New Parents – Part 2: It’s Coming!!!

Wait!!!

I hope you found “Part 1 – Congratulations!” helpful. I can’t help it but, it was just so much to write on it and I hope if you’re back for more, do let me know (or drop your comment on Facebook) so that your feedback will encourage me to continue writing (sometimes we could use a little of encouragement yea?).

Welcome back to “Part 2 – It’s Coming!!!” If you happen to come about this article and somehow you haven’t read “Part 1 – Congratulations!”, just click on this link below to find out what you’ve missed:

LINK: Part 1 – Congratulations!

That’s What She Said

“Wait!”

Christine and I laughed among ourselves. We were just not ready. We still had things to do, we still had things to buy. No, not yet.

That happened somewhere between week 37/38. It was supposed to be due on 40! It was supposed to be an Easter Baby!

We were told by our gynae that we can be sure that the child will come, but we cannot be sure of the day and time when. When it comes, it comes. That was why in Part 1, point #9, I talked about the last two preparations that you need to look into. One of which, “The Hospital Bag”.

We took “The Hospital Bag” in and out, wherever we went. When we went to work, we brought it along. When we went out for groceries, we brought it along. When we went home, we brought it along too. You better bring your “Hospital Bag” along.

We actually told our baby to wait. Don’t come out yet.

Baby waited.

Thank God.

At this time, we were able to feel baby kicking. We were also able to see baby moving from the surface of Christine’s tummy. Christine also felt the pressure onto her pelvis area was increasing as well. This also meant that the pain is also increasing. I’m not trying to induce fear in you. It happened.

Her check-ups at the Government Health Clinic has been more frequent. Before was monthly, now it’s a weekly affair.

It’s coming…

If you’re reading this, and if you, or your partner is at the last four weeks of the full term, meaning week 36 onward, I’m gonna share with you 3 things starting with the alphabet “P”, that might be helpful to you.

Disclaimer: Follow any of the suggested below at your own risk (sounds so sad but… what to do?).

Covered in this Article

Introduction

Pre-Labour

The Signs

Pain Management

Pethidine | Ethonox

Practices

Exercise | Butt-Raise | Push

Pre-Labour

Tangible signs that you will be able to recognize.

1. Pre-Labour

“So how would you know?”

I guess that’s one of the common questions you’d find people asking. You would have also probably watched in the movies that before the woman delivers, her the water bag will burst. But what if the water bag didn’t burst… yet?

There are signs.

Just look at the stars in the sky at night. They’ll tell you nothing (sorry the word “signs” triggered).

The Signs

So before you enter into labour, you go into pre-labour (like duh Abel!!!). It’s legit.

And at the pre-labour stage, is where all the signs and wonders, sorry no wonders (“signs” triggered again) appear; tangible signs that you will be able to recognize.

Here are some of them…

Cramps

SIGN NO 1

“I’m not even pregnant and I’ve cramps every now and then.”

*speechless*

Cramps are more frequent as your due date draws nearer. You will find yourself sitting down more regularly, catching your breath (Abel, that’s a heart problem man!).

*speechless*

Contraction

SIGN NO 2

You’ll feel pain around your back and abdomen areas. Your tummy hardens as well. Just like Caterpie evolving into a Metapod (sorry Pokemon lingo, “harden” triggered).

I can’t describe to you how it exactly feels but, that was what Christine said when it came.

Contraction happens more frequent as labour draws nearer. Frequent as in, feeling this “sensation” every minute or two, and the pain lasts 20-30 seconds (some times longer).

The intensity of the pain increases as well.

So three things: Frequency, duration and intensity.

Stool

SIGN NO 3

Known as “Blood Mucus” which you would be able to notice when/after you pee (or on your pad if you’re already wearing one).

These “stools” are blood discharge due to the tearing of your cervix.

Should this happen, and you’re in your final weeks of pregnancy, just drop by the Health Clinic or you can head straight to the Labour Hall of the Hospital you’ve chosen.

At the Labour Hall, they will check and measure the opening of your cervix which they will measure in cm (centimeters).

Christine noticed stool after she went to the washroom, and we went straight to the Labour Hall. They didn’t admit Christine and she was told to come back should she find the frequency of the contraction increases.

We were also told by our friends that it is still a very long way to go at 1-2 cm.

In case you were wondering, Government Hospital.

Pain

With the Government Hospital, there are two kinds of pain relief you can choose from.

2. Pain Management

Christine got admitted around 10:30 pm, changed into the patient gown, while I waited for her outside at the Waiting Area of the Labour Hall.

It was quiet until a cockroach came in and I killed it (random much). And it became quiet again.

Christine started what you call as “Pain Management” in medical terms. I could only imagine she was undergoing much pain that she needed the pain relief at quite regular intervals.

From what I understand, with the Government Hospital, there are two kinds of pain relief you can choose from.

Pethidine

Form:

Liquid

Administration:

Injection

Entonox

Form:

Administration:

Inhalation

Christine chose Entonox.

It was effective.

On the other hand, should you labour in a Private Hospital, you may opt for Epidural as well.

A friend of ours also shared that she was on Epidural for her first too. However, as the Epidural was in effect, she couldn’t feel when she should push, and when she should not. Her husband who was an Anaesthetist, stopped the Epidural, and shortly after, the baby was born.

Christine’s labour experience was smooth. It was painful, but it was manageable. The labour was quick too. Thank God.

A recollection of what happened:

9th April 2019:

@ ~14:00 – 1st visit to the Labour Hall.

10th April 2019

@ ~11:00 – 2nd visit to the Labour Hall.
@ ~22:00 – Admission

11th April 2019

@ 02:57 – Baby was born.

Also, Christine’s water bag didn’t burst prior to Admission.

Even though different woman goes through labour differently, you would be able to pick up the tangible signs here and there.

May Christine’s experience help you in your own preparation.

Practices

3 practices that we would like to highlight…

3. Practices

There are 3 practices that we would like to highlight, which may or may not have been made known to you.

Exercise

PRACTICE NO 1

You may have heard people advising you to do squatting exercises towards the last few weeks of your pregnancy to “quicken” the child’s birth.

EFFECTS

Your pelvis bone might become “loose” and you may find it difficult to stand or walk on your own.

Butt-Raise

PRACTICE NO 2

You may think it’s easier to deliver the child by raising-up your buttocks.

EFFECTS

You will likely induce more pain and bleeding to your delivery as raising-up your buttocks will also tear your cervix.

Push

PRACTICE NO 3

You “push” any how you like.

EFFECTS

Pushing with the contraction makes your delivery easier, and faster.

Part 3 – It’s NOT Over!

READ MORE

Congratulations! You read the whole article! I hope that the article gave you a better idea and prepare you what to look forward to for your delivery (or your partner’s).

In the next article “Part 3 – It’s NOT Over!”, I will be touching on care after delivery (Aiks???).

Click on this red-colored box to read it. May it be helpful to you.