Having just read Angie’s birth story in the car, and also Serene’s birth story at home (do get acquainted with these 2 inspiring Singaporean homeschooling moms), it assures me that God has women wonderfully made and giving birth is nothing that needs a lot of intervention.
This is a personal conviction of mine after giving birth to the Angel fairly quickly in the hospital some 5 years ago.
I barely made it to the hospital in time to deliver the Other Angel. I spent 5 minutes in the delivery ward and miraculously, my gynae appeared (she was upstairs for an emergency case) in time to ‘catch’ our Other Angel! Upon hearing the nurses called Dr Liauw, I pushed my Other Angel into the world.
I remember from my first labour that nature has it’s way with your body.
As long as you let your body do it’s work during labour, everything will fall into place.
1) The body will purge itself of motion or food by allowing you time to get all these done before it is in labour. I cleared my bowels automatically before my 2nd labour and as usual, vomitted out my undigested food (again, I ate thinking that it’d be a while before labour) as I approached my 2nd stage of labour.
2) I suffer no tear from my labour and it is absolutely possible. You walk better after labour! I was absolutely alert after labour and ravenous! The first thing I did was thank my gynae who appeared out of nowhere – seriously, given just 15 mins (that was the amount of time I spent in the hospital from arriving to delivering), I won’t have expected she’d make it!
3) Nurse the baby immediately after birth. It really does make a difference. Even if you are tired from labour, just do it. I was totally alert and I guess it’s the surge of adrenalin that keeps one high after giving birth. I didn’t do it with the Angel and learnt from my mistake.
4) I regret not having the Other Angel in the room but had her put in the nursery. We both thought that it’d be a chance to rest but on hindsight, a 1 day old baby must be really precious to behold and observe. IF I have Another Angel, I’d do it differently.
5) I was discharged after 1 night stay since there really wasn’t any need or incentive to stay in the hospital. I told the Alternative Dad the price is equivalent to a night stay at Ritz, which I’d prefer over, but he told me Ritz didn’t come with the nurses on call to help with the baby. Anyway, I went home and I also didn’t get my night at the Ritz. Hahah!
For anyone who is due to have a baby, I only have this simple advice, stay calm, breathe, endure the pain which can be over really soon if you are not in distress and hence, not prolong it.
As Mrs Wong Boh Boi used to empahsise in the pre-natal class, “Nature!” I have to agree. Nature has her way with your body and it is made for giving birth the easy, natural way.
And oh yes, prepare a CD for you in the delivery ward. Although I only spent 5 mins in the delivery ward, my husband understood the procedure very well. Music calms the mind and brings your mind and spirit to another realm.
Serene’s posts on Pregnancy and Labour are comprehensive and her experience telling. Definitely worth a read!