Lai Yee's Third HypnoBirthing Baby
THE UNEXPECTED PREGNANCY
The third pregnancy came unexpectedly. Nonetheless, the expected was another gentle and natural birth. With the experience of giving birth, one might thought that it would be easier the next time - but this is not necessarily true. There are still homework and practices to do, like re-read the HypnoBirthing - The Mongan Method notes and books, listening to the relaxation CD, practice breathing methods, etc.
We went back to the gynae of our second birth. She's the only HypnoBirthing practitioner we know in the district we live. However I had my antenatal checkups done mostly at Klinik Kesihatan nearby. So I was missing for a long period and reappear with my pink book starting week 36 to discuss about birth plan.
During the week 28 prenatal check, I had a 5kg weight gained within 4 weeks. MGTT confirmed that I had gestational diabetes (GDM). I had it during first pregnancy which put me under a lot of stress - the diet control, the blood sugar monitoring, the follow up at Klinik Kesihatan, etc - All medical personnel warned me about big sized baby, induction by week 38, etc. This round, I put myself on strict diet, removed carbohydrates (rice & noodles) and focused on protein and fibre intake. I lost half of the additional weight gained within 2 weeks and my weight had been consistent until the end of my pregnancy. It was a bit extreme, but it helped to ensure that I didn't make a big size baby, and I could birth naturally :)
STILL GOING TO WORK EVEN WITH SURGES
Towards the end of week 37, irregular surges started on the Thursday evening. I didn't sleep well that night. Woke up on Friday morning feeling tired, thought to call work to start my maternity leaves, but the surges were not that intense and frequent - hence I decided to go to work. [Who knows - it could be just Braxton Hicks, right?] Two surges as I drove to work - did surge breathing as my foot remained on the accelerator - can drive still :) Another surge came as I climbed up the staircase to my office at the 4th floor - took a break, did surge breathing. It was not because I wanted to exercise, but there's no escalator nor lift - so yes, it's a daily exercise. Timed my surges on a paper so that I can review accordingly and leave if I need to. Anyway, I managed to finish the day at work like a normal day, settled all that I could as if it is my last day at work. Traffic on the way home was exceptionally heavy for a Friday evening - two hours instead of the usual 40 min - thankfully didn't have to rush to the hospital. Friday passed like a normal Friday, with surges continued throughout the night.
Surges remained on Saturday - gap was again irregular, either half an hour, 15 min, 20 min.. surges were more regular and frequent when I was lying on bed, and became further apart when I was moving around. Anyway, it was again, another Saturday - manage to have dinner outside and walk around the mall after meal. Apart from having to pause whenever surges came, I was just like normal - eating, talking, walking..
Why have I not gone to the hospital? Because I was waiting for the surges to become more frequent. It was written in my notes - to go to hospital only when the surges become 4 to 5 min apart and last for one minute, so I had been waiting for that moment to come.
On Sunday, still.. the surges were 10 to 20 min apart - but they were longer and more intense each time. Yet, I was waiting for the 4 to 5 min gap... In the afternoon, I started to feel like wanting to poop during each surge, they were longer and more intense - still 10 to 20 min apart… Waiting for the 4 to 5 min gap still… right until late afternoon when our two elder kids were having their nap, surges were still 10 to 20 min apart. We went to the hospital anyway, hoping for the surges to progress better to “meet expectation” of the 4 to 5 min gap.
The third pregnancy came unexpectedly. Nonetheless, the expected was another gentle and natural birth. With the experience of giving birth, one might thought that it would be easier the next time - but this is not necessarily true. There are still homework and practices to do, like re-read the HypnoBirthing - The Mongan Method notes and books, listening to the relaxation CD, practice breathing methods, etc.
We went back to the gynae of our second birth. She's the only HypnoBirthing practitioner we know in the district we live. However I had my antenatal checkups done mostly at Klinik Kesihatan nearby. So I was missing for a long period and reappear with my pink book starting week 36 to discuss about birth plan.
During the week 28 prenatal check, I had a 5kg weight gained within 4 weeks. MGTT confirmed that I had gestational diabetes (GDM). I had it during first pregnancy which put me under a lot of stress - the diet control, the blood sugar monitoring, the follow up at Klinik Kesihatan, etc - All medical personnel warned me about big sized baby, induction by week 38, etc. This round, I put myself on strict diet, removed carbohydrates (rice & noodles) and focused on protein and fibre intake. I lost half of the additional weight gained within 2 weeks and my weight had been consistent until the end of my pregnancy. It was a bit extreme, but it helped to ensure that I didn't make a big size baby, and I could birth naturally :)
STILL GOING TO WORK EVEN WITH SURGES
Towards the end of week 37, irregular surges started on the Thursday evening. I didn't sleep well that night. Woke up on Friday morning feeling tired, thought to call work to start my maternity leaves, but the surges were not that intense and frequent - hence I decided to go to work. [Who knows - it could be just Braxton Hicks, right?] Two surges as I drove to work - did surge breathing as my foot remained on the accelerator - can drive still :) Another surge came as I climbed up the staircase to my office at the 4th floor - took a break, did surge breathing. It was not because I wanted to exercise, but there's no escalator nor lift - so yes, it's a daily exercise. Timed my surges on a paper so that I can review accordingly and leave if I need to. Anyway, I managed to finish the day at work like a normal day, settled all that I could as if it is my last day at work. Traffic on the way home was exceptionally heavy for a Friday evening - two hours instead of the usual 40 min - thankfully didn't have to rush to the hospital. Friday passed like a normal Friday, with surges continued throughout the night.
Surges remained on Saturday - gap was again irregular, either half an hour, 15 min, 20 min.. surges were more regular and frequent when I was lying on bed, and became further apart when I was moving around. Anyway, it was again, another Saturday - manage to have dinner outside and walk around the mall after meal. Apart from having to pause whenever surges came, I was just like normal - eating, talking, walking..
Why have I not gone to the hospital? Because I was waiting for the surges to become more frequent. It was written in my notes - to go to hospital only when the surges become 4 to 5 min apart and last for one minute, so I had been waiting for that moment to come.
On Sunday, still.. the surges were 10 to 20 min apart - but they were longer and more intense each time. Yet, I was waiting for the 4 to 5 min gap... In the afternoon, I started to feel like wanting to poop during each surge, they were longer and more intense - still 10 to 20 min apart… Waiting for the 4 to 5 min gap still… right until late afternoon when our two elder kids were having their nap, surges were still 10 to 20 min apart. We went to the hospital anyway, hoping for the surges to progress better to “meet expectation” of the 4 to 5 min gap.
IN THE HOSPITAL...
It was Sunday afternoon, the hospital was quiet. The nurse did fetal heart beat monitoring and requested to do VE in order to know if they need to call the doc. I rejected the VE request. They went ahead to call the doc. Doc came shortly after that, did a VE - she said she have to or else she would have no idea which stage of labour I was at - which made sense. I was already fully dilated. Everyone rushed for the labour room. I could still walk, but they sent me to the labour room one level up on a wheelchair (typical SOP I presume). I went to the toilet to clear my bladder and get to the labour room waiting for the baby to come. Everyone waited for the moment.
As each surge came, I breathed it through. The midwife asked me to “breath” in a position that the baby would crowned.. now that I think about it, it seemed something like “pushing” the baby out. Anyway, the baby crowned immediately once I caught her method right.. Hubby saw something like going-to-burst-membrane-balloon while I could feel the "ring of fire" and instantly grasped for something to hold on.. Thankfully I had a pair of warm hands to hold on to and comfort me this time - instead of the cold bed rail during my second birth.. With the next surge and breath, the membrane was released as the baby came out - a gush of water flowing out and the immediate release of pressure all within a few minutes.
Baby was put on me immediately for skin-to-skin while we waited for the cord to stop pulsating. The third-time dad cut the baby's cord himself for the first time (he was and is still amazed at the energy needed to cut that tiny little cord). We wanted to try baby's self crawl for breastfeeding but the baby didn't crawl enough. The nurse then took the baby while the doc settled the remaining (typical SOP I presume). I had a very minor tear, less than first degree - slightly better than the previous birth. My request to birth placenta naturally, at least try for 30 min, was not fulfilled as the doc refused to take any risk hence was given the oxytocin jab (typical SOP I presume). Placenta came out within 5 min after the jab. We were generally calm and aware of all that was taking place during the entire birth process.
Surges progressed naturally. Freedom as surges progressed - . No induction. No membrane release prior birth. VE once. No drug. No episiotomy. Minor tear. Delayed cord clamping. Baby’s father was together throughout, and cut the cord in person - my second birth was without a birth companion.
We were “regular customers” of klinik kesihatan and government hospital due to baby’s prolonged jaundice. I always went to the nursing room while waiting for our turn to see the doc and got to meet many new mommies. All the mommies that I spoke to didn't know that they have the right to say no to VE or vaginal examination, to say no to episiotomy, to say no... a mom gave birth the same day was still suffering from the pain of having that cut in her vagina while I was already fully recovered - her baby was 2.4kg at birth, mine 2.9kg.
It was Sunday afternoon, the hospital was quiet. The nurse did fetal heart beat monitoring and requested to do VE in order to know if they need to call the doc. I rejected the VE request. They went ahead to call the doc. Doc came shortly after that, did a VE - she said she have to or else she would have no idea which stage of labour I was at - which made sense. I was already fully dilated. Everyone rushed for the labour room. I could still walk, but they sent me to the labour room one level up on a wheelchair (typical SOP I presume). I went to the toilet to clear my bladder and get to the labour room waiting for the baby to come. Everyone waited for the moment.
As each surge came, I breathed it through. The midwife asked me to “breath” in a position that the baby would crowned.. now that I think about it, it seemed something like “pushing” the baby out. Anyway, the baby crowned immediately once I caught her method right.. Hubby saw something like going-to-burst-membrane-balloon while I could feel the "ring of fire" and instantly grasped for something to hold on.. Thankfully I had a pair of warm hands to hold on to and comfort me this time - instead of the cold bed rail during my second birth.. With the next surge and breath, the membrane was released as the baby came out - a gush of water flowing out and the immediate release of pressure all within a few minutes.
Baby was put on me immediately for skin-to-skin while we waited for the cord to stop pulsating. The third-time dad cut the baby's cord himself for the first time (he was and is still amazed at the energy needed to cut that tiny little cord). We wanted to try baby's self crawl for breastfeeding but the baby didn't crawl enough. The nurse then took the baby while the doc settled the remaining (typical SOP I presume). I had a very minor tear, less than first degree - slightly better than the previous birth. My request to birth placenta naturally, at least try for 30 min, was not fulfilled as the doc refused to take any risk hence was given the oxytocin jab (typical SOP I presume). Placenta came out within 5 min after the jab. We were generally calm and aware of all that was taking place during the entire birth process.
Surges progressed naturally. Freedom as surges progressed - . No induction. No membrane release prior birth. VE once. No drug. No episiotomy. Minor tear. Delayed cord clamping. Baby’s father was together throughout, and cut the cord in person - my second birth was without a birth companion.
We were “regular customers” of klinik kesihatan and government hospital due to baby’s prolonged jaundice. I always went to the nursing room while waiting for our turn to see the doc and got to meet many new mommies. All the mommies that I spoke to didn't know that they have the right to say no to VE or vaginal examination, to say no to episiotomy, to say no... a mom gave birth the same day was still suffering from the pain of having that cut in her vagina while I was already fully recovered - her baby was 2.4kg at birth, mine 2.9kg.