This third time round, my labour was an experience that I will always remember.  It was such a warm, calming, and almost surreal experience.  I will always remember that immediate moment,  her pinkiness, the warmth, the sweetness when she was born.  As Lara was placed on my chest the very first time, she opened her eyes to look at me, and it was only seconds later that she let out a healthy cry of a newborn baby. 

She was calm.  She took to the breast like she has done it before.  I still remember the closeness of breastfeeding my last 2 babies.  I watched her suckle, watched her every breath beforeI gently kissed her forehead.

I am not even sure if I will ever hold another newborn that closely to me again, but I also don’t wish to forget the every moment with her.

The first night after I have given birth, I was put in a shared room with another patient.  I was never placed in a shared room previously.  This time round, perhaps being the time of the year, the entire maternity ward was fully occupied.  There were another 8 babies born on the same day.  In total, the whole maternity ward had over 40 new mothers, lots of babies and a few sets of twins!  It was busy.  Also being a private hospital, it is very rare for patients to be put in a shared room.  My next door patient was a 2nd time mum, but she had a caesarian.  It was awefully uncomfortable for her and she needed round the clock care the first night.  Unfortunately, I did not catch my sleep on that first night as the nurses kept coming in to check on her, and me being a light sleeper was easily awoken by every bits of noise.  Also, the fact that my next door patient snored did not help, hee.

As expected, I was a total wreck the next day.  My legs were weak, my eyes could barely open, I was out.  I could hardly sit up when my doctor and padaetrician came to check on me and my baby.  So I lied in bed all day and only felt better by the late afternoon.  That night I continued to be in shared room, and managed to get a few hours of sleep.  Only because my husband kindly asked the nurses for a set of earplugs for me.

(Picture taken on 6th June 09.  2 days old Lara)

The third morning, I felt better.  By lunch time I was transferred into my own room.  Now this is what I like about being in my own room.  You get a huge double bed, complete with tea n coffee making facilities, phone, hair dryer, newspaper service and on top of that this hospital serves the best food!  I get fed 5 times a day!  It’s almost like staying in a 5 stars hotel.

The fourth day was the hardest.  It was the fourth day I felt my body started producing milk, and my hormones were all over the place.  I was incredibly tired.  I could barely stand, let alone talk to anyone.  I didn’t feel like having any visitors at all on that day.  I also felt impatient and teary.  I told my doctor and midwife about it and they were very understanding.  In the day time, they will pop in to check on me.  In the night time, the nurses helped to look after Lara so I could get a good night rest.  As the hospital highly encourage parents to room in with their new babies, I tend to keep Lara with me all the time.  It was only on the 4th night that the nurses brought her to the nursery while I slept, and wheeled her back in the crib when she needed a feed. 

Now this is one of the most thoughful things that this hospital does.  As new parents again, they also realise it will be hard for any couples to have time for themselves.  So during our hospital stay, they will put together a “candlelight dinner” for the new parents and before we bring our new baby home.

It offered a good spread of food, prawn cocktail and an antipasto platter for entrees, grilled sirloin steak, crumbed pork cutlets with a berry sauce for mains, steamed vegetables, and a good selection of desserts which include an apple strudel, a strawberry tart with chocolate sauce…and finished up with a fruit and cheese platter. 

By the fifth morning, I felt much better.  I didn’t feel that moody anymore.  I spent my day bonding with Lara, reading magazines, nursing her and enjoying my day as a new mum all over again.

The next day, I felt ready to return home with my new born Lara, and introducing her to her new home, and for us all to being a family of five!  The third time round is made even more special because of the presence of my mum.  My mum whom has arrived a week earlier was waiting for us at home.  My husband and JD came to pick us up from the hospital.  Chloe was still at daycare that day.

My doctor came to see us before we left, and happily sent us off with these encouraging words “Wonderful, young lady, now a mother of 3, looking young, fit and health.  Enjoy your new baby.”  I know I will enjoy my baby Lara.

(Picture taken on 9th June 09.  Coming with 5 days old Lara)

And as I stepped into the house, the aroma of the red dates and longan tea filled the house, and coupled that with the hot steamy pot of vinegared pork trotters cooking away on the stove…I felt immensely blessed this third time round.

I felt truly blessed because of my mother.

I love my newborn.  There is a very magical kind of bond betwen a mother and baby.  That I already know her before she was born.  Her kicks, her movement in me for the 9 months before we met.  The knowing of her hands, feet, knees as she moved about in me.

Now 2.5 weeks on, I still feel in awe of how a little human being was formed and then born into this world, into my arms, and here I am holding my baby in  my arms tonight, nursing her, as I listened to the rain and the winds blowing outside my window.  I am totally in love with my newborn.

She has been entrusted into my care and oh, I will love her all my life.

It was a good Sunday morning.  My husband has woken up early to bring JD and Chloe out for breaky.  I tried to sleep in a bit more.  My mum whom has been staying with me for the last 3 weeks fried an egg for my breakfast at home.   Later after they got home, my mum went for a walk.  I tried to catch up on some paper work that I have intentionally chosen to neglect for the past weeks, JD quietly built his Lego, Miss C monkeying around her dad…all that happening while the newest addition continued on with her “napathon” in the living room.

The main story is tonight JD requested me to take a picture of his Lego construction.  He wanted me to post the picture of his Lego construction for his Wai Gong in Malaysia to see!

It was a cold Thursday morning.  I was one day overdue.  I have had one of the best sleeps for two nights in a row.  My husband was wondering if there were any signs of baby making an appearance on that day.  I had a false alarm 3 nights ago with contractions coming and going for 2 hours.  But it stopped after that.  For the following days, apart from feeling incredibly heavy and uncomfortable, I went shopping with my mum, have coffee and went on with my days as normal.

That Thursday morning, I hurried my husband off to work as I was sure that baby was not coming at all.  I then drove JD to school with my mum and Chloe in tow.  As expected everyone in school were surprise to see that I was STILL around and probably felt like the longest pregnancy ever.  So we drove to the supermarket to get groceries for the week.  Half way choosing some fruits, I suddenly felt tightening in my lower back, before easing off after about 30-35 seconds.  Once again I thought nothing of it and continued shopping.  Then I bumped into a friend, and continued chatting when I felt another tightening.  I became a bit more aware of it and mentioned to my mum casually.  So I quickly finished the shopping and thought it should be good idea for me to head home.

Between the supermarket and going to the car park, I had a few more contractions, but they were manageable.  About 5 minutes apart, lasting for 40-45 seconds this time round.

We got home, I made some morning tea for Chloe and myself.  Then I started tracking…

10am – I switched on the telly for Miss C to watch as I was trying to time my contractions.  I sat down at my desk and was chatting to my sis on MSN.  The contractions were still 5 minutes apart, lasting 40-45 seconds.

10.30am - I rang my husband, to gently warn him.  But I remember saying to him very clearly ”It could still be a false alarm, so PLEASE don’t rush home, yet.”

10.45am – I went ahead to my regular obstectrician appointment on that day.  My mum and Chloe came along.  Just as I drove out of my drive way, a strong contraction hit! Oooohhhh I thought in my head.  This time I knew it was for real as the pain came with a burning sensation in the lower back.  But I still felt fine and calmly breathed through it.  I drove slowly and carefully to see my doctor.

11am – We arrived at my doctor’s surgery.  My doctor was running late and it was a room full of pregnant women.  It was a cold, windy day and the car park was busy.  The ticket machine at the car park has broken down…and I actually thought to myself  “Cool, if I have this baby today, I don’t have to worry about coming back to put more money in the meter”. 

11.15am – The contractions became more regular.  5 minutes apart, 45-50 seconds and getting stronger.  Chloe was oblivious to everything and insisted on me reading a story book to her “There’s a house in my mummy’s belly”.  So I did, to distract myself, but ohhh, the contractions were strong. 

At one stage my mum flashed me a picture of a pumpkin soup recipe while  I was doing my breathing.

Finally, after a 45 minutes wait, I went in to see my doctor.

12pm – My doctor and midwife timed my contractions.  It was not 5 minutes apart, it was 2 minutes apart!  My doctor got all excited and started doing the happy dance in front of me!  I was going to have a baby on that day for sure, in that afternoon to be exact.  He also did an examination, before happily declared “Young lady, you are now 4,5….ah, 6 cms dilated”.

12.05pm – My doctor made a call to the midwide at the labour ward which is conveniently located in the next building block and said he was sending me over.  And no, I was not allowed to drive my mum and Chloe home.  I may not made it back to the hospital at all.  My doctor said to me “Now, walk slowly, calmly, no running, to the labour ward.  Your midwide will meet you at the reception.”

I called JD’s school to inform his teachers I could not pick him up that afternoon.  The teachers were just as excited.  I then made another phone call to a friend to pick up JD for me after school.  Then I rang the husband.  Later, I sent my mum home with Chloe in a taxi. I was worried that Chloe might cried seeing that I was not going into the taxi with her.  But she was brave, and calmly climbed into the taxi without a fuss.  I also said a quick goodbye as I didn’t want her to be upset 

12.15pm – I then walked into the labour ward leisurely, calmly and very happily by myself.  I was going to have my baby  that afternoon, yay!  Afterall, I was only half way through the labour, hee.  My midwife as promised was already at the reception and we chatted a while about me and Chloe.  My doctor was under the impression that I would have Chloe with me in the labour ward and has requested for a nurse to look after her till someone arrived.    She then handed me a menu to pick my lunch and dinner for that day.  She strapped me up to a machine to monitor the baby’s heart beat and my contractions. I continued to walk and breath through each of them.   I found lying down too uncomfortable.

I was doing well with no pain relief at all.  I was still chatting away.

12.45pm – The contractions were getting much stronger.  So strong that I asked for the rubber ball to sit on and swing around on my hip to ease the pain.

My husband finally arrived.  The nurses ordered him a lunch and I watched him had his roast turkey, salad and ice cream, but all I could think of was “Oh, breath, breath..ouch…then ah, now it’s gone…”

1.15pm – My midwide asked if I wanted a check to see how my labour is progressing.  My contractions were lasting for upto 2 minutes long at one stage!  Ouch!!!!!!!!!  It was intense.  But I was very calm.  I had an incredibly amount of inner peace this time, that I know the baby will be born soon.  I was quiet, focussed, and felt really calm. 

1.30pm – My midwife ruptured my waters as I was already 9cam dilated.  I only needed 1cm more before I could start pushing.  I wanted to lie down on the bed as I felt a strong urge to push.  My husband helped me into the bed just before the next contraction started.  I managed, just,  to climb into the bed.  At that very moment, I refused to let go of my husband’s hand.  He got a bit panic as my midwife has gone next door to check on another patient.

Then the most intense contraction started and I know it was time to push.  At the same time my husband’s mobile phone rang, but there was NO WAY I would allow him to take that call.  He wasn’t going anywhere.

1.45pm – My doctor also arrived at the same time. 

I was told to “PUSH”.  I took a deep breath, hold it, and I did 3 big push.  Oh, it was excruciating, the burning sensation. I had to use every cells in my body to push.  I had my eyes shut so tight that it hurts.  I clenched my teeth so tight that my jaws were sore for the next day.  My head felt like it was going to explode. 

2.00pm – My doctor assured me that with another 3 big push, I should be meeting my baby soon.  I was determined.  I was focussed.  I wanted to meet my baby.  My midwives, my doctor just kept repeating to me “You are doing great.  You pushed your baby a long way down.  You will meet your baby soon.”  At that moment, I wasn’t believing them.  I was getting a little tired as my labour has progressed very quickly in less than 2 hours.

2.05pm – My midwide said to me “Oh yeh, we can see the hair, yes, your baby has lots of hair!”  My husband was even more excited.

2.10pm - FInally, with all the strength I had, I gathered all my energy, deep breath and everyone in the room said “NOW PUSH!”  .  All I could hear was “Keep going, push the pain away, keep pushing, don’t stop, NOW take a breath, and PUSH again.”  Oh, yes, it felt like I was doing the biggest ever poo in my life.  I had to bear down so much that I felt like my whole body was going into pieces.  I have forgotten about labour pain till that very moment.  I squeezed my husband’s hand so hard that it bruised. The labour pain was excruciating.  So painful that I screamed.  So painful that I wanted to hit someone.  All the calmness I had for the last 2 hours was gone in that minute. 

Finally, I did the last push and the head popped out. And for the record I did not hit anyone.

2.17pm – My baby finally arrived.  Lara slipped into my doctor’s arm, and they quickly wrapped her up in a warm towel and placed her on my chest.  She was calm, gently opened her eyes before letting out a big cry.  I watched her, I smiled and with thankfulness and gladfulness, I felt immensely blessed at that very moment. 

My doctor also classified the birth of Lara as a ”Speedy Gonzales” delivery.

(Picture taken on 4th June 2009.  2 hours after Lara’s safe arrival)

And just like that, a new life begins.  A new baby being added into our lives. Another baby girl into our family.   To think that I have her in me for nine months, and in just 2 hours, she is now in this world, breathing on her own, and thus beginning her new life. 

Life is an amazing thing.

Lara waves a big Hello to everyone!  Everyone, meet Lara.  Our third child.  Our little baby girl.

(Picture taken on 6th June 2009.  2 days old Lara)

Lara arrived on Thursday 4th June at 2.17pm.  She weighed 8lb 2 oz or 3.702kg.  She measures 50cm long in height.

We are now a party of five!  JD and Chloe are both very excited about their new sister and have shown an incredible amount of affection towards her.

(Picture taken on 6th June 2009.  Lara opened her eyes wide first time, after a nice warm bath)

Mummy and bub are both doing well.  Is our first day back at home from hospital. 

I am enjoying my newborn, oh how I love the smell of newborn…and am falling in love with a newborn baby all over again.  I am so grateful to have this opportunity to once again experience the arrival of a newborn into our family.  And to see my JD and Chloe loving and welcoming their baby sister home, life is a blessing and I am forever thankful for that.

(Picture taken on 9th June 2009.  We are going home today, 5 days old Lara waiting for daddy and big brother JD to pick us up from hospital)

And it’s…..

More details later….

Mum and baby doing well.