Friday, October 31, 2008

20 hours - Labor of love

Friday 10th October:
915am:
I woke up on a wet wet bed. I know for sure my bladder is in control so it must be the waterbag i thought. Called Alvin at work and while he left for home, i called the hospital to inform them. They told me to come at the soonest so that they can verify if my waterbagf really burst.Took my shower, threw on some comfy clothes and set off for the hospital.

1020am :
we arrived at the hospital, were directed to a delivery room where something was inserted into my cervix to test if the stuff on my bed truly was amniotic fluid. Results shown on litmus paper: YES
I was to be placed under observation and wait for contractions to show up. If they didnt, i will be induced in 72 hours. We were housed in this 2 bedder room, of course the other bed was fdor my spouse! ;) it was really comfortable and the staff were really nice and friendly. Felt like a hotel stay!

every 2 hours:
I had this TOKO CTG machine attached to my belly to check for contractions. I did have some but they were very irregular and no pains at all...End of day 1

Saturday 11th october
Today same stuff again... was monitored for contractions but still none. Met and bonded with the hospital staff... cant say enough about each and everyone of them
They had this special touch...could feel the care and love really.very very supportive people.no contractions showed so the midwife- Ingryed suggested we go home for a change and come back after a few hours...she suggested a change in environment could do me some good. Came home, had a shower, had some food and went back to the hospital with some DVDs and reading materials.Monitored again but nothing...

Sunday 12th October
Told that we could go home and return tomorrow if we wished. So we came home at about 1pm...did the normal stuff we do at home and at all times hoped for some kinda pain to show up...nope nothing...then finally at 2am some pain in the abdomen.Was really happy! but it lasted only for 2 hours and was not at all intense. While timing it i even fell asleep!

Monday 630am
Had my shower, drank a lil juice and did a small prayer before i left for the hospital. "Its the day to induce labor.72 hours was up..our appointment was at 730am on arrival, we went back to our room, settled in and then the midwife came to do an internal exam. she said it was ripening and i was 2cm dilated :O i was getting really excited! i was induced at 745am.

she then tells me that the fluid previously that had leaked out was from a small puncture in my water bag and that she has to break the bag now.. so I let her perform the “act” we’re surprised when so much water gushes out of me. The bed is drenched once again and so am i. We get some clean sheets and change myself into dry clothes… it felt like a dam just burst and the water went gushing out…I’m still smiling…no pain yet.I have lunch… it was a delicious milky Swedish dish.Still no pain, had nice long conversations with most of the staff, talking about migraines, recipes etc.

1300hours
I am put on some IV one to make my contractions stronger and closer together and the other was an antibiotic for the baby.

1440hrs
I am 3cm dilated…still the progress was pretty slow so they increased the IV dosage.

1540hrs
I exercise my first pain relief… oxygen gas.

1605hrs
I use my second pain relief option Acupuncture. I’m at the same time practising breathing techniques and relaxation that my father had taught us during yoga sessions.all the time the only thing i think about is the end of the process when i will have AAren in my arms. I constantly change positions. I use the birthing ball and walk around the room while the contractions build up all the while talking to Alvin.

1645hrs
after an internal exami am told I am 5 cm dilated...
I have my dinner which was fed to me by my darling husband… he looks tensed but tries to motivate me. Contractions occur at 2 min intervals lasting 60 secs per contraction. At 645pm, I m 7cm dilated. I now use Nitrogen Oxide instead of oxygen…as pain relief. Each time they change shifts, the midwives come over to give me support. They say I m doing really well…very very cool.

1935hrs
Alvin is hoping it will be 10cm when they come for the next internal exam...
I am 8cm dilated. Yes the end looks near…I think to myself…they decrease the IV dosage to slow down the frequency of contractions and make the pain more tolerable…I still haven’t reach the peak of my threshold yet…

All thru the contractions, I m treated to milk shakes, ice cream and fruit juices…I am glad I am allowed to consume them
Johanna Granberg is the midwife who assisted me thru the last stage with her assistant Lena. I get more goodies to treat myself to and build up in the energy I will require later…mmm blueberry milk shake!

0025hrs
I am fully dilated… change positions and try pushing…each time the contractions build up I push with all my might…Finally after approximately 8 to 10 pushes, I hear that you have arrived.

They hold you up and congratulate Alvin and me. Alvin does the honour of cutting your cord and giving you the breath of life.They place Aaren on my breast and he instinctively start suckling. I forget all the pain and instantly become oblivious to the surrounding while I admire the gift of life; Aditya Aaren Om and marvel at gods creation… as he lay on my chest.

My placenta comes out intact. it looks marvellous. the tree of life is on it. the midwives explain things to us on ho it supported you while baby was within me. We take some pics, I am told I need to get stitches as Om came out head and right arm together causing me to tear very badly. how many stitches I don’t know but from the way they told me it seemed a lot and pretty serious as they mentioned that if local aesthetic didn’t work I will be moved to the operation theatre. Also I had a painful tailbone which they say could have shifted a little due to all the tension my body went thru. Well I did feel the needle each time it went thru but it didn’t matter. I had just done something unbelievable. I gave birth to a life…Aditya Aaren Om arrived on 14th October 2008 at 3am! Alvin and the staff commend me on how well I managed everything… I could never have felt prouder ;)finally 20 hours of work and i have our lovely child in my arms.nothing can beat the feeling

We stayed at the hospital for the next 2 days and couldn’t wait to get home.I would like to add that the staff at the Blekinge Sjukhuset made the entire process so much simpler and pleasant. I am still looking for a perfect thank you gift for them. Each and everyone of them hugged me and comforted me…commended me and supported me throughout. I owe them a huge deal! Thank you to all of them they have touched us in a way no one else ever might.