Waiting to Exhale... and Inhale... and Exhale again... and Inhale... and Exhale...
We’ve been going for our obgyn visits twice monthly. The closer we get to the Estimated Due Date (EDD), the more often the visits will be. My EDD was set at 17 November 2006.
During our last visit, the doctor discussed with us a variety of things.
The options for pain management, the role of the father during labor and the EDD.
Options for Pain Management
My mom has always been against epidurals. She’s strongly suggested that I don’t opt for one and go for the gas instead. But my friends and cousins, who have taken epidurals, swear by them.
Being the filial daughter that I am, I’m gonna listen to my mom on this one. BUT I’m not ruling out epidurals altogether.
If the situation demands for an epidural, I’m all for it.
Role of the Father during Labor
Initially, we thought that Wan would be in the labor room with me.
Egging me on, helping to count the contractions and being my pillar of strength. After much deliberation, we’ve opened our eyes to reality – Wan is not the kind of man who should be allowed in the labor room.
At the risk of making my darling sound like a wuss… Wan faints at the sight of blood. Even a single drop. And when I say ‘faints’, I MEAN faint... The kind of fainting that women in the Victorian days used to do, before being revived with smelling salts.
He once stubbed his toe on an umbrella stand in the pasar malam and at the sight of his (slightly) bloodied toe; he promptly fainted, leaving his 3 buddies with the gargantuan task of carrying him home.
So yes, as tough and macho as Wan can be, he should not be permitted to join me in the labor room.
Our doctor had forewarned him “Wan, if you faint or collapse in hysteria during the labor, we will not help you, okay. Terbaringlah awak kat lantai tu...”That settled it.
There’s no way I can concentrate on bringing my baby into the world when my BIG Baby is lying in heap on the labor room floor.
The Estimated Due Date (EDD)
Speaking of big babies...
During the last ultrasound scan, our dear doctor gave us a slight scare.
She started the ultrasound machine and when her eyes fell on the screen, a look of comical alarm spread on her face.
“That’s a BIG BABY” she exclaimed.
Ignoring our wide-eyed distress, she proceeded to measure the baby’s head.
“Uhm... maybe my measurements are wrong, I’ll do it again” she says.
By this time, Wan & I were staring at each other with wide-eyed anxiety.
After the second measuring, she turned to me and grinned, “Yes, he’s very big... We may have to move up your labor date.”
The mommy in me immediately bombarded the dear doctor with questions:
“What do you mean, ‘very big’?”
“You just told me I lost weight since the last check-up! How can my baby be BIG?”
“Is that a good thing?”
“Is that a BAD thing?”
“Is he gonna be alright?”
“What’s going ON herrrreee?”
The doctor chuckled at my distress and smilingly reassured me that everything was fine. She explained that even though the mommy may have lost weight, the baby is speedily gaining it. She told me that the baby was probably big because... well... his parents are big.
(Gee, thanks for THAT news update).
After completing the entire check-up and confirming that mommy and baby were doing well, we sat down at her table and eagerly awaited the doctors explanation.
“Okay... The baby’s fine. He’s a big baby, but that’s fine. We MAY have to plan ahead though, in case his growth rate continues like this. You’ll have one more check-up with me before raya… and then after raya, we have another one. If, during that check-up, we find that the baby is growing even bigger... we may want to consider inducing labor.”
“Inducing labor???”
“Yes. By that time, the baby will be in his 37th week. It’s perfectly safe for him to be born then, we need not wait till his EDD.”
“After raya???”
“Yes. But ONLY if I foresee that he’ll be too big for normal labor if we wait for the EDD.”
“Too big for normal labor???”
“Yes, if he gets too big for normal labor, we’d have to opt for a C-section. So it’s better if we induce him earlier for a normal birth.”
“OOooo... okay.”
So, there you go.
Our Little Wan (who’s not so little after all...) MAY be welcomed into the world a little earlier than expected. We’re fine with that.
As long as he’s a normal, healthy, happy baby boy, we’re thankful.
I know I’ll miss having him tumbling around in my belly... but I certainly am very excited to finally meet my baby face to face.
You’ll always be a part of me
I'm part of you indefinitely
Boy don't you know you can't escape me
Ooh darling 'cause you'll always be my baby
And we'll linger on
Time can't erase a feeling this strong
No way you're ever gonna shake me
Ooh darling 'cause you'll always be my baby
Mariah Carey - Always Be My Baby (Mr. Dupri Mix)
7 comments:
hahahahahaha
u n wan memang big punnn
not FAT, mind u
just... u know... B.I.G
bila nak share gambar2 ultrasound tu?
btw, i love the way u use whitney houston and mariah carey's songs for this post
very sesuwai
Don't rule epidural out, keep your options opened. I had all the good intentions to have a natural labour, but had to opt for epidural shortly after I was induced. Following anaesthetisation, I was more relaxed, leaving me with the much needed energy for that big push. Hope all goes well for you and baby during labour InsyaAllah.
hey diha!
i'm fine thanks! i bet you are too... anticipating little wan soon. don't worry, insyaAllah, everything will be fine during labor. doc told izreen tt her baby was big too. and with the help of epidural, baby came out like a breeze (really!!!)
yes, am very proud auntie! baby nadya is indeed comel! can't wait to see your soon.
keep us updated ya?
dear diha
just to let u know i too takut darah i fainted when they cucuk jarum kat my finger masa nak determine jenis darah. masa my wife in labour room pun i was like takut gak byk darah n i could have fainted. so i pun ckp kt my wife i wont b with her. tapi bila dlm the labour room cian plak nk tinggai my wife lagipun the doc n gang dah blok jln i nk kluar dr labour room so i terperangkap la. i stayed on thru out the labour process WITHOUT fainting hehehe the trick was jgn tgk kat tempat darah but look at your wife n tgk at the pain she had n then baru la aku rasa cian n insaf at the same time miserable sb takleh buat apa2 masa tu to kurangkan her pain. lepastu masa baby kluar dah tak perasaan all those darah. so do tell wan jgn takutla masuk jer n witness the miracles of life.
Di, my zaki pun takut darah jugak..but he went in the labour room to temankan jugak. and i'm glad he did coz i don't think i'll be strong enuff to push if it wasn't becoz of him! =)yeah, like anonymous said, it is certainly an experience & for a person yg takut darah, zaki's glad that he did it. it was painful though..and i only opt for gas. although my second, it felt like my first coz i had c-sect with Hareth due to placenta preavia. Selamat Hari Raya Di & Maaf Zahir Batin =)
It is good for the husband to be in the labor room. 1) to see how the wife endure labor and may be, he will appreciate wife more 2) morale 3) strength 4) any other things not mentioned in 1) - 3)
I have been in two labor. first i almost fainted not because i can't be there, but the waiting period was a little too long. first child came after 16 hours of labor. the second child was quite fast. checked in at nine and came at eleven or almost twelve. however, i'm saying, it will be a good experience if the hubby is there.
You are all soooo right.
I'm really glad that Wan stayed with me and helped me deal with the labour pains.
Alhamdulillah...
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