This photo was taken 20 minutes after her birth on the 22 April 2007. Her birth time was 1.05 am and her weight was 3.05 kg. Length 50cm, head circumference 35cm.
Giving birth was certainly an experience. On 21 April, I checked myself into the hospital at 9.30am as I was having some contractions. It was due anyway and I think I had better go in. However, the long wait took place. I was able to endure the contractions until when it came on stronger at about 5pm in the late afternoon. I asked for the anaesthetist to give me the epidural. I endured the pain for almost an hour... alas, I have the experience of what labour is like. The wait continued until 12mn that day.
My gynae and the nurses came in and check me almost every half and hour. As things did not seem good, the check was almost every 5 minutes. While there was strong contractions, my baby's position was not engaged (positioned for natural birth) and my cervix was only 5cm dilated, very little compared to the hours of wait that took place. My gynae ordered that we call it a day and have a c-section to find out what's the problem. I was wheeled into the operating theatre. I had never been into an OT and hence was not prepared for it.
As I laid in the theatre, I could only pray and commit the whole thing to God. The anaesthetist gave me his name and told me what he will do. I was tubed all over and the next thing was I was drowsy. I didn't feel anything at all and in the midst of the drowsiness, I heard the first cry of Charis. They brought the baby close to me but I was too drowsy to see anything. The next thing I knew was I was shivering very badly due to the effects of the anaesthetic/epidural combined. They had to take my blood pressure to make sure that I was ok and I remembered that someone was trying to steady my hands so that the BP reading could be done.
After being wheeled into the normal ward, the shaking continued. It was uncontrollable even as I tried to steady myself. What an experience... The baby came at about 3am and I managed feed her despite my bodily weakness. I have to keep myself awake most of the time as the effects of the pain killer was still lingering.
The next morning, my gynae came and checked on me and told me that he was working on 3 problems at the same time when he opened me. I had layers of blood clots in my uterus, a medical condition affecting many woman called Endometrosis (i didn't know how severe it can affect a woman until now), my baby's umbilical cord was wound round her neck twice, that explains why she wasn't able to get into position and my placenta was bleeding and the source of it was unknown.
All in all I just want to thank God for his GRACE and for seeing me through this ordeal. Giving birth is one thing, parenthood is another. Will blog about the beginnings of parenthood tomorrow.
:)
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