A story of pain and more pain

I would like to share the story of my son Iyson's birth.

It all started on a Thursday night. I couldn't sleep the whole night and kept going to the toilet. I tried to look for any labour signs but there were none. So, for the whole night, I kept tossing and turning. Actually, I was still not due; I had another 10 days to go.

When morning came, I woke my husband up and told him I needed to go to the hospital. I sensed I was going into labour.

I started to call my aunt and make arrangements to send my older son Wyson to the kindergarten. I also informed my mother and told her to get ready as I was preparing to go into labour.

We reached the hospital at 8.30am and quickly went to register. To my dismay, the nurse told me that my gynaecologist was on leave. I asked the nurse if he could be called back and she said no, because he was attending a medical conference in India!

They gave me the option of waiting until my gynae returned or seeing another one.

Since I was already there, I thought I might as well see another doctor to find out if I was indeed going into labour. After having breakfast, we proceeded back to the hospital. The gynae did a scan and said that I was already 3cm dilated.

I asked her whether I could go into labour and she said yes, but it would have to be induced. My hubby and I decided to go ahead as my backache was killing me and I wanted it to be over.

I got myself admitted at 9.30am. I was wheeled into the labour room, got changed and started calling and texting my relatives and colleagues. At 11am, there was still no progress, so the nurse helped to induce labour.

We waited and waited. At 3.25pm, I was only 4cm dilated.

The gynae decided to break my water bag and put me on a drip. Once the drip started to work, the contractions began. First, I could still take the pain. After a while, tears started rolling down my face. My husband was torn up when he saw this. Then the real pain came, every five minutes.

I was crying aloud and asked the nurse to give me the “laughing gas”. But it seemed of no use as I was still in pain.

I told my husband that I wanted an epidural. I really didn't want to ask for it but the pain was unbearable. The nurse said she would check and see if I could have it. When she checked, she told me I was already 7cm dilated and it was too late for the epidural. She asked my hubby to let me inhale the gas to ease the pain while they called in the gynae.

I was already in a dreamlike state when I heard the nurses say “push”. I just followed accordingly. I lost count of how many times I pushed, but the whole process was very fast and I only needed three stitches. Phew ... at last my boy was out after 4pm.

But all the pain was worth it after hearing my little baby cry.

Ivy Chong Ai Ling