Sophia’s Birth Story

Can you believe my baby decided to make her GRAND ARRIVAL on the same day after I blogged about my anxious waiting for her arrival?!

We had just visited my doctor earlier that morning at 11:30am. Dr. Irene announced that I was 2cm dilated and expected to deliver within the next 2-3 days.
About 12 hours later …..
At 11:14pm
I was trying to fix my CANON SELPHY printer so that I’m able complete printing pictures for my pregnancy journal album before I give birth. While moving up and down trying to connect cables and such … Suddenly I felt a gush of leak!! Yikes! Did my water just BROKE?!!!! Or am I leaking urine?????
Rushed to the toilet, screaming for my hubby to come. When we were trying to examine the liquid and recalled what we learnt from our antenatal class …. “When the water bag break, it is colourless and odourless.”  Looking at my leak, it is slightly yellowish. Okay, I’ll brushed it aside as urine leak. And we will wait to see if there are any other sign like severe contraction.
15 minutes later, another gush of water! Okay, this seems like my water has broken more than just a urine leak. Lucky my mom is around, and we all standby for hospital rush but in a very calm way. I ate some plain porridge with pickles, spicy tofu and kimchi. I’m determine to go through natural labour, so I need some source of energy to push and having no idea how long this labour process may takes, I better eat something!
Oh dear another water gush within the next few minutes …
OKAY IT’S TIME TO GO HOSPITAL NOW!!!! HURRY!
At 12:45am
The three of us jump into the car, taking our belongings and had smooth drive in the middle of the night to the hospital. The highway was clear, thank goodness it didn’t happen during peak hours! On the drive, I started to experience mild contractions. My mom said, “This is definitely real labour coming”, and hubby said happily, “We are going to the hospital to have a baby!!”. 
At 1:20am
Arrived at the hospital. Hubby park the car while my mom helped me to the DELIVERY SUITE at Level 2, KK HOSPITAL. We met a very sweet couple (I assume his wife is a patient there since she was wearing the hospital gown) whom got me a wheelchair when they saw us approaching the lobby. (^.^)
The registration at the Delivery Suite was easy and quick. Hubby caught up to us pretty fast with my maternity bag (that I’ve packed two months ago) and a pillow to make me more comfortable. I was wheeled to Delivery Suite Room # 8; each couple was assigned to a room for delivery. We get total privacy and hubby is going to be with me all the way through! Unfortunately, only HUSBAND ALLOWED to be inside the Delivery Suite. My mom has to stay in the waiting room until I’ve given birth. Poor mom, all by herself the entire night in the cold air-conditioning room which is uncomfortable. While waiting, my mom said prayers for my safety in delivery and her soon to be grand daughter arrival!
Contraction begins around 2am
The frequency of contraction started soon after I changed into the hospital gown, and settled down on the bed. The nurses explained the options of pain relief that I can chose to help me through labour. They highly suggest me to use epidural and recommend that the decision to take epidural to be made soon!
I told them that my birth plan was to have a natural birth, without epidural. Avoiding caesarean section unless life threatening emergency.
The nurse checked my dilation, I was about 4cm dilated! I was immediately administered with “laughing gas” to help me relax. She reminded me that if I need epidural, I should let her know soon as she need to arrange the anaesthetist to administer epidural.

As the hours … minutes … seconds countdown, my contraction are more rapid and painful. However it is still bearable as I’m determine to have natural birth without any epidural. Hubby was watching the machine for my contraction at the peak, while guiding me to get ready to inhale more gas.

My back was hurting very badly the entire time. It is like breaking between tail bone and lower back. It is like a severe period pain backache! Hubby was there to help me massage my back throughout my labour! I gave him no break at all! Each time he slows down or paused the massage, I’ll scream and gets really cranky! Who can blame a woman who is going so much pain to be polite, rite? (>.<)

My hubby is such an understanding person, besides being my labour coach and masseur, he was there to support and show me so much love! 
At 5:30am
The nurses came in to check on my dilation again. I was only 4.5cm dilated. She told me that Dr. Irene will be here around 6:30am for my delivery. I was in great pain already, and the urge to push was so strong to hold back! Oh god! I hope Dr. Irene will be here before my baby comes!!!
At 7:00am
Dr. Irene came into our delivery suite. Instantly we feel such calmness and confident now that our doctor is here. She checked on my dilation, and said “Vivienne, you’re 9cm dilated. If you feel like pushing, go ahead!” We will be expecting your baby to arrive within an hour or so.

What a relief to hear this! I’ve been urging to push for the longest time!!
PUSH ……. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PUSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PUSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
‘Baby, you’re pushing the wrong way! Don’t push all your might to your head. Your face is all black red now! It’s your abdomen downwards, like passing motion ~ remember? Now, take a deep breath and watch how I do it, ok?’
Thank goodness my hubby went for the antenatal class!! He was such a fantastic coach! What am I suppose to do without him :)  
At 8:00am
Her head is crowing now ….
Hubby, “I can see her hair now! Keep pushing baby!! You’re doing GREAT!!!”
Dr. Irene: “Vivienne you’ve been pushing for more than an hour now. To reduce your pain time frame, I suggest a little external help. Do you want to consider vacuum option?”
We agreed to have vacuum suction and within minutes, our baby girl is OUT with a loud cry!
Sophia Zuri Weindel was born at 8:19am.

Weighing 3.748kg. She is a HUGE BABY!
Unfortunately during her check upon birth, Sophia was found with water in her lungs, and later wheeled out to the Special Care Unit for observation on her Strep-B possible infection. I was sad that I haven’t get the chance to hold and bond with my newborn baby before she was wheeled away because of the emergency needs.


Dr. Irene Chua finished up my stitches and I rested in bed with hubby accompanying me. My heart just set on wondering what will happen to my little baby Sophia…
I must thank Dr. Irene Chua for her superb professionalism and smooth delivery of my baby. Now is up to the neonatologist to help with my baby’s condition.