck of it, I timed each wave of discomfort to see how far apart they were. When it became apparent that they were getting closer, and after some two hours, the discomfort turned into pangs of sharp pain, I made a call to the on-duty doctor and was advised to check into the hospital. I remember telling Yifan then that if it turned out to be a false alarm, to not be pissed. After all, it was 2+am, and he and my parents had been fast asleep until then.
Surprise surprise! I was already 4-5 cm dilated when they checked me at the hospital. Things happened in a blur after that-- I was asked various questions, hooked up to machines... and because it was already late into the night, I hadn't slept a wink, I was so tired that keeping my eyes open took so much effort, I didn't have any more energy left to deal with the pain. Still, I resisted the epidural because silly me was worried about the possible side effects ie the nausea.
Then it was hours of me trying to fight off the sleep monster, and simultaneously enduring those moments of contractions, till I succumbed and took the easy way out. ( believe me, I wanted the labour and delivery process to be as natural as possible, but the epidural was the ONLY pain relief they had available in the hospital. Where were those thigh jabs I had heard about from friends?) I didn't know how much time had elapsed but my cervix was still not fully opened, so Dr Ryder burst my waterbag ( I was informed but was totally oblivious) and when the time came to push, the epidural had worn off!!
Till this day, I have no explanation for why I did not question the nurses about the pain I felt even after the first epidural was administered. I think I was too out of it. So there I was, trying and barely able to push with real labour pains, while at the same time, struggling to keep my eyes open. Bear in mind, by then it was about 1pm Saturday afternoon and I still had not slept a single bit. Relief came after I received more epidural, but this time, my legs were so numb, I didn't feel a thing. So how do you push when you don't feel? You don't. I did, however, tried my best at making " pushing faces". :-)
After 13 hours of labour, one little puke, and the help of the vacuum, Skylar finally made his appearance. And that's all that matters.
Current Mood:
hungry
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