Baby, Welcome to this World

Finally, after so long I have the time to update bits about the delivery. Zahra is sleeping now and my wound pun mcm dah ok, so it's a bit comfortable to be in front of the laptop.

Oh ya before that, thanks for all the response about her name. So for now, I'll call her full name dulu, Zahra Elena, but if you guys datang visit nak call her Zahra pun ok ;)

Talking about name, actually yup, only Zahra got meaning (in Arabic). It's brilliant or bright. Elena pula I picked up from Catherine Zeta-Jones's character in The Mask of Zorro. It's a Greek name means the sun ray or shining light. Hehe ni mak dia punya gedik ok, so whatever la.

Ok, let's sambung from the previous entry, about how anxious I was waiting for the baby, I started to feel the pain on Sunday morning after Subuh (10/01). The pain is pretty mild and I'm not sure if I can call it contraction because it's more like period cramps to me. The only different is, it's timely and consistent. So I started making mental notes and google up about the pain. I also called up Dr Fidak asking her if I can take panadol menstrual! Haha so funny ok. Anyway she said I can take, but only 1 dose.

So I pop in the pill but the pain didn't go away, so I keep on looking some clues in from the internet and SMS mommies for hints. All of them said the contractions is like you having a very bad stomach ache but mine is very different, so I just keeping myself alert.

By noon, the pain is stronger but I was alarmed. Since no 'stomach ache' I just wait and keep myself busy. MrComot and I started to take it seriously. We time the pain when it reaches the peak and I started doing different thing to make sure it's real contraction, like walk every 10mins, stand when it's about to peak, lie down, etc etc. Then it's getting stronger by evening that I cried a few times and after Maghrib I decided to go to TMC.

My contractions sheet

Right after solat, we went straight to labour room and the nurse did vaginal checkup, telling me that I am 4cm dilated, and according to the CTG I am having irregular contractions, and I was admitted immediately, that was 8:20PM. I was given enema to flush out my colon.

The contraction getting more frequent (it's still like bad period cramps to me) and alhamdulillah MrComot gets to be by my side. It sure helps a lot as I keep on asking him with my body squirming and my face cringed in pain

"How much how much?"

everytime the pain peaked. I saw the CTG before and the normal peak is like 30-40 so when MrComot answered "It's there, 80 now, you are doing great!", I feel better.

The labour room

Around 10PM, my doctor arrives and she checked, I was 5-6cm dilated. So she breaks my waterbag. I was still concious that time and it feels like I am peeing non-stop. She also emptied my bladder using i-don't-know-what-is because baby is too low already and blocking it preventing me from urinate normally.

After the waterbag broke, the contractions become stronger and more painful. I was briefed by one of the midwives about pain medications like epidural and pentadine. I have to decide fast on the epidurial as they have to call anestetic while pentadine is a normal jab given in labor. The only thing that is holding me from taking any is because pentadine can only last 4 hours. So I was afraid the labour pain will go more than that huhu. But the midwive decided to give me one shot when she saw I am in stress, even my baby's heartbeat shoot up the roof - at about 170 per sec.

After the pentadine shot, I relaxed a bit (dia macam mengantuk sket) and baby's heartbeat back to normal. She also gave me laughing gas and I inhale like, thousands of time, not helping ok haha.

At 11.20PM I can't hold it anymore and have the urge to push and quickly shout at MrComot to call out for Dr Fidak. When she came, I heard that she said the baby is coming and everything is readied immediately. I can't recall how many nurses attend that time, about 3-4 kut.. They push the bed, pull this and that, positioned my leg, give me handle to pull and said "when u feel the contraction, push it out".

On the first contraction I pushed so hard and then when the contraction gone, I push again so many times thinking it can be done as fast as it can that way - obviously I'm wasting my energy. I have to push only when the contraction comes. I only realized that thing on my 2nd contraction. On my 2nd one, the nurse marah at me because I jerit a bit, you know..jerit like u pushing it la hahaha. She said "save up ur energy! Don't use ur voice". I was like, how to push like that? Haha sempat lagi fikir tau, sebab gap between contractions is like 2 minits apart. And on the 3rd contraction (or 4th) I push it so hard and tiba-tiba toingggggg doc put the baby on my stomach.

I was like 'Hahhhh baby dah keluar ke?'

Seriously, I don't know how to react..I know most mommies mesti cry kan..but I'm completely confused that time. Oh ya..rupa-rupanya baby's shoulder being pulled by the umbilical cord, that's why it's a bit hard for the baby the come out.

It didn't finish there, the plasenta refused to come out as well so doc has to press and massage my stomach like 5-10mins jugakla to get it out. When doc is stiching me, I asked her how long the episiotamy is, she said about 1 1/2 inches. Panjang ke? Anyway seriously, after the baby keluar mmg tak rasa sakit, sebab tu boleh borak lagi ngan doc haha.

But but but but...after stiches, SAKIT OKKK. Eeiii..I think I rather went through the same contractions again because it's only for few hours while this stiching thing lasts me for almost 2 weeks!

The newborn

MrComot didn't manage to snap pictures/record video or anything. He's too nervous and just want to be my side offering soothe word. But I'm glad because at least he gets to witness such scene.

Below is some random pictures:

The room - owl room and she was born at night. Bagus bagus..jgn suka jadi night baby sudah, mommy tak larattt

MrComot trying to 'bedong' the baby

Zahra Elena on the 3rd day - out from the hospital

On the 13th day

There is a funny story though, when we were home, MrComot told me he lied to me during in the labour room. Whenever I cringed in pain and asked him about the contractions point, he said 80-120, but actually it's only 40-60! In fact, during the last hour, the CTG already taken out from me and I didn't notice, still asking him "how much" and he simply petikkkk je cakap 100. Hahaha..tak kisah la, yg penting it helps. I just nak tergelak terer jugak dia menolong.

About the hospital, it's above my expectation, hence I really recommend it. The staff is very effective and attentive. Both labour room and ward. The nurses pun very good. That's why I didn't sleep at the hospital when Zahra admitted due to jaundice, I really trust them. Oh ya, the nurses sangat rajin and really accomodating. On the first night when Zahra keep on crying and I was too tired after feeding her for 4 hours (I think the milk keluar sikit je because I was too stress) and they keep on sending her for me to feed, that's when I decided to give her formula so that I can rest kejap, they siap offer to feed her via shringe so that she won't be nipple confused later.

Talking about milk and feeding (oh my, I really soung like a mommy now hehehe) thank God almighty, Zahra is fine with the switches using bottle and direct bf. As I mentioned before, I already fully bf Zahra (big yeay for me). Even though it is a bit late, but better late than never kan? She's still taking her own sweet time latching on me (but not that 3 hours anymore), so I have new trick now..I still pumping out my milk, so during the day everytime she's hungry it'll be direct bf, but during the night, I just warm up my milk in the fridge so I didn't have to drain myself all the time.

Thanks to a lot of my friends out there who fully bf their kids, they give me strength to exclusively bf my daughter (Tatty, Neena, Radin, and all the online mommies) and the 'supply on demand' concept is very true. I will update my sidebar link later, mommies blog & sites that've been my references.

To all friends, thanks for your prayers and I wish you the best too. Will update again!