Share your labour experience
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I can't remember mine in exact details but remembered that it was lots of pain (even after epidural) and the nobody tells me before that delivery can be sooooo long even after water bag breaks! When my DS is out, first comment from the gynae was she didn't expect (bb) to be so big for my size & at that moment, I remembered felt like beating her (for the \"sufferings\" ) ... just couldn't find a rod near my bed
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Wah, I'm impressed by all the mothers who can remember lots of details about their births!
For all three of mine, I can only recall the mad dashes through ice and snow to the hospital (always winter!), hollering at dh to drive carefully and not to ask stupid questions such as \"Are you all right?!\" and lots of pain! And I always had quite a crowd around watching because it was a teaching hospital and I went for the less common (where we were) unmedicated births i.e. no epidural etc. -
of my three deliveries, my second one was most memorable..
1st dd : normal delivery about 12 hours. Bliss after epi, but because was too numb, could not feel contractions and could not push. So epi was turned off
. was in pain for about half an hour bef dd came out.
2nd dd : normal delivery. I know second and subsequent labour will usually be fast, so i was prepared to go in early. My water bag broke at 5am and contractions started within 5 min. Quickly woke dh up (he dutifully did). Made tea for him (he needs the caffeine to drive) and sat down on the sofa to wait.
dh : should i bring my manual camera or digital camera?
me : anything la.
more waiting ....
dh : did you see my digital camera?
me : dunno la. dunno where you put.
more scurrying around ..... getting more painful....
dh : found it. eh.... CF card very full leh, got time to download or not?
me : ok la, hurry up la... :faint:
more waiting... pain getting really bad, cannot stand up already...
me : why you download so long?
dh : finish already. but stuck at the shut down screen, i think computer hang.
me : JUST LEAVE IT AND GO!!!! :x
when we reached hospital, already very dilated. no time for any pain relief (only can use laughing gas, but i hated it so didn't use). dd2 was out within half an hour.
3rd dd : normal delivery. 2 hours. this time dh learnt his lesson, made sure his camera bag packed and card ready. made it to hospital much earlier. because of previous short labour, gynae and dh talked me out of epi. was glad they did so, because the post-delivery recovery was much faster :celebrate:
haiz.... men -
waynemum:
Girlmum, waynemum,
U had 30 stichs, guess mine?girlmum:
I had 30 OVER STITCHES. Guess what I told doc after hearing, \"Doc, are u doing embroidery?\" He was like :!:
It took the doctor more than 4 hours to do the stiches!!!!
In my daze mode, i heard the doc telling the other doc that this is the worst tear she had ever seen in her life!
And u guess what?! She was talking on the mobile while doing stiches for me at the same time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And she even walked in and out of the ward to answer phone call. Th other doctor beside her nvr say anything and she was there to learn and i even heard the doc doing stiches for me ask the learning doc: U wanna try? I grabbed the doc hand and told her: No! U do it!
After the incident, i always joke abt it with my DH and said the doc had stich up my _ _ _ _ _ _!
Sorry abt the post delivery experience of yours.
My gynae/obs also mentioned to DH that I had a bad tear (i did not opt for episiotomy, btw) but she did not tell me how bad or how many stitches when I asked her. The impression I got from her attitude was like \"its all over, just focus on the now ie baby.\" So I just let it be. All I remember of that period was holding and cuddling the baby while she was stitching. After, she advised me to sit on a tub of water filled with salt to allow the healing to be faster. -
waynemum:
4 hours!! :!: she stitching flowers arh?
It took the doctor more than 4 hours to do the stiches!!!!
In my daze mode, i heard the doc telling the other doc that this is the worst tear she had ever seen in her life!
And u guess what?! She was talking on the mobile while doing stiches for me at the same time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And she even walked in and out of the ward to answer phone call. Th other doctor beside her nvr say anything and she was there to learn and i even heard the doc doing stiches for me ask the learning doc: U wanna try? I grabbed the doc hand and told her: No! U do it!
I recall during my first delivery, they prepared my arm for drip. This young doctor came in and poked and all - it was a bit painful but I thought that was natural. Much later on, an experienced nurse came in, saw the doctor's handiwork and told me she'll adjust it so that I cannot feel it. At that time blur like sotong, but it's true, there is a painless way about it. I love these experienced midwives!!!!
Anyway, first labour took 24hours in delivery ward. First 18 without epidural. I kept hearing babies cry and wondered when will be my turn. After 18 hours, still 3cm dilated. I gave up and went on epidural. Then things went on much faster and smoother although I had to imagine baby coming out.
2nd labour was induced. Total leadtime was 3.5hours. This time without epidural. Midwife kept asking if I wanted, I wavered but hubby kept insisting not to opt for it. The feeling when baby comes out - priceless!
Also months after first delivery (with epidural), there was a niggling back pain; but there wasn't after the 2nd. -
From starting of contraction till birth, its about 15 hours. Had epidural and dd was forceps out with a tong looking thingy. So it actually left two marks beside her eyes but eventually disapper after all these years. Lucky, if not I would be guilty forever.
I remember, I kept telling hubby, \"very pain, very pain\". Hubby kept answering \"I know, I know\". Throughout the whole night, that was our main conversation.
Then I sent hubby to ask my mum (she was waiting outside), what to do as I was very pain. He came back with this reply \"Your mum say, its like that one.\" ** faint **
Highlights of the whole process. When dd was out, gyne throw her on my tummy - nice warm feeling because I have been feeling cold all the while.
When I saw dd at the first sight, I was thinking \"why dd so purplish? Like newborn piglets and rabbit\". From my understanding, after baby come out, mummy should not feel pain anymore but I was still in deep pain. Not long after, gyne told me, my placental was stuck inside, it did not come out. He asked me to bear with the pain for a while more as he was going to put his hand in to remove it. The whole process was fast and tata, there gone the pain. I felt so relieved!
My mum told me before, when she gave birth to me, her placental also stuck inside. At that time, she was frightened to death because the junior midwife told her \"Auntie, sorry, I not purposely one hor, your placental stuck inside\". The she went to look for an experienced midwife and they managed to remove the placental out. -
I must really thank God that both my labours were short. Really short.
For #1, waterbag burst at around 8pm (after I had finished my dinner at my in-laws and suddenly felt myself leaking). Actually thought I had loose bladder and that it was urine. Then realise that it cannot be the case since I never had that problem before. Unfortunately, hubby was out for dinner with friends then. So I took a quick shower, had a bottle of brands essence (thought I would need the extra perk since don't know how long I would be in labour) and called him to rush back.
Was at hospital by 9pm. By then contractions started and then it got too painful that I did not allow mid-wife to check the dilation. Did not want any painkiller except the gas but it did not help so midwife had to call the gynae to persuade me to let her check. after a discussion (amidst all the pain) I finally agreed to the epidural (cannot tahan the pain). By which time, I was already 8cm dilated. Midwife commented that actually I don't need the epidural if she knew I was already 8cm :stupid:
Shortly after that, gynae came and then #1 popped out at 11.35pm, 3.5 hrs after waterbag burst. Everyone was stunned at how short the entire process was since it was the 1st time for me and #1 was a big baby. Even gynae said, \"see, big baby right? told you to control your weight! \" and midwife said,\" wah, your labour so short/easy. can consider #2 'cos will even be shorter.\" :x
For #2, had some bleeding so I checked myself in after dinner. but no contractions and was only 1 cm dilated throughout the night but as baby's heartbeat was really low, gynae became worried. So was induced at around 7+/8am before his clinic was opened. 2.5 hrs later, #2 pop-ed out. No painkiller used except gas mask.
So my labours are relatively short affairs -- like shelling peas!
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ponyo:
So envy !!!!!
So my labours are relatively short affairs -- like shelling peas!
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tired mom:
dh : should i bring my manual camera or digital camera?
me : anything la.
more waiting ....
dh : did you see my digital camera?
me : dunno la. dunno where you put.
more scurrying around ..... getting more painful....
dh : found it. eh.... CF card very full leh, got time to download or not?
me : ok la, hurry up la... :faint:
more waiting... pain getting really bad, cannot stand up already...
me : why you download so long?
dh : finish already. but stuck at the shut down screen, i think computer hang.
me : JUST LEAVE IT AND GO!!!! :x
....
haiz.... men
:faint: Yeah lor, men! :siao:
Anyway during labour no cameras are allowed right? I can't rem for DD1 but for DD2 the nurses reminded me.
Anyway, we live in an age of powerful mobile computing alr, so no need to pack camera nowadays. I had an 8mp camera phone when DD2 was coming. In fact, 23 mins after her birth I MMSed her first photo out into the world to my mom and sis-in-law!
On the subject of the internet, I did something this time round with DD2 which was new and unique to me. On the way to the hospital I posted an update on my Facebook account. After she was born I posted another update. All in all, I received a ton of well-wishes from many kind friends online. I showed them to schellen while she lay in bed, hoping it would give her some encouragement.
If I had my iphone then (bought it 3 days later on 19 Dec cos I refused to queue at M1), I would have done the same on KSP (my old phone's browser is crap) instead of doing at home later at 4+am. :lol: -
DS1 – Went through elective c-section as I had low lying placenta. Don’t want to take the risk of excessive bleeding etc as I plan to have more kids. The recovery after the GA was good and the wound was not painful. Overall experience was good.
DD2 – Opt for VBAC. Was advised by gynae that I cannot be induced or use epidural as there is risk involved. I was having mild contraction in the early morning and waited till late afternoon before I admit to hospital. Was already 5cm dilated when I arrived in the labour ward. Used laughing gas and the pethidine jab on the thigh and also had a drip to fasten the contraction. Had extreme backache during each contraction as DD2 was in posterior position (her skull pressing on my spine). Gynae had to use vacuum to deliver her as I had no strength to push after all the pain. She was delivered after about 6 hours of labour. I had a very bad tear and can feel my gynae stitching me up after the delivery.
DS3 – DS3 was 2 days overdue but I waited for natural labour to kick in even though gynae suggested for induction. Admitted to hospital early in the morning around 7am and was already 5cm dilated. Was expecting a faster natural delivery and hence refused epidural, pethidine jab or drip to fasten the contraction. I only rely on the laughing gas. However, the dilation was slow and stuck at 8cm. My gynae was stressed out and warned that if cannot fully dilate, he will have to send me for emergency c-section by 3pm. Again, baby was in posterior position and hence experienced painful contraction. Luckily the midwife was very helpful and encouraging. She advised me to lie on my side and with her help; I was fully dilated before 1pm. But baby was not crowning due to his position. Had to use vacuum again and I felt the most excruciating pain when my gynae was trying to secure the vacuum to baby’s head. I was screaming so badly then but was relieved when DS3 was finally out. Phew! But bad tear again.
Hmm…after the 2 very painful and unforgettable natural births, I might opt for c-section if I am going to have #4.
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