Arrival of Sherryn Gan - The PAINFUL process

In the wee hours of 28 Jan 2010, as I was lying in bed, I felt sharp pains on both sides of my abdomen. Dismissing them to be one of the 'fake contractions' I continued to toss around in bed (i couldnt really sleep at all). When morning came, the pain was still there, but was still bearable. Hubby suggested I call the hospital to 'report' and ask for advice. They told me to go straight to hospital for a checkup given that I was already in Week 40. Even at that time, I wasnt too sure whether I was in labour.

Dilly-dallied for half an hour or so before hubby drove me to Thomson Medical Centre. As usual, along the way the great CTE jam was there to greet us. Luckily I wasnt really in great pain.

Timings are estimated
9.45am - Reached TMC and then the usual procedures began - change into the hospital garb, given enema to clear rectum, strapped onto those contraction monitoring devices etc. Ok, now it dawned on me that I could be in labour!

10.30am - Gynae came up to check and broke my water bag. Was 3cm dilated at that time, and there was contraction every 3 minutes. It certainly didnt felt so. Gynae instructed that I should ask for pain relief - the gas mask and injection - if I need it.

Me: What about the epidural? (i had to ask for this, as I am really afraid of pain!)
Gynae: Do you really need it? This is your second pregnancy, so will be much faster than the first. Why dont you try the gas mask and injection first?
Me: But the gas mask didnt work at all for my first pregnancy (I was getting nervous)
Gynae: But did you try it with the injection?
Me: No, but...
Gynae: Try gas mask with injection, it should work.
Me: Ermm.... (very doubtful)

Anyway I didnt have much time to think too much.

11am - I felt the first wave of the strong contractions. Immediately I pressed the button and ask for pain relief. Was whisked off into the labour ward and someone shoved the gas mask onto my face, which as expected did not relieve my pain at all, but instead made me really giddy.

11.10am - Nurse also gave me the so called pain relief injection on my thigh.

11.10am to 11.50am - As the contractions became more and more frequent and intense, I could hear myself shouting and screaming that the pain relief methods didnt work at all. Asked for the epidural but nurse said it was too late - I was 8 cm dilated at that time. That was quick! Only in a matter of about half an hour, I went from 3 cm to 8 cm.

With each contraction, I felt the urge to push the baby out. Believe me, it was THE MOST PAINFUL experience in my entire life. No matter how hard I dug into hubby's arms, shouted, squirmed, changed position etc, nothing I did relieve the pain at all. And the pain just kept coming like every 15 seconds or so. I really have my doubts on the effectiveness of the gas mask and the injection.

11.50am - Gynae appeared, put on her hospital garb and getting ready to help deliver. By this time, I think I was already in a semi conscious state.

11.50am to 12.08pm - With each contraction, I heard people (the gynae, 2 nurses and my hubby) shouting for me to do some things. 'Use the pain to push!' 'Dont waste your energy screaming, push instead!' Nothing made sense to me then, I was already in a daze and felt my energy being zapped up by the pain. But I think subconsciously, I did manage a few big pushes.

12.08pm - Sherryn Gan was finally out of my womb. I did it without epidural! By now, I was already so exhausted that I just laid slumped on the bed while the gynae finished up the job.

Baby Sherryn's statistics:
Weight - 3.85kg
Length - 52cm
Head circumference - 33cm

I have told Hubby that I will NEVER EVER go through this again!! Ever! David - are you reading this?











Kaelyn and her sister Sherryn