diary: labor

25th Jan 2010..3.02am

Writing from my PDA. 3.02am, 6hrs post labor. Can't sleep.Last night around this time I couldnt' sleep as well. So I woke up in discomfort,wudhu' and performed the tahajjud,hajat and taubat prayers.Was performing all in sitting position. I prayed so hard for everything and seek for His forgiveness for all my wrong doings as I was not sure whether tomorrow I will still be in this world as labor seems so near. Now I am laying down and I was so thankful to Allah for a better labor experience this time..I kept reciting any zikr that came to my mind..en suami was asleep on the chair beside my bed..

Baby is in the nursery now after 2 breastfeeding sessions. First, 20mins after birth. Baby fed for 40mins, alhamdulillah he is an excellent sucker..second time was around 2 am just now..I asked the nursery to wake me up during feeding session if i am asleep. Then the nurse took him as I was too tired, headache and nauseous as well.

Flash back on today's experiences..

In the morning,mild contraction started. I was pretty sure that it was real contraction as it not only on my tummy but involved my back as well. It happened every half an hour and last for about 20-30secs only between mild and moderate strength. So I kept doing a little house chores and help umar with his art.

After zuhr prayer, both umar and I took a nap. In my sleep I felt the contraction became stronger but not convinced me yet to go to the hospital. Still bear with it.

After the Asr prayer, I recited the 'surah' maryam.Half way I felt stronger contraction and need to go to the toillet and realized I had the bloody show.call hubby to come home immediately. Hubby arrived, let umar took his bath n off we go around 6.30pm.

Obstetrician came, cervix only 3cm dilated. Artificial rupture of membrane (ARM- doct tear the membrane to release the amniotic fluid) was done.Started from that moment my contractions became very strong and very frequent. Two contractions in one minute each lasted for 20-30secs. it was really painful till tears rolled down my cheek. In 1 hr opening progress very well to 5cm. They came and gave full support as they agreed that the contractions were too frequent.

Hubby told me he wanted to send umar to MIL's. I agreed as I thought labor will happen around 11pm the earliest..Hubby left at 9pm. Kissed his hand and asked for forgiveness. Umar kissed me and kept repeating "ummi, umar loves ummi".. it touches me so much!

10minutes after hubby left, I have very very strong contractions and obstetrician decided to check for the opening and ..

"guess what?! os is full..you can push now!" no wonder i had this very bad pain below my belly button area and the urge to push was soo strong..I was so relieved to hear that..

I pushed with all my might ..I remember the technique i usually advice my patients to do when they are pushing..

chin on chest, hold the ankle or thigh, open wide, deep breath in and push with all the energy and breath in a lil bit in between to push more..never shout or make any sound as it releases the energy..

"it was OP position (head facing upwards instead of downwards)..but its ok try to push and I am confident you can do it!" oh doctor intan was very supportive..after 5 pushings..alhamdulillah baby was out..i hugged him while they wiped him...

after that everything seems easier and less painful..had a second degree tear and got a little sutures for that..managed to chit chat with dr intan while she suturing and she kept repeating "nurse tahu tak kenapa saya jaga patient ni baik-baik..?" "kenapa dr?" "sebab saya nak dia amik O&G(pakar sakit puan)"...she never failed to inspire me every time we met..thanks dr intan..and most important - thank you Allah for everything!!

alhamdulillah..alhamdullillah..alhamdulillah..

previous labor experience..

I cant wait for this baby to come out..huhu;) but yes sometimes baby need more time to be in the womb..a few friends did asked me to share the experience of giving birth in Oz in this blog..

This will be my first experience giving birth in Malaysia. I had a fantastic experience in Australia before (except the labor pain..but actually they managed it well..heheh). Umar was born on the 27th Ramadhan..and mind everyone at that time i haven't done my Obstetrics rotation yet so I have little knowledge on the labor process except what I've learned from the antenatal class and my own research;)

My contraction started around 5am of 26th Ramadhan..I felt fatigue that morning and have no appetite for sahur. Sahur time ended around 4am at that time. The contraction was strong but not frequent and not long enough, its about once in 20 minutes and last for about 15-20secs only. So i decided to bear with the pain and just do what ever may ease it. (the good and strong contraction is 2 in 10minutes with each contraction last for about 60secs).

The contraction become more intense+frequent and i had this terrible back pain (as my coccyx bone was pushed by the baby's head) and around 11am i had the 'bloody show'. I called the midwives and off we went to the labor room for vaginal examination (VE).


It was only 3cm..huhu 6 hrs of pain, only 3cm dilated. I was given option to stay at the labor room or go for a walk and come back around 2pm. Hubby and I decided to go for a walk. So off we walked around the hospital and parking lot then went back home. Our house just 2mins away from hospital.

At 2pm I came back to the labor room and just 4cm dilated. huhu..for first baby ,it is estimated to dilate 1cm every hour but sometime it can be longer. So they brought me to the labor room and asked me wether i want to have a water birth so they can prepare the huge bath tub. huhu as a first timer I refused to be in other than normal position (laying on my back)..hehe (they even have the standing and squatting position facilities to try).

When the pain become more unbearable, the polite midwive brought a big ball for me to sit on..I tried once but it did not help thus i refused..i started to take the ethanox gas and i think it did nothing actually..so they brought me to the attach toilet and let me have the warm bath..it did help a bit..while I was in the toilet they asked me what flower do i like..In my mind.."why la she asked me this kind of question when I am in pain??" I just answered hesitantly "red roses"..

then when I came out from the toilet there are red roses on the rack. so sweet right?! She said looked at the roses and imagine nice things and forget about the pain. I tried but I just could not get my mind off the pain. around 8pm my VE only 6cm. I was very tired as i only had small meal since the night before and I was fasting through out my third trimester. with 16 hours fast in Asutralia as it was summer.

Hubby was very worried so he performed his tahajjud prayer in that room on the ight of 27th ramadhan in my heart i wish that night was the lailatuqdr night. My parents just arrived that night and they came to he labor room. I cried to see my mom as I now understand all the sacrificed she had done for 6 of us..



Mom brought the 'air selusuh' from malaysia..but the funny thing is..hubby accidently drank it for his sahur as he did not know that was air selusuh. He drank all the water ok!Alhamdulillah he did not experience any contraction after that..hihihi ..we laugh when we remember this story..cute hubby!

proud dad..azan to the ears!

Most of the time i sat on the sofa in the labor room. They have this queen size bed for hubby and I to rest (cant rest with the pain!!)..dim light and slow Quran recitation on the background. I felt very peaceful inside even in the intense pain.


After midnight still about 8cm..and to make story short the 10cm dilatation was at 11.59 am on 27th ramadhan..after 3 pushing efforts Umar was born to this world, my medical friend was there as well to deliver the baby together with the midwive (she was with me in there like forever..pitty her)..and hubby cut the umbbilical cord. I had an episiotomy and hubby was turned white when he saw the blood spurting from down there (I could see his face..pitty hubby) but after few second he was back to his pink colour face:)


The good thing is, everything was for free as we were covered under the international insurance. And it was unforgettable memory in my life!


p/s: wish to be an O&G specialist and set up a center with water birth adn various position facilities.