tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45171439378425574472024-03-13T05:41:29.330-07:00VBACsupportsgvbacsupportsg.blogspot.comYin Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18180684987679728756noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4517143937842557447.post-34100105703270065942016-11-22T19:32:00.001-08:002016-11-23T01:58:52.627-08:00Inspiring Quotes from Maria<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TQskHCfn9PE/WDVoRCM_jYI/AAAAAAAANIc/0Jxd21FoWSwcWt-Nvdfju3mu0pgyRPxbQCLcB/s1600/Maria.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TQskHCfn9PE/WDVoRCM_jYI/AAAAAAAANIc/0Jxd21FoWSwcWt-Nvdfju3mu0pgyRPxbQCLcB/s320/Maria.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Mummy Maria had a successful VBAC in July this year.<br />
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Be inspired by some words from her VBAC experience:<br />
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<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I have to deliver my baby in the most natural way possible – because that’s what I was made for."</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">"IT WAS THE MOST WONDERFUL FEELING EVER. I am finally a mom who experienced it all."</span></span><br style="background-color: #539bcd; color: #bbbbbb; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif;"><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">"It was 22 hours of excruciating pain, AND I WILL DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN."</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>Yin Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18180684987679728756noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4517143937842557447.post-70474197731161535062016-11-22T18:55:00.003-08:002016-11-23T02:03:26.705-08:00Maria Luzviminda Barcega's Birth Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uZYKxNlgfC0/WDVpWtU8xUI/AAAAAAAANIg/h_YVpJvxV40EQfbHpqd9lkqtP1_ZFm0vACLcB/s1600/IMG_1727%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uZYKxNlgfC0/WDVpWtU8xUI/AAAAAAAANIg/h_YVpJvxV40EQfbHpqd9lkqtP1_ZFm0vACLcB/s400/IMG_1727%2B%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">5 July 2016</span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">11:54pm</span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">VBAC</span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Baby weighs 3.3kg</span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Exactly 40 weeks</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">I didn’t experience labour pain during my first pregnancy, so this VBAC is literally my first pregnancy. In my first pregnancy – I was so afraid of the pain that I already asked for epidural during my 2cm dilation. I progressed till 6cm and after 14 hours of labour (lying down, half body numb waiting for the next thing that could happen) the doctor decided I am progressing slow and should undergo emergency caesarean operation.</span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">We wanted to wait some more, but when the doctor told us we are risking the baby then we opt for CS. I tell you what, my body didn’t agree to it and once they laid me down on the operating table they said I was hysterical so they had to put me to sleep, and the rest as they say is history. I have given birth to my very pretty, sweetest angel – Ysobel.</span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Am I a good candidate for VBAC? This was my first question, my doctor said yes but to tell you honestly even the doctors cannot answer straight as nobody can really tell, well there are some medical items that you have to pass for example your stitch wound from your last CS operation should be more than 2mm (which you can only find out on your 38th week), your baby is not too big (but my baby is big and I still decided to do it), of course you don’t have pregnancy complications that really requires CS such as high blood. Or the position of the baby is not right. But in my opinion (this is me saying it without medical background ok) it is only you who can decide if you want to do it and if you will stand by your decision and do everything for it to be successful.</span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">How did I prepare? Besides physical preparations such as walking (lots of it), and pre-natal exercises. I prepared mentally and emotionally, I prayed a lot! Pain is only in the mind they say – I have a very low pain tolerance and that’s what I prepared for conditioning myself to think that pain is a matter of thought. Besides, I read somewhere that that’s what epidural does – sending something to your brain to disable the thought of pain. And no matter what, I have to deliver my baby in the most natural way possible – because that’s what I was made for. Bear a child and bring it to the world. So whether I like it or not, painful or not – I have to do it. No choice. So I better do it right!</span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">My birth story. My due date was </span><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1679266101" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204 , 204 , 204); font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">5th of July</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> and up to the night of </span><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1679266102" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204 , 204 , 204); font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">July 4</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> I am not feeling anything, not much discharge (I was looking for the mucus plug) and no pain at all. I was a little worried cause I don’t want to be induced (remember I am hoping for the most natural birth possible). So around </span><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1679266103" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204 , 204 , 204); font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">12:30</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> of </span><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1679266104" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204 , 204 , 204); font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">July 5</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> – I woke up with a sharp pain in my back, the pain that will wake you up but still tolerable. It come and goes, so I said maybe its contractions and I have to monitor the timing. I didn’t wake my Gerald up just yet because like me he would need the energy in case I am in active labour already. The interval is within 4-5 minutes already by </span><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1679266105" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204 , 204 , 204); font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">3am</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> and the pain is getting worse. But as what we have agreed (me and hubby) we will labour as much as we can at home! No medical interventions, no nurses to ask you if you want gas or epidural to help you in your pain. Plainly at home, if I feel like the head is coming out then that’s the only time we will go. But the pain is terrible and by </span><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1679266106" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204 , 204 , 204); font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">7am</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> I can feel that urge to poop which they say is the sign that she will soon come out. So I took a bath (took my time) because the hot water helps lessen the pain, and asked my hubby to bring me to the hospital.</span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Around </span><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1679266107" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204 , 204 , 204); font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">8:30am</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> – we are already there after 10 minutes or so the doctor arrived. Dr. Paul Tseng of TMC not to mention a very handsome guy and such a gentleman, asked me to rate the pain and I cannot because I don’t have a comparison since I didn’t felt the pain in my first pregnancy, so just to answer him I said 6 (because 5 for me is tolerable and 6 is pass that point). And the nurse said, according to the monitor I am already 10/10 in pain. So my doctor had to check (VE) and I was surprised when he said I am already 6cm!!! And so me and the hubby exchanged look and in our minds “this will be fast!” (and so we thought)</span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Delivery room: Pain, pain and pain. I danced, I sang, I hugged the giant yoga ball. I prayed. I danced, danced and danced and danced (as it is the most effective pain reliever for me) but dear Lord it is so painful. And my hubby cannot stop laughing of me dancing wearing a hospital gown (as he said he can see my butt) and I don’t care!! I just want the pain to go away and proceed pushing. And it was like that till I reached 8cm.</span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">8cm – at </span><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1679266108" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204 , 204 , 204); font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">11am</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">. I told my Gerald I wanted to give up and take epidural already, and then he said no! We can do it, so he said all the pep-talks he could for me to realized that we have come so far. But my progress is so slow and all because my water bag is still intact and I don’t want the doctor to burst it (remember most natural way). So we waited, and bear the pain.</span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Until </span><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1679266109" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204 , 204 , 204); font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">2pm</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">, </span><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1679266110" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204 , 204 , 204); font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">3pm</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">, </span><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1679266111" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204 , 204 , 204); font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">4pm</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> I am still 8cm! 430pm we decided to ask the doctor to burst it and I progress to 9cm. Then at 730pm, I am still 9cm, so the doctor said I might need to take epidural to relax the cervix so it could finally open up to 10 and I can push! My God after hours of pain you want me to take epidural when I am already 9cm! But who would say No! So we did. And at around </span><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1679266112" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204 , 204 , 204); font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">9pm</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">, finally I am 10cm dilated. I slept, oh yeah! Finally.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">They woke me up to ask me to tell them if I am already feeling the urge to push, and I can’t feel anything, so they said they already lessen the epidural and I should feel it already. So I said to myself I wanted to feel the “pushing” and asked them to turn down the epidural off. And its painful, but what the heck this is it! I am pushing. The nurse gave me an impromptu push lessons and it was good. 2 pushes – ah she’s not going out. 3rd push – she called the doctor. On the 4th to 5th push – </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Doctor looking at my Gerald - Gerald gesturing in my open legs – “do you want to see the head?” Confused and hesitant my Gerald did and I saw a very funny “what’s that” face from him when he saw the head. He said seeing the hair felt gross, hahahaha! 6th push – yey!!! She was out!!!</span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Gerald cut the cord – and he looked like he was about to faint. Thank God he didn’t. He deserved to do it for all the pain, scratches and quick punch he got from me. He is my best support ever! I cannot do it without him.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">They put Laura in my chest, and directly latch. IT WAS THE MOST WONDERFUL FEELING EVER. I am finally a mom who experienced it all.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">It was 22 hours of excruciating pain, AND I WILL DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN.</span></span>Yin Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18180684987679728756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4517143937842557447.post-6398933059128307702014-07-08T21:42:00.000-07:002015-11-02T00:47:02.571-08:00Regina's Birth Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nX7EZiRB84I/U7zGvgOU96I/AAAAAAAAGiA/WIXx_AY79mU/s1600/Regina+pix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">13 May 2014<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">VBAC with epidural (39w 5d)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Baby 2.47kg<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">21 June 2012<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">First birth with emergency C-section (37w 4d)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Baby 2.985kg<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My first birth was a C-section not because there was a
life-threatening situation but because, according to my gynae, I would be too
tired after waiting for so many hours. Being inexperienced, I went to hospital
soon after my water bag burst, despite having read that I could wait, because I
had called the hospital and the staff asked me to go in. My contractions
started on the way to the hospital, where I spent the night. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The following morning, my gynae came and suggested epidural
to relax my cervix so that it could dilate faster. I trusted her judgement and
agreed even though I had wanted a drug-free birth. 18 hours after admission, I
had dilated 6cm. It was around 8pm then and there were probably around 5 people
including my gynae in my delivery room. She advised me to get a C-section so
that I wouldn’t become too tired. One of the nurses said, “You should listen to
your doctor.” Today, I know I might have had a natural birth had I waited
longer and not blindly trusted my gynae. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">After the birth, my gynae said that my future births would
have to be C-section. I was not told this beforehand! It took me a while to
come to terms with what had happened. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">At the beginning of my second pregnancy, I went online to
research about having a normal birth after a C-section. To my relief, it was
possible and I was a good candidate for a VBAC. However, I could no longer go
back to the gynae who delivered my first child. I searched online for a gynae
who would be supportive of VBAC and discovered to my disappointment that there
are very few. In fact, I found only one. So I went to this gynae. It was
uneventful except near full term when he mentioned a scan to see the thickness
of the C-section scar to determine if I could still try for a VBAC. He had
never mentioned this scan before. Fortunately, from the scan I was still
suitable for VBAC.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I read as much as I could about the labour process, and positions
to adopt during contractions. I also joined a VBAC support group on Facebook. There
are many stories of doctors who say that they are open to the idea of VBAC at
the beginning of a pregnancy, but start to discourage mothers from trying for
one in the third trimester. This is true even in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Singapore</st1:country-region>. It really helped to read
VBAC stories regardless of whether they were successful, as they prepared me to
keep an open mind and gave me tips on how to avoid another C-section. My plan
was to labour at home for as long as possible, not take epidural, and keep
mobile the whole time. However, things did not turn out entirely the way I
wanted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My second labour lasted 22 hours, starting with my amniotic
sac leaking at 2.30pm. I spent 17 hours labouring at home. When I reached the
hospital at around 8am the next day, I was 4cm dilated. The nurses kept telling
me that I had to inform them early if I wanted epidural. Because my baby’s
heart rate dipped every time I had a contraction, I was not allowed to take the
monitor off. I was confined to the bed lying on my side. My husband had to
massage my lower back to relieve the pain with every contraction. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The pain increased in intensity and I took to shouting! Then
I found that pushing relieved the pain. A nurse came to give me entonox to try
to give the baby oxygen as his heart rate still dipped with contractions. The
gas helped me to follow the urge to push. By then I was 6-7cm dilated, and from
previous experience I thought I still had a long time to go before the baby
came out, so I wanted to give in and take epidural. But the senior nurse,
seeing that I could still cope, said to wait till my gynae arrived.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When the gynae arrived I was 8cm dilated. He said my baby’s
heart rate dipped due to head compression during contractions, and that was
normal. I don’t know if he knew that I mentioned taking epidural, but he told
the nurses to give me epidural and left the room. The anaesthetist pressed
something on my entonox mask to increase the speed of the gas, which was a great
relief! I had spent the whole night working through contractions and eaten very
little for breakfast so the gas was a great refresher. After administration of
the epidural, two nurses came in with the gynae and they began setting up to
prepare for delivery. The gynae said something that sounded very strange: “I am
going to help you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The pain had reduced and was replaced by a strong urge to
push. The baby crowned with the first push. Vacuum was used during the third
push. It was painful; the epidural had not fully set in yet. And the baby was
out. He had meconium on him. Gynae injected oxytocin to induce delivery of the
placenta, and stitched up some tears. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It was great to be able to breastfeed Joseph minutes
after he was born. He was very alert. In the month after the birth, I had to
endure pain from the tearing and at the tailbone. But that was just a temporary
inconvenience. I am glad I avoided another C-section!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>Yin Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18180684987679728756noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4517143937842557447.post-75134728712480575162013-09-19T03:53:00.001-07:002015-11-02T00:47:14.810-08:00Natalie's Birth Story<div class="MsoNormal">
On 30 June 2013, Natalie had a natural, drug-free VBAC. After having gone through a harrowing emergency C-section experience that left her feeling 'like a failure', she was determined for history not to repeat itself. She armed herself with birthing knowledge and listened to her body, trusting it to take the lead this time round. With the courage to follow her birthing body and a woman's birthing instincts, and a supportive gynae, she got the VBAC she wanted. </div>
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This is her story.</div>
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30 Jun 2013<o:p></o:p></div>
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VBAC without epidural (40w5d)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Baby 3.4kg<o:p></o:p></div>
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6 Oct 2010<o:p></o:p></div>
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First birth with Emergency C-section (41w3d)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Baby 3.6kg<br />
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<b>Asked to induce</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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I had always wanted a natural birth so I was very
disappointed when my first birth ended in an emergency C-section. When week 41
passed and there was no sign of baby coming out, I was asked to go for an
induction. I had 2 induction tablets and dilated to 3cm. The gynae burst my
water bag and put me on drip to induce.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Offered epidural</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Initially I did not want an epidural but the gynae says this
might be the reason why I am dilating so slowly. Hence I took epidural and
waited. I thought that everything will go well after that. I further dilated 2cm in 9hrs after I burst my water bag. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Gynae did not want to wait</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I failed to progress more than 5cm dilation. Although there was
no sign of baby in distress, the gynae did not want to wait. We asked him if it was ok to wait but he says no point since already waited for 9hrs and no
progress.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Gynae said baby is big</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As new parents without much knowledge, we can only trust the
gynae since we did not wish to take the risk of baby passing motion in utero.
The water bag had burst too and gynae was not really giving us much advice on
how long can the baby stay inside the tummy with the water bag burst. Gynae
said the baby is big so. Later after delivery he said that my cervix is sharp
angle. I did not quite believe him because I am a big size so if my petite
friend whose baby is heavier than me can have hers naturally, why can’t I? He had
never informed me about my sharp angle during pregnancy. Why only now? I feel
that he just does not want to go back home and return again
after midnight – overtime for him. I am really bitter about this
although I try to tell myself that my baby is healthy and even if I managed to
dilate to 10cm, there might be still some other complications.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Gynae say impossible to try natural</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I had my 2nd baby when I was staying in Perth. This
time I wanted to try for a VBAC. As I am not familiar with Perth, I decided to
have my baby in Singapore. I read up on VBAC and found my gynae – Paul Tseng. I
did not wish to go back to my previous gynae as he had told me that it is
impossible for me to try natural and that my next birth would be a C-section. I
do not believe him anymore.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<b>Discovering other birthing options</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Australia is a very pro-natural country for child birthing
as compared to Singapore. They have many different methods of birthing (home
birthing, water birthing, midwives etc) I attended a prenatal yoga course and
this must be the best thing that I did. At the end of every lesson, they would discuss
topics on child birthing. After listening, I was very certain that everything
was wrong for my first birth that resulted in emergency C-section. If only I
had more information back then.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Determined to stay at home as long as possible</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For my 2nd birth, equipped with all the information, I was
ready to try for a VBAC. I try to eat lesser and healthily to keep my
baby smaller. Paul told me to go to the hospital only when the intervals
between my contractions were strong (1 min every 4 mins) or if my water bag
burst. Now that I know babies don’t come out so fast, unlike on TV and I don’t
dilate so fast. I was determined to stay at home as much as possible. Despite
Paul been pro-VBAC, I am still not going to take any chances. I strongly
believe that if I go to the hospital too early, there is a chance that they
will say I fail to progress if I stay there for too long. Baby monitoring will
also hinder my movement and make it harder for me to dilate. Nurses might check
dilation frequently resulting in water bag burst and they may psycho me to take
epidural.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Natalie’s Birthing Journey</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
28th June<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Morning - Mucous plug came out. Contractions was 30s every
9mins. I was worried as I am not sure if I should go to the hospital. I did
not.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Afternoon – Contractions disappear after a nap. They are
false contractions.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Night – Contractions came again around 10pm. Intervals
of 10mins and 15mins. Last longer(90s) and much more painful than the
contractions in the morning. I was able to sleep while I was having
contractions so I guess they are fake since I can still sleep else my pain
tolerance is very high.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
29th June<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No more contractions in the morning and afternoon.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Night – Contractions started at 10pm. Mucous plug and
diarrhea too. I was able to sleep so I suppose it is not the real thing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
30th June<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Morning - Woke up at 2am feeling great pain and
not able to sleep. I was timing my contractions from 2am to 4am. It was getting
very painful. I was wondering why fake contractions are so pain. I had bad
diarrhea too, keep running to the toilet. The intervals are not consistent
still so I thought they are fake. It was about 1min every 4min or 5min.
There were also longer ones every 7 or 8 mins. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was moving around a lot every time during my contractions.
Making sure I am in positions that will help me to dilate faster and relieve
the pain.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4am – Pain got worst. Something is not right. I
was having contractions every 2mins when I was getting ready to go to the
hospital. Oops!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<b>In active labour</b><br />
I was bleeding when I went to the toilet in the hospital.
Nurse confirmed that I was in labour. She checked and I was 6cm dilated. Nurse
was very rough when checking; I was so scared my water bag will burst. She even
told my mum (my husband is overseas) that VBAC was very risky and my uterine
will rupture. I was quite irritated with her because if I have not warned my
mum before this she will probably be very scared. Luckily I told my mum much
earlier that Paul said there is 1% risk and I have already signed the indemnity
form.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<b>Birthing ball and birthing stool sped things up</b><br />
I was plugged on the CTG and had to take laughing gas for
the pain. I did not take epidural. Within less than an hour I was 8cm dilated.
I was still worried that I will not dilate to 10cm so I asked the nurse to
remove the CTG so that I can at least lie on the side and not on my back. She was
quite unwilling but allowed me to do it later. There was no progress during the
next dilation check so I requested for birthing ball and birthing stool. She
was not very experienced as she had to make me get up to the bed again before
she can check my dilation. I was quite irritated because my contractions were
coming very fast and I had to wait for the contraction to subside before
climbing back into the bed again. I was 9cm dilated. The birth ball & stool
definitely sped things up.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Luckily they change my nurse after this as it was time for
them to change shift. The new nurse was able to check my dilation when I was on
the birthing stool. She told me to push since I am quite near 10cm and advised
me to push on the bed as it will be much easier. I was sceptical but since
already 10cm so might as well. It will be easier for Paul to deliver too. Paul
had not arrived yet.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I asked the nurse how long I need to push before baby can
come out. She told me an hour. I really feel like giving up on hearing this. I
wanted epidural if it is going to take another hour but I guess it is too late
so I did not bother to ask.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Baby's head after a few pushes</b><br />
My mum said she saw the baby’s head after 3 to 5 pushes.
That really gave me the encouragement to go on. Paul finally arrived and after
2 to 3 pushes the baby was out. It was less than an hour! Paul’s voice was very
encouraging and it really gives me the strength to continue.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<b>A natural, drug-free birth</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am very glad as it takes only 3hours after I reach the
hospital to deliver my baby. The pain was bearable and I had no medical
intervention or epidural. No drips and no catheter. The experience is so much
better compared to my first. I was also able to directly latch my son in the
delivery room. No shivering and no vomiting. My cervix was not acute angle
afterall.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Giving my body time to dilate</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I personally feel that I made the right choice to stay as
long at home as possible. If I had gone to the hospital earlier (on 28th June),
either they would have sent me home or I would not have been able to wait till 30th June to
fully dilate since that will be almost 3 days in the delivery ward. No stress from the nurses and unnecessary medical
interventions too. Home is definitely more relaxing and less stressful.<br />
<br />
For hundreds of years, women have been giving birth without any medical
intervention. I do not see the reason that any of these are necessary
especially if I am not having any medical complications. If I had gone to the
hospital earlier, I will have insisted on a drug free natural labour too.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
I was told that my first birth was a failure because
the baby is not ready to come out (no contractions at all) and we forced him
out. The end result is a C-section.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Please note that the above are my own views based on what I
read and heard. They are not been medically advised by doctors so please do
your own research. You need to know yourself and your limits well and what you
are doing is not posing any risk to you or your baby. If there is any point of
time that my baby or I are in danger, I would not have hesitated for medical
intervention. Please do not insist on trying natural if there are already signs
that things are not going well. You still have to trust your gynae. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: white;">Natalie shares some tips based on her own experience<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1) <b>Epidural before you are 6cm dilated will increase
chance of C-section to 70%.</b> You are not able to move around after having
epidural, dilation can happen much slower. It might also cause baby to be in
distress. Lying on your back will block your baby from going downwards due to
the position of your tail bone. If you can bear with the pain, don’t take
epidural.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2) One Australian mummy took 40hrs to dilate at home.
<b>Dilation varies so some people can take days to dilate.</b><o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3) <b>Never ever let them burst your water bag. </b>Do not let the
nurse check too frequently in case they are too rough and burst your water bag.
Even if burst, you still have 24hrs to deliver the baby. Gynae just have to
give you antibiotics to ensure the baby does not get infected.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4) <b>Never induce your baby
unless medically necessary. </b>Chance of C-section is much higher after induction
as it might cause baby distress and failure to dilate.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
5) <b>Week 41 is not late. </b>I
am allowed to wait till Week 42 and he will then check to see if I can wait
till Week 43.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6) <b>Moving around dilates
faster. </b>Do not lie on the bed like what you see on TV.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
7) <b>You are allowed to
consume food when trying for natural. </b>I was not allowed to eat for my first
birth. I was so tired and hungry by the time I was told to go for emergency C-section.
My mind was too weak to even want to wait any longer.<o:p></o:p></div>
Yin Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18180684987679728756noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4517143937842557447.post-37696636355239379942013-04-23T23:42:00.000-07:002013-04-23T23:47:11.953-07:00Joanne Yau's Birth Story<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8T7ixKcavWQ/UXd6qvV3hdI/AAAAAAAAEvw/fPd6WuQWqS0/s1600/Joanna+Yau.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8T7ixKcavWQ/UXd6qvV3hdI/AAAAAAAAEvw/fPd6WuQWqS0/s320/Joanna+Yau.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">27 Sep 2011</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">VBAC with epidural (38w5d)</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">Baby 2.515kg</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">3 Apr 2009</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">First birth with C-section (EDD) </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">Baby 3.19kg</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">From the get-go, I had wanted a natural birth. But I guess I was ill prepared for it because I was slightly overweight and didn’t read up on what to expect during a normal delivery. I ate outside food daily. Home cooked meals were rare. I didn’t exercise much.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;"><b style="background-color: black;">Diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;">Coming from a family with a history of Gestational Diabetes (GD), I was diagnosed with it when I was 28 weeks along. The endocrinologist and gynae frowned upon my weight gain and put me on insulin injections twice daily from 30 weeks to delivery date. That’s on top of the painful pricking of blood three times a day to check the glucose level.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;"><b style="background-color: black;">Insulin weakened uterine muscles</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;">By 40 weeks, there were no signs of labour, not even BH contractions. Then, my No.1 disengaged from my womb at the last minute. The reason to date is unknown. This made the success rate for induced birth only 25%. Because of gestational diabetes, the gynae told me (only much later when I was pregnant with No.2) that the insulin injections weakened my uterine muscles to the point that they couldn’t contract. I had to be on insulin drips if I wanted to attempt an induction.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;"><b style="background-color: black;">2 days to C-section</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The gynae didn't want to wait beyond 40 weeks because of increased risk of stillbirth. Neither did my husband.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> I was given a mere 2 days to prepare for the C-section. Even though the hospital records said “elective C-section”, I considered it “emergency”. Postpartum period was most horrible. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Well-meaning folks who tried to comfort me said, amongst other insensitive things, "C-section babies look more beautiful than babies who passed through the birth canal."</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;"><b style="background-color: black;">Last chance at natural birth</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;"><b style="background-color: black;"><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">Believe it or not, I got pregnant with my No.2 because amongst other intentions: I wanted to experience a last chance at having a natural birth. People listed out plenty of arguments why I should go through another C-section.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;"><b style="background-color: black;">"You need to work hard for VBAC"</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;">I read reviews about Dr Paul Tseng who is pro-VBAC. However, my husband preferred not to change gynae because he has all my medical history. Agreeing, I went back to see Dr LC Cheng. At the very 1st consultation, I told him I really want to attempt a VBAC. He gave me a photocopied newspaper article (I still have it today) headlined: "You need to work hard for your VBAC". He told me, in his usually relaxed attitude: “We can try. But there are no guarantees in success.” His words encouraged me and I decided to stick with him to the end.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;"><b style="background-color: black;">Controlled diet</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">No.2 was growing well and healthy in my womb. At around 24 weeks gestation, my gynae advised me to start my controlled diet and I started with no qualms at all. Expectedly, I failed the glucose test again. The shock and sadness that used to weigh me down previously was then replaced with resolute desire to fight this war against GD again.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">I started off this pregnancy weighing 52kg and gained a total of 6kg at the end. Compared to No.1 pregnancy: 58kg and 10kg gained in total. This was a vast improvement. The controlled diet I started since the 1st time I was diagnosed with GD is till now, a significant part of my life.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">"Give me a fighting chance at VBAC"</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;">At the beginning of my 3rd trimester, Dr Cheng seemed to hint at me at the possibility of a repeat c-section (RCS). Unlike in the past when I agreed to everything with no questions asked, I told him to at least give me a fighting chance at VBAC.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #cccccc;">Guidelines for attempting VBAC</span></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">He gave me 3 guidelines to attempt a VBAC delivery:</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;">1. The birth weight for my #2 cannot be more than that of my No.1.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;">2. I’ll have to take a pelvic bone Xray test at 37 weeks to ensure my pelvic opening can expand enough to have my #2’s head pass through safely through my birth canal.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;">3. Inducing labour is not allowed as it will stress the body, thus increasing the risk of uterine rupture.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;">Of the 3 guidelines, number 1 should be easily attainable given my controlled diet since I was 6 months pregnant. Number 2 depends on my genetic makeup which I have no control. Number 3 is the hardest I guess. If my #2 doesn’t want to come out, I have no control, again.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;">There I had it, 2 strikes out of 3. From the beginning of the 3rd trimester till the very end, thoughts of RCS kept hanging in my mind. I was more mentally prepared this time round for a RCS though a VBAC would really be an icing on the cake. I started praying, fervently for God’s will for a favourable result for guidelines 2 and 3.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;">My diet plan worked, only too well.People around me commented on how fit I was. The severe retention on both feet during my No.1 pregnancy was nowhere to be seen. Best of all, I had no need of a single insulin jab! The painful pricking of fingers was reduced from 3 times a day to 2 times on alternate days. If I ate the same foods that gave me good glucose readings, I did not need to retest again. The same endocrinologist whom I saw since my 1st pregnancy, Dr Kelvin Tan, praised me for my efforts as I achieved HbA1c of 5.2% and wrote a very favourable report about me to Dr Cheng. That’s 1 down.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;">The pelvic bone Xray test done at 37 weeks produced a better than expected result. Medically, there isn’t any reason why my baby can’t come out easily through the birth canal. That’s 2 down.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;"><b style="background-color: black;">Praying for spontaneous labour</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">I began to pray more fervently than ever for the spontaneous labour which eluded me in the past. A fantastic group of mummies who were pregnant at around the same time as me reminded each other to get the raspberry leaf tea and start drinking it from 37 weeks onwards as it’s known to kick start labour naturally. I also started walking more in the evenings after work, often bringing my elder son for a strolls and to the playground. A very important exercise I did especially when visiting the washroom was the pelvic floor exercise.</span></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">Miracle birth</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;">Thinking back now, it could be the raspberry leaf tea, or the exercises, or the non-insulin injections. I don’t know. I got my spontaneous labour at 38w5d! I am thankful to God till today for the miracle birth He has granted me. Out came my beautiful baby boy born so tiny at 2.515kg I regretted controlling my diet so much.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;">My husband didn’t manage to see my No.2 come out of me, what a waste! The birth was so beautiful and surreal that when he came out, my tummy suddenly shrunk from being round to flat. I didn’t cry, but I remembered thanking Dr Cheng and his team for the umpteenth time for helping me achieve a vaginal birth.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;"><b style="background-color: black;">Feeling great</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;">Postpartum recovery was a lot easier for vaginal birth compared to C-section. Dr Cheng came by my ward the next day. I told him I was feeling great. He said, “Much better than C-section, yes?” Undoubtedly yes! I took a few painkillers for a few days due to my womb shrinking back to original size. By the 2nd week, the pain was all gone. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;">Today when I look at the super active 9.3kg toddler who is almost literally an Energizer bunny, I am still amazed at his mode of delivery given the unimaginable odds stacked against me.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;"><b style="background-color: black;">No.3? Drug free with hypnobirthing</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;">If I had a RCS, I would have stopped at 2 already. But now my husband and I are undecided whether to go for another one. If in the unlikely event I get pregnant with #3, I’ll not just attempt another VBAC, but will do it drug-free with a hypno-birthing doula. That is for certain.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">(Joanna Yau is happy to connect with other mothers working towards a VBAC. Kindly email May to be linked up with her.)</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">My labour story</span></i></b></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">5am: Woke up with tightening and cramp pain. Leaned against the wall for support. Instinct tells me this could be it. Started timing contraction intervals. 5min! Used deep breathing techniques to manage pain. Drank Milo kosong and felt slightly better.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">8am: Had a burning urge to call gynae clinic but interval fluctuate between 5-10min so decided against it.<br /><br />10am: Bloody show! Decided to call gynae clinic and nurse told me to straightaway go labour ward. Grabbed packed luggage, daily necessities and rushed out of home.<br /><br />10.30am: Reached labour ward. Nurse told me to remove all clothing, jewellery and wear a pink gown while they prepared a bed for me. Hb went to attend admission procedures. Got a drip due to gestational diabetes. Totally no food until evening thank God I ate some fishball noodles. Hooked me up to contraction monitor. Interval remains 5min. Bb heartbeat between 120-160bpm which is normal. No signs of distress. Tested blood pressure which returns normal. Did a hurting like hell VE check: 6cm!<br /><br />12.30pm: Hb went out for lunch. Gynae came to labour ward and broke my waterbag. I asked him isn't he inducing labour by breaking waterbag. He said I'm already in labour this is not inducing cos inducing isn't allowed for VBAC. He and all the nurses kept asking me whether I wanna pain relief. But I think my pain threshold is high so declined the offer. Gynae said bb poo inside my womb. 1st sign of fetal distress.<br /><br />12.30pm-2.30pm: The contraction pain intensified so greatly after waterbag burst. Had a feeling I'm not progressing well. VE check: 7cm. Worse, every time I'd contraction, bb heartbeat dropped. 2nd sign of fetal distress. Decided on either gas or epi.<br /><br />2.30pm: Epidural administered. Slight pain upon insertion. Moderate numbness set in not soon after. Started to have severe shivering and bit of headache. Blood pressure monitor attached to me all the way. 1 time dropped v low at 70, causing panic. Hb came back for awhile and left to pick up elder boy from CC. Catheter inserted in bladder.<br /><br />2.30pm-6.41pm: Everything started going fast and furious. Contraction continued to peak to 1-2min at alarming levels but all I felt was an urge to poo. Felt totally relaxed. Epi reduced to 1ml per min from initial 10ml-11ml. Nurse was happy with my progress and transferred me to delivery ward. Watched tv, slept, friendly chat with nurses and listened to songs to pass time. Dilated the remaining 3cm during this period.<br /><br />6.41pm: Fully dilated and bb engaged! Nurses and me called hb to witness birth to no avail and decided not to wait for him anymore cos bb poo inside me again. Gynae came and praised me for not using up the epidural anaesthetic. Encouraged me to push whenever I felt a contraction.<br /><br />6.56pm: Few strong pushes and bb was out. Felt a tremendous sense of relief! Placenta expelled in pieces and gynae removed a fair bit, leaving the rest to my womb to expel the remaining portions. Stitched me up due to a minor cut while pushing.<br /><br />7pm: Hb finally arrived with elder boy (crazy traffic jam) and managed to at least witness the weigh-in.</span></i></div>
Yin Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18180684987679728756noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4517143937842557447.post-13194464406085216912013-04-15T02:13:00.000-07:002013-04-15T02:13:35.803-07:00Pressured into InducingTwo years on and the stories I hear are still the same:<br />
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Women being "gently" pressured towards induction for non-medically threatening reasons like "a few days over due date".<br />
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And the storyline that unfolds from there on is all too predictable and familiar:<br />
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Mom isn't prepared for induction. Mind isn't prepared for induction. Body isn't prepared for induction. Baby isn't prepared to come out.<br />
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So Mom's body is tense. Because her mind is tense. It goes against her natural instinct of giving birth to her own baby.<br />
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She starts to doubt her own body's ability to birth her baby.<br />
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And when mom tenses up, her birthing muscles tense up, and the cervix can't dilate. AND NO AMOUNT OF INDUCTION MEDICATION CAN UNDO THIS.<br />
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What happens next? Mom is told baby is in danger due to long labour, Mom feels helpless and tired and disappointed with herself. By now, she just wants the ordeal to end, so "whatever you say doctor, if you think I need a c section now, then so be it."<br />
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Mom comes out of the c section traumatised, but tries to convince herself that she did the best thing for her baby, and that her baby is healthy is the most important. All attention is now on the baby and mom is left wondering what she had just put herself through. She feels scarred (literally and psychologically) and in most cases, feels the anti-climax of the birth she never experienced.<br />
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THIS HAS TO STOP.<br />
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Moms, start educating yourself about the birthing process. Learn the techniques to get the natural birth you want. Do not "leave it up" to your gynae to dictate what's best for you.<br />
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Despite what you have been taught at hospital pre-natal classes, that casually tell you about various pain relief options as if they are the norm, find out for yourself alternative ways of pain management that are drug-free and effective.<br />
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I am sure there are many out there who are simply resigned to "screaming it out" and "enduring until cannot endure" when the time comes. And if cannot then "no choice" ask for epidural.<br />
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You have a choice.<br />
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YOU CAN HAVE A GENTLE BIRTH IF YOU PREPARE FOR IT.<br />
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Like a triathlete preparing to run a marathon trains for months. Like a gungfu master who spends hours each day training his mind. Like a diver practises a new way to breathe underwater.<br />
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It is possible if you set your heart, mind and time to it.<br />
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You can call it hypnobirthing, gentle birthing whatever. It's about a technique of breathing that needs to be practised daily, and mind conditioning.<br />
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Because only if the mind is fully relaxed can the body fully relax. And only if the body relaxes can the cervix dilate, and the birth passage expand to allow baby out. The concept is that simple.<br />
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Of course not everyone is a suitable candidate for a VBAC. But if you are, as confirmed by your gynae, do prepare yourself well for it.<br />
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So you can fully enjoy the empowering experience of a natural birth.<br />
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May you have a successful VBAC!<br />
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<br />Yin Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18180684987679728756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4517143937842557447.post-35557407156123367392011-07-22T23:54:00.000-07:002018-06-10T20:59:40.750-07:00Lin's Birth Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">1<sup>st</sup> May 2011</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">3.85kg<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Natural tear, drug-free<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">I have always expected that I would give birth naturally. I had this constant fear of childbirth though, as we grew up hearing horror stories and seeing images on TV.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone around me was telling me that it was going to be very painful and I should opt for epidural. It was even more scary to me as I had zero pain tolerance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">First Birth<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">My first pregnancy went on smoothly. Baby was growing well. I went to a gynae recommended by a friend. I trusted the gynae and did not read up much. As my weight ballooned, I grew apprehensive. I asked the gynae whether my baby would get too big. He told me there was no correlation between the mother’s and baby’s weight. He even said that eating durians was okay. As I had cravings for sweet stuff, I happily ate carbohydrates, durians, cakes and desserts. Only in the last stage of the pregnancy did he tell me that my baby was overweight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“Just Go With The Flow”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">When I told him I was worried baby was too big for me to birth naturally, he said, “What’s there to worry? Just go with the flow.” He meant that if I could not birth naturally, just go through Caesarean. No big deal. To him, it was a surgical procedure he performed every day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Impending Induction<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">When I was almost due, the gynae gave me a ‘grace period’ of 3 days. Why 3 days? It was just a magic number, his tolerance level. I was so stressed the week before the EDD as I knew I had to be induced if birth did not start spontaneously. I knew that induction usually led to C-section. No matter how much walking and exercise I did, there was no sign at all. I was tense and cried every day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Just 1cm More But...<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Finally 2 days after the EDD, we admitted to hospital for induction. Big mistake. After 20 hours of induction plus epidural, lying in bed waiting for the dilation, my cervix dilated to 9cm and stopped progressing! The nurses came in for the VE every hour. I developed fever, maybe due to the side effects of epidural or the frequent VE which caused infection. I asked for more time for the cervix to be fully dilated, as it was just 1cm left. The gynae said, “Well, you have to bear your own risk if you want to wait further.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Devastated and Disappointed<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">So I was not given a choice. I cried while being wheeled into the OT. I came out devastated and disappointed, and with a painful wound on my tummy. The recovery was painful and breastfeeding was challenging. I was not even able to carry my son for the first few weeks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Yes, my boy was big, 4.1kg, but I still don’t believe that that was the reason for the failure to progress.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">This Time I Want a VBAC<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">For my second pregnancy, I wanted a VBAC badly and started to read up. People around me were not supportive of VBAC at all. You'd think that women would understand how important the birth experience is to a mother, but no. I was quite affected when a mum told me that it was no big deal to have c-section again since I had my tummy ‘cut’ once. Another mum told me, the scar was just like a zip. “Go for elective Caesarean and you could be in control.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Making Changes<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">I went through the forum looking for mums with VBAC experience. I knew I had to make a few changes if I wanted to have a successful VBAC. That was when I got to know May, and she gave me very sound advices:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1)<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">I had to change my gynae to a pro-natural doctor, who had experience with VBAC. I got to know from a few mums that Dr Paul Tseng is a very good doctor and all had natural births with him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2)<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">I took a hypnobirthing course, as it would help me have a gentle birth, which was essential for VBAC.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3)<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">I engaged a doula for labour support.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Dr Paul gave me good vibes at the first consultation. He said the reason that my cervix failed to dilate could be due to the size of the baby or the position. So we set the understanding right at the start. He did not promise me that I would get VBAC, but at least we could try. So I followed a strict diet to ensure that my baby did not get too big this time. I exercised regularly and practised hypnobirthing techniques.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">I liked it that Dr Paul did not need to scan every visit to check that my baby was doing well. He would estimate the size of the baby and not worry me with the numbers, though one of the scans revealed that the baby seemed to be on the big side.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">No Signs At 40 Weeks<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">On the 40<sup>th</sup> week, I started to panic, fearing it might be just like my first birth. There were no false contractions, no lightening, no signs at all. I went for the checkup with a heavy heart, as I was afraid that Dr Paul might ask me to fix a date for C-section. (VBAC births cannot be induced as it will cause undue stress to the previous scar.)</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Dr Paul checked the heartbeat and the water level, and told me, “Okay, see you next week if nothing happens.” He estimated that the baby was around 3.3 – 3.4kg. He told me that he could wait for 2 weeks, but he would monitor the situation closely. I was so relieved!! That day, I put my heart at ease and went shopping and eating with my husband and son.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">In Labour on Labour Day<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">The very next morning, 1<sup>st</sup> May 2011 which incidentally is Labour Day, I started to feel surges at 4.30am, It was a strange sensation I'd never felt before. I couldn’t sleep although I was very tired. So I walked around, timed the surges and tried to go back to sleep. By about 7am, the surges came fast and furious! My son woke up and looked for me. This distracted me from my breathing and the surges became unbearable. I called my doula, Manu, and she was so upbeat about it. She said, “Yes, this is it! I’m so happy for you!”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">We rushed to hospital, and reached there about 9am. Manu reached there about the same time. It was so comforting to see her, and she had a big backpack of stuff and a birth ball. I knew I would be taken care of. It was a pity that I couldn’t get the room with the water tub, as I heard that it was very comforting to soak in water, like natural pain relief.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Already 9cm Dilated<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">The nurse requested to perform a routine VE but I insisted that I wanted Dr Paul to do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thinking back, I made the right decision, as Dr Paul was very gentle and I only had to do it once. I was already 9cm dilated! From then on, I just managed the surges, and breathed through every one of them. Manu kept reminding me to breathe deeply, as I was taking short breaths when the surges came.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Kneeling, Eating & Drinking<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">I changed to a kneeling position, to give baby more space to move down the birth passage. However, the kneeling position was very intense, and it took a lot of effort and strength to stay that way. I didn’t know how long I lasted in that position, but I had to turn around and lie on my back again. I ran out of energy as I did not have my breakfast. My husband kept me hydrated with water and Milo, and Manu made me oatmeal which was filling and so comforting. I was actually allowed food while in labour. (I was denied food and water for 24 hours for my last birth).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">When Dr Paul came back again, I was told that they could see baby’s hair at the opening, but I had to push baby out. Dr Paul said, “This is the hardest part.” That was the time I followed the contractions and the sensation to poo, or push. I nearly gave up after many, many pushes, as the baby seemed to be going back and forth, but not out of the opening. Dr Paul was very patient and was with me the whole time, and gave me lots of encouragement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">We tried different breathing methods, lifting my legs, etc. For all the surges, I was so glad to have my hubby’s big, strong hands to hold on tightly to. It gave me the comfort and strength to pushed for almost 2 hours. Finally, I heard positive comments that the baby’s head was out. Dr Paul told me to stop pushing and just breathe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">The Ring of Fire<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">As I did, I could feel a burning sensation. I was thinking to myself, so this is the ‘ring of fire’. It lasted only 10 seconds, and then my baby was out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Baby Alivia was placed on me with her umbilical cord still attached. She was gorgeous. I was so happy that I did it, without any pain relief, just pure mind over body, concentration and positive thoughts. I didn't have IV plugs on me, and baby was alert and could suckle immediately. The wonderful nurse who was with me throughout my labour, requested if she could weigh Alivia before her shift ended. She really wanted to know. She came back and announced, “3.85kg my dear!” and remarked how brave I was to birth a big baby naturally.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">I had a natural tear (no episiotomy) and the stitching was surprisingly not as painful as I had imagined. The after-labour pain was manageable, compared to a C-section wound. I did not even need to take any painkillers for it. In less than 2 weeks, the wound healed completely.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">It was such an empowering and amazing experience. My mother gave birth to 3 kids without pain relief and I thought women of that era were so strong and had high pain tolerance. It is actually just the fear of childbirth that make us think that we are less capable than our mothers. It was absolutely true that our bodies are made to birth the natural way, and it should be the only way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Yin Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18180684987679728756noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4517143937842557447.post-59066181387960400312011-05-08T00:13:00.000-07:002011-06-04T02:04:39.596-07:00Congratulations Lin Sia You Did It!Just to share another mummy, Lin Sia, whom I've been in touch with has successfully had a VBAC on Labour Day, 1st May 2011.<br /><br />Look out for her story to be shared here soon!Yin Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18180684987679728756noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4517143937842557447.post-73597221396840710152011-02-12T06:34:00.000-08:002011-02-12T06:34:00.768-08:00Reuters Report: New Guidelines Say Vaginal Birth Okay After C-section<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Wed, Jul 21, 2010 (Reuters Health)</b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> — Even if they aren't staffed to handle emergency cesarean sections, hospitals should respect a woman's informed choice to have a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC), new guidelines say. </span><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">VBAC is known to increase the risk that the scar left in the womb from a previous cesarean will tear during labor, leading to massive bleeding that can threaten the baby's life. That has led to previous guidelines urging caution for women who have had cesarean sections. </span><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But recent research shows so-called uterine rupture occurs in less than one percent of women who opt for vaginal birth, and that between 60 and 80 percent of VBACs are completed successfully. </span><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">While the new guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) still say a full surgical team should be present in case an emergency cesarean is required, they now put a bigger emphasis on the woman's decision. </span><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"Respect for patient autonomy supports that patients should be allowed to accept increased levels of risk; however, patients should be clearly informed of such potential increase in risk and management alternatives," they say. </span><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"For most women with a previous cesarean delivery, a trial of labor is a safe and appropriate option," said Dr. Jeffrey L. Ecker, referring to a planned VBAC attempt. </span><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Ecker, who directs maternal-fetal medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, co-wrote the new guidelines, published in the journal Obstetrics </span><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Even women who've had two prior cesareans might be good candidates for vaginal birth, he said. </span><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">He added that he hoped the new recommendations would help reduce the concerns about medical liability that many doctors have held out as a reason for not offering VBAC. </span><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Today, about nine in 10 pregnant women in the U.S. end up with a repeat cesarean if they've already had one. By comparison about a third of all women who give birth have cesareans. </span><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"I really think the cesarean rates are going up too fast," said Dr. Peter Bernstein, of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, New York. "There is no good evidence that newborns are better off now than they were 20 years ago." </span><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Bernstein, who is an ACOG fellow but did not work on the guidelines, said he was pleased with the new recommendations. </span><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">He said they updated information on what women would be good candidates for VBAC and were important in the discussion of delivery options that a woman should have with her doctor. </span><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But he said it was hard to say if the guidelines would have any impact on the low VBAC rates. </span><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Indeed, the guidelines note that health providers who feel uncomfortable with the delivery choice a woman has made may want to refer her to another provider. </span><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">-- Frederik Joelving </span></span> <br />
</span>Yin Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18180684987679728756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4517143937842557447.post-86022240496953344142011-02-11T05:34:00.000-08:002011-02-11T07:04:15.143-08:00Anna's Birth Story<span style="font-weight:bold;">Prince T<br />February 2003</span><br />My first baby was in a breech presentation. "Your water bag has burst for more than 24hrs, leaving little fluid for baby to turn." my doctor told me. I was advised to have a Caesarean section.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Prince J<br />Mar 2005</span><br />For the birth of my 2nd son, I wanted to have a VBAC. I read up, did my research, planned, consulted, and did my exercises. My gynae was supposedly supportive, but on hindsight, I realised a lot of things went in the way of a Caesarean section. I went into labour spontaneously and laboured for more than 24 hours, but was still not fully dilated. It was then that my gynae suggested a Caesarean section due to "Failure to Progress".<br /><br />I was very upset at the turn of events. I was not sure if I even wanted another baby because of the kind of birth process I had gone through. Family and friends reminded me to focus on the bundles of joy that I have, and not on the process. Over time, I got over it, but never forgot how it felt to have things out of control and totally the way I didn't like it to be.<br /><br />When I finally felt ready to have another child, I was very determined that it not be a scary experience, but a joyful one. I engaged a doula, and prepared for it even more than for my second child. I also decided to switch to a doctor that was fully supportive of a VBA2C (Vaginal Birth After 2 Caesareans).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Princess E<br />Feb 2010<br />Successful VBA2C (Vaginal Birth After 2 Caesareans)<br />Natural birth, drug-free</span><br /><br />It was the most amazing experience. Much more relaxing this time round as I laboured mostly at home. I got to the hospital at 1.45pm, and in less than 2 hours, Princess E was born at 3.21pm. Even my hubby felt like crying tears of joy. He keeps saying he wants more kids now, because of how joyful he felt, and how wonderful the birth experience was. But we are stopping at three, as they are already quite a handful!<br /><br />- AnnaYin Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18180684987679728756noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4517143937842557447.post-75569299413888945952011-02-10T22:14:00.000-08:002011-02-10T22:21:14.709-08:00VBA2C Mom Writes InThanks to the publicity of this blog on the Straits Times feature, a VBA2C mom writes me. Having a VBAC is already courageous. This mom had a natural birth early 2010 after <span style="font-style: italic;">two </span>Caesarean sections! Will post her story here soon.Yin Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18180684987679728756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4517143937842557447.post-24638763253102575302011-02-09T22:24:00.000-08:002011-02-12T07:39:53.446-08:00VBAC Feature in Straits TimesToday, Strait Times features an article about VBAC in the Mind Your Body section. It is pretty informative, highlighting the common view of most gynaes in Singapore and shares some current findings on the safety of VBACs.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-23K9I_gbQ_o/TVamvREiXEI/AAAAAAAADCk/UVv-lazz91M/s1600/vbac3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-23K9I_gbQ_o/TVamvREiXEI/AAAAAAAADCk/UVv-lazz91M/s320/vbac3.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eHbNxonMU9I/TVamsbNV6jI/AAAAAAAADCk/YcnhjjR_Oy0/s1600/vbac1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="154" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eHbNxonMU9I/TVamsbNV6jI/AAAAAAAADCk/YcnhjjR_Oy0/s320/vbac1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Yin Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18180684987679728756noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4517143937842557447.post-40931787354945020142010-09-27T22:16:00.000-07:002011-02-10T22:23:49.562-08:00Angie's Birth StoryCongrats to Angie on your recent VBAC! Thanks for sharing your birth story here.
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<br />Rayna Wong Yi Qing
<br />Born 9th Sept 2010
<br />3.27kg
<br />50cm
<br />22hrs labour
<br />Natural tear with epidural
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<br /><meta equiv="CONTENT-TYPE" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><title></title><meta name="GENERATOR" content="OpenOffice.org 3.2 (Win32)"><style type="text/css"> <!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } --> </style> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">"All along I knew that I wanted to give birth the natural way, but I was too naïve to think that it will come naturally. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">My first child was born prematurely at week 34, for the reason of amniotic fluid too low since week 32. It was an induced labor, I failed to dilate after 24hrs, ended up had an emergency C-Sec.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">For my 2<sup>nd</sup> child, I wanted a natural birth, that would be VBAC (Vaginal birth after Caesarean) and I knew it would not happen “naturally”, I had to plan for it! I mentioned my plan to the gynae. He was ok with the idea, though he has the obligation to tell me the risk of VBAC and he did it very professionally. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">He started to mention uterine rupture at week 32. “C-sec would be a better option, it would be easier for everyone”. Yes easier for everyone except for me and my baby. I know natural birth would be the best for me and my baby, I cannot let myself go under the knife again without trying to have natural birth. That is, if my baby and I are in the condition to do it (e.g. baby position is right; her heart beat is healthy; there is no issue with my blood pressure, etc).</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">My husband was very worry about the risk of VBAC: uterine rupture. Oh me too! But I also know that fear will not helped anyone, especially if I wanted to give birth the natural way, I have to learn how to do it and I need to learn how to have “no fear”. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I started my study on the Internet and I came to communicate with some mums who had gone through the same situation. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Jul 30: “Met” a great Mum (May) on the internet, she was sharing her experience about Hypnobirthing and her success of VBAC. That was very inspiring! She recommended a Doula and some labor technique such as birthing ball, birth plan, etc (see below for her tips!). I wished to be able to do the same and I had to keep myself motivated! </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Many people asked me why am I so keen to try natural birth, with the “risk” of VBAC, the unknown hours of labor, the pain and after all that, there is no guarantee of a success!! Yes, I knew all the consequences, but not only because I feel that natural birth is the best for my BB and myself but also for a speedy recovery so that I will have time for my elder son! I love my children, I want the best for them, and as a mother, I have the instinct of what would be the best for us. I know that VBAC is a great challenge, with gynae and hubby both on the “better-to-have-C-sec” side… and I know if I wanted VBAC, I have to try my very best to prepare for it!!</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Unfortunately” my husband is the conservative type, he is more worry about the RISK of rupture (hence may be fatal!) and unknown complication that he would not want to imagine. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">All the while when I saw my gynae, I mentioned about VBAC and he seems to be very neutral about the idea (did not say yes or no), only when I reached week 32 then he mentioned about the risk and that it is “safer” to have a C-sec. That was his final statement. (I wondered how can they be sure that C-Sec has lesser risk?!) Too bad that I only knew about this at the end of my pregnancy, it was already week 32, it's kind of too late to change gynae?! </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">But I knew that I could make a final decision about how I wanted to give birth, so what I needed to do was pick up the knowledge and practice that I would need before I go into labour! I needed to get reference books from the library about hypnobirthing, natural birthing technique, etc. And I'd better do it sooner!! </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Also, I needed to pray that my baby will agree with me and will initiate natural labour, not too early or too late.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">2 Aug: Hubby disagreed with my “over-enthusiasm about VBAC”. He said that I should trust our gynae and wait-and-see if everything is fine to persue VBAC ?! OK I have to agree with that. I have to admit that natural birth is not guaranteed. It depends on baby's position at the very last stage of pregnancy, my own health condition, any issue such as if baby is distress during labor etc. OK I will wait and see but at the meant time I MUST prepare myself for VBAC too. If I fail to plan, I plan to fail!! </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Borrowed some books from library, included "HypnoBirthing (The Mongan Method) 3rd edition.
<br /></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><meta equiv="CONTENT-TYPE" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><title></title><meta name="GENERATOR" content="OpenOffice.org 3.2 (Win32)"><style type="text/css"> <!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } --> </style> </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Tips from May: </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">“No doula? Its ok. No supportive hubby or gynae? That’s ok too!! What you do need to have is a relaxed state of mind and to have NO FEAR”</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">“Remember, when there's no fear, you can relax. If you relax, the uterine muscles will dilate. If the uterus muscles dilate, your baby can come out!”</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">1) I ate biscuits and bananas and water during labour at home. Helps to last the marathon.
<br />2) I did perineum massage (learnt from the book), I must say it did help although I didn't like doing it. Now is the best time to start, if you do everyday for 5 minutes, you're helping the muscles "warm up" for the big day.
<br />3) Tell your baby constantly when you want him/her to come out. He/she might just listen! Worked for my friend's 3 kids, I tried and worked for mine as well.</span></p> <p></p>
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<br /><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-before: always; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">36hours record of VBAC experience</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(192, 192, 192);"> 8-Sept-2010 (Wed)</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">9am – Bloody Show (brownish discharge)</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">3pm – CTG @ TMC, everything is fine, no contraction</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">5:30pm onwards – Fresh bloody runny discharge frequently, contraction started</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">6pm – 7pm: Time contraction, irregular, average duration less than 1min, 10min interval</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">9pm – 10pm: Time contraction again, more than 1min/contraction, interval less than 5min</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">11pm: Call gynae, advised to be admitted to TMC</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">11:45pm: Arrived TMC, settled down at observation room</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">9-Sept-2010 (Thur)</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">12am: started labor </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">12am – 4am: Walked, squatted, frog position, tried to relax and at the same time speed up the labor! </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">4am: ONLY dilated 2cm after 4hrs!!</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">8am: gynae visited, still 2cm (after 8hrs!!), were told if dilation did not happened by 8pm, we have to go for c-sec (another 12hrs to try!) Husband worried about my condition, I must have looked pretty bad after staying awake the whole night.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">8am – 12pm: continue to walk, squat, frog position, getting very tired. Contraction is getting stronger and stronger.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">1pm: 4cm! </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">2pm: 5cm! I started to feel too tired to keep going and op for epidural</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">3pm-5pm: had a little nap</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">6pm: 7cm!! </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">8pm: 8cm!</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">8:10pm: moved to birthing ward. Nurses guided the birthing very well, tried to get to 10cm for an hour. Husband became the cheer leader, encourage birthing whenever I felt the urge. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">PS: I can hear next door birthing process, nurse shouting PUSH, Push, push, Mum screamed and later on, baby cried. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">9:30pm: Gynae arrived. He said that baby heart beat is getting weaker, he told the nurse to prepare vacuum tools. Water bag burst naturally.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">10:11pm We were overjoyed and in tears to receive our new love of life, Rayna Wong ! Weight: 3.27kg, Height: 50cm. She was put to my arms immediately, I witness the cut of umbilical cord. I tried to latch her on and she sucked very well! We did it!! We succeeded on VBAC!!"</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">- Angie Wong</span>
<br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><style type="text/css"> <!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } --></style>Yin Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18180684987679728756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4517143937842557447.post-42166248505883300642010-09-15T01:18:00.001-07:002011-02-10T23:01:40.569-08:00May's Birth StoryI'll start the ball rolling with my birth story:<br /><br />Daen Lau<br />Born 26th March 2010<br />3.25kg<br />Natural tear, drug-free<br /><br />We've all grown up with these images of delivery : the woman, screaming in pain, gripping her panic-stricken husband, the midwives shouting commands of "one-two-three push!", the doctor resorting to epidurals and forceps to "get the baby out".<br /><br />Many women just accept that the pain and the upcoming "ordeal" was the price to pay for having a baby.<br /><br />But my pain threshold is SO low. I can't even endure pre-menstrual cramps and would take painkillers at the first sign of it. Instinctively, I knew I needed an alternative way to deal with the birthing process when the time came.<br /><br />I learnt about <a href="http://hypnobirthing.com/">Hypnobirthing</a> from a dear friend - the way to a drug-free, painless natural birth with significantly shorter labour. She had successfully utilised the technique and gave birth within 4 hours of reaching the hospital. <span style="font-style: italic;">Hmmm...all you had to do was condition your mind and learn a few relaxation techniques to have a gentle birth?</span> It sounded too good to be true.<br /><br />We were still not fully convinced, but we decided to give it a shot.<br /><br />Ian and I attended classes diligently to learn more about this technique.<br /><br />For the first time, we watched videos of women in labour that were so different from the televised images we have become accustomed to. T<span style="font-style: italic;">hese women were in labour but they looked like they were sleeping! Some did not even make a sound as their babies emerged! Some even squatted and passed their babies out into their own hands! </span>It was surreal, but oh so natural.<br /><br />When complications arose with Vera, my plans for a hypnobirth were shoved aside and what took place was a C-section that was so traumatic for me that I swore I'd never give birth again if I had to have one.<br /><br />So when Daen came along, the choice was clear. I had to have a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesearean).<br /><br />Problem is, very few doctors out there are comfortable with letting women do this. There is a 1% risk of uterine rupture due to the surgical cut of the previous Caesarean if a woman pushes too hard during the next delivery. If that happens, an emergency C-section is necessary and a supposedly normal baby could come out with severe complications.<br /><br />People offered well-meaning but cautionary advice.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"I think you better have a c-section, it's safer," </span><br /><br />Doctors asked me: "1% risk is quite high you know, are you prepared to put your baby at risk?"<br /><br />I needed help to believe in a VBAC. But I knew of no one who had had one. On internet forums, there were hardly any moms sharing their success stories.<br /><br />Luckily, Ian was supportive right from the start. And we found our wonderful <a href="http://www.babybliss.sg/babybliss/Welcome.html">doula Lauren</a>. And we got Dr Paul (one of the handful of gynaes in Singapore who supports VBACs) to be our obstetrician.<br /><br />So I picked up where I left off and diligently continued preparing for a hypnobirth. With help at home looking after Vera, I was able to devote time to conditioning my mind, re-programming it to think in a whole new way:<br /><br />1) That there is no such thing as <span style="font-style: italic;">"pain"</span>.<br />2) That the body itself knows how to birth a baby <span style="font-style: italic;">vs </span>WE needing to instruct it to.<br />3) That there is no such thing as <span style="font-style: italic;">"pushing"</span>, only <span style="font-style: italic;">"breathing"</span>.<br /><br />Determined that this time, I was going to get the birth I want, I tried my best to zone out whenever people shared their stories of how they <span>couldn't endure the pain and had to ask for painkillers or gas</span>.<br /><br />And when the time came, everything just fell into place. All my years of controlled breathing during my choir-singing days and my experience with slow breathing as a diver finally came in handy.<br /><br />I breathed like there was no tomorrow.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_prBCog4giqk/TJCDxWgUkgI/AAAAAAAACkE/nkt5X0jmUU4/s1600/IMG_1338.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 230px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_prBCog4giqk/TJCDxWgUkgI/AAAAAAAACkE/nkt5X0jmUU4/s320/IMG_1338.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517054427406832130" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Early Labour - Focused on breathing, breathing and breathing</span><br /></div><br /></div>With the help of my oh-so-calming doula Lauren and my cool-cucumber hubby, I laboured in the comfort of home for 6 hours before heading to the hospital.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_prBCog4giqk/S64CBAWB2VI/AAAAAAAACCI/cVdxVLMBf-A/s1600/IMG_1352.JPG"><br /></a>I was afraid that the change to a clinical environment would slow down my progress but I needn't have worried. Once we got there, Lauren made sure that I did not have to speak to any nurses nor deal with any admission paperwork whatsoever.<br /><br />Towards to end, I did lose focus when the surges became too intense. But Lauren always assured me, <span style="font-style: italic;">"You're doing beautifully,"</span> Those three words were all it took to keep me going.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_prBCog4giqk/S64CBAWB2VI/AAAAAAAACCI/cVdxVLMBf-A/s1600/IMG_1352.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_prBCog4giqk/S64CBAWB2VI/AAAAAAAACCI/cVdxVLMBf-A/s400/IMG_1352.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453298415087769938" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Final Stage - Getting intense as baby bears down</span><br /><br /></div>I continued to labour on the birth ball, on a birthing stool, and even in the warm water tub.<br /><br />And it was true: When the time came to push, I didn't have to. My body did it for me, on auto-pilot. It was like it had taken over from the mind. And after about 8 times, it birthed my baby out - into the hands of the midwife - even before Dr Paul returned.<br /><br />At no point did I ask for gas or drugs. And because of that, baby Daen came into my arms so alert, and I was perfectly conscious to have and to hold my baby - straight from my womb, his umbilical cord still attached.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_prBCog4giqk/S64CCCECpfI/AAAAAAAACCY/sxwLtCtSmQU/s1600/IMG_1374.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_prBCog4giqk/S64CCCECpfI/AAAAAAAACCY/sxwLtCtSmQU/s400/IMG_1374.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453298432729064946" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Straight from womb to arms, fully alert and calm</span><br /><br /></div>I had waited for this moment for 2 years. The emotional release was so overwhelming I burst into tears for a good 10 minutes.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_prBCog4giqk/S64CB81hCQI/AAAAAAAACCQ/0mLGLyyNcz0/s1600/IMG_1363.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 287px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_prBCog4giqk/S64CB81hCQI/AAAAAAAACCQ/0mLGLyyNcz0/s400/IMG_1363.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453298431325964546" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">I did it!</span><br /><br /></div>Sometimes in life, you just have to take a leap of faith and believe. We are so blessed and thankful that everything turned out just the way we wanted:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Au naturel!</span>Yin Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18180684987679728756noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4517143937842557447.post-34635937263211506802010-09-14T02:17:00.000-07:002010-09-14T02:21:50.694-07:00Congrats Angie!I have been in email contact with mom Angie since she was about 33 weeks pregnant. She was really determined to have a VBAC. I'm so happy to say that she got it! Her baby was born on 9th september 2010 virginally with natural tear. Do read her birth story here and be inspired!Yin Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18180684987679728756noreply@blogger.com0