September 11 will not be the only date when I remember the World Trade Centre in the States being attacked by terrorists. It's also the day my baby boy, Joshua Siew Ern Yang, is born! He is such a big bundle of joy to my husband and I. Our lives will never be the same again as it won't be just to two of us now. We have an addition to the family and we have a huge responsibility to him. Sometimes, it overwhelms me and at time I get scared thinking if I am up to the job or not. Being a mother is such a huge responsibility to me and I want to be the best mom to Joshua. I pray that I will be able to achieve this goal.
September 11 started as usual. I woke up with contraction pains. Initially I thought it was just a normal stomachache, but it stops after about 30 seconds or so and starts all over again every 8 minutes. That's when I started to realise I have started my contractions. I was panicked. I was thinking to myself, "Oh no! The day has come! My son wants to come out into the world!!" However, I tried to continue sleeping as the pain was still bearable. After an hour or so, I told my husband that the contractions had started. We decided not to go to the hospital yet as we know it won't be that fast. So we just stayed home, watching Alias on the computer while waiting for the contraction to become more frequent and consistent. Occasionally I held my husband's hands as the pain was quite bad. I rested after watching the series for a while till it was time for dinner. After much thoughts, we decided to eat at the hospital. I was admitted to the hospital after dinner at 8.30pm.
I was wheeled into the delivery room, even though I told the attendant I could walk. Haha! The nurse checked me and found that I was already 6cm dialiated! That was a huge relief to me, as I don't have to wait too long for the baby to come. I have 4 cm to go. They started the drips on me after my gynae arrived to take a look at me. And boy!! That's when the real pain started!! What I had felt during the day was nothing, NOTHING, compared to the pain I experienced once the drip was administered to me.
Before the delivery day, I had said to myself I didn't want any epidural or any pain killers. I wanted to deliver the baby without them. Unfortunately, on the day itself, I couldn't take the pain. I had 4cm to go, and at the rate I was going (2 hours had gone by and I had only dialated another 1cm only), I couldn't bear the pain as the contractions comes every 1 - 2 minutes! Can you imagine I had to bear the pain for another few hours!! I couldn't and told my husband I need painkillers. They administered the normal painkiller to me first, but I found it didn't do the job. That's when I asked for the epidural. Unfortunately I couldn't get the epidural immediately as the doctor was still at home. He had to rush to the hospital to administer the epidural to me. I had to wait for about half an hour to an hour for him to arrive. Once the epidural was administered, I felt the pain go away. I was even able to sleep! Phew!! That was a huge relief to me. Finally at 1.20am I was fully dialated. However, due to the fact that I do not feel pain, I couldn't push. The midwives kept on encouraging me to push, push and push, but I couldn't. In the end, the vacuum had to be used. At 2.15am, Joshua was born.
People had asked me how I felt when the baby came out and I saw the baby for the first time. I must admit I was too tired to really know what I was feeling. I looked at Joshua for the first time when they placed him in front of me. Oh, I was happy to see him, but I was also thinking, "Finally he's out!!" Hahaha! I was in the hospital for 2 nights.
When we got home, my confinement started. It's not as bad as I thought it would be. The food my confinement lady cooked was nice. I was able/allowed to take my bath a week later, so it wasn't that bad. Haha! The first 2 days Joshua refused to eat and we got worried. I didn't have any breast milk yet as it's too soon, so we had to feed him formula first. After the third day, Joshua's appetite came and he knows how to wake up for milk. That's a relief.
My mother had hired a lady to massage me after giving birth. Again, I felt agonising pain as I had lots of wind in my body. After 3 days of massaging, I felt so good. Haha! Life has started to become a routine. I rested while watching Alias, while my confinement lady helped me with the baby and cooking my meals as I wasn't really allowed to move much. Friends and relatives trickles in to see the baby, so we were also busy entertaining.
So I must say, having a baby really changed our lives and I wouldn't have it any other way. For those who are thinking of not having a baby, I strongly urge you to reconsider. They bring so much light into your lives. Looking at Joshua, I couldn't believe my luck, knowing that he's mine and he came from me and my husband. I thank God daily for this gift that He has given us.
September 11 started as usual. I woke up with contraction pains. Initially I thought it was just a normal stomachache, but it stops after about 30 seconds or so and starts all over again every 8 minutes. That's when I started to realise I have started my contractions. I was panicked. I was thinking to myself, "Oh no! The day has come! My son wants to come out into the world!!" However, I tried to continue sleeping as the pain was still bearable. After an hour or so, I told my husband that the contractions had started. We decided not to go to the hospital yet as we know it won't be that fast. So we just stayed home, watching Alias on the computer while waiting for the contraction to become more frequent and consistent. Occasionally I held my husband's hands as the pain was quite bad. I rested after watching the series for a while till it was time for dinner. After much thoughts, we decided to eat at the hospital. I was admitted to the hospital after dinner at 8.30pm.
I was wheeled into the delivery room, even though I told the attendant I could walk. Haha! The nurse checked me and found that I was already 6cm dialiated! That was a huge relief to me, as I don't have to wait too long for the baby to come. I have 4 cm to go. They started the drips on me after my gynae arrived to take a look at me. And boy!! That's when the real pain started!! What I had felt during the day was nothing, NOTHING, compared to the pain I experienced once the drip was administered to me.
Before the delivery day, I had said to myself I didn't want any epidural or any pain killers. I wanted to deliver the baby without them. Unfortunately, on the day itself, I couldn't take the pain. I had 4cm to go, and at the rate I was going (2 hours had gone by and I had only dialated another 1cm only), I couldn't bear the pain as the contractions comes every 1 - 2 minutes! Can you imagine I had to bear the pain for another few hours!! I couldn't and told my husband I need painkillers. They administered the normal painkiller to me first, but I found it didn't do the job. That's when I asked for the epidural. Unfortunately I couldn't get the epidural immediately as the doctor was still at home. He had to rush to the hospital to administer the epidural to me. I had to wait for about half an hour to an hour for him to arrive. Once the epidural was administered, I felt the pain go away. I was even able to sleep! Phew!! That was a huge relief to me. Finally at 1.20am I was fully dialated. However, due to the fact that I do not feel pain, I couldn't push. The midwives kept on encouraging me to push, push and push, but I couldn't. In the end, the vacuum had to be used. At 2.15am, Joshua was born.
People had asked me how I felt when the baby came out and I saw the baby for the first time. I must admit I was too tired to really know what I was feeling. I looked at Joshua for the first time when they placed him in front of me. Oh, I was happy to see him, but I was also thinking, "Finally he's out!!" Hahaha! I was in the hospital for 2 nights.
When we got home, my confinement started. It's not as bad as I thought it would be. The food my confinement lady cooked was nice. I was able/allowed to take my bath a week later, so it wasn't that bad. Haha! The first 2 days Joshua refused to eat and we got worried. I didn't have any breast milk yet as it's too soon, so we had to feed him formula first. After the third day, Joshua's appetite came and he knows how to wake up for milk. That's a relief.
My mother had hired a lady to massage me after giving birth. Again, I felt agonising pain as I had lots of wind in my body. After 3 days of massaging, I felt so good. Haha! Life has started to become a routine. I rested while watching Alias, while my confinement lady helped me with the baby and cooking my meals as I wasn't really allowed to move much. Friends and relatives trickles in to see the baby, so we were also busy entertaining.
So I must say, having a baby really changed our lives and I wouldn't have it any other way. For those who are thinking of not having a baby, I strongly urge you to reconsider. They bring so much light into your lives. Looking at Joshua, I couldn't believe my luck, knowing that he's mine and he came from me and my husband. I thank God daily for this gift that He has given us.
