The Birth of Baby Aydreanne

2.15am
I woke up to pee, yet again. I'm totally getting used to waking up and peeing 3 to 4 times in the night.

2.30am
I feel a little strange. Like a mild tummy upset but not really so I decided to lie back down on the bed. The weirdness continued. Could this be contractions? No way .... not when my EDD is more than 2 weeks away. Nevertheless, I started timing them.

4.00am
The weird feelings were 5 to 4 minutes apart. But they don't feel like contractions.

4.30am
The weird feelings were becoming more unfomfortable. I woke Lord Gaga and told him what I felt and we decided to time them together.

5.00am
Still 4 to 5 minutes apart. But no pain. Hmmmm

5.30am
Told Lord Gaga that we should go to the hospital to get it checked out. But not to worry, it CAN'T be contractions. I'm not due and there's no pain.

6.00am
We arrive at the hospital. Told the nurses I'm feeling a little odd. They strap me into this monitor thing for half hour.

6.30am
The nurse comes back in.
Nurse: You're having contractions.
Me: Huh? What do you mean?
Nurse: You're in labour.
Me: Huh? What? Labour? Like real labour? As in, I'm going to have my baby today?
Nurse: (Nonchalantly) Yup, today. Please go to the labour ward.
Me: ????

6.40am
As I was convinced I was not in labour, we didn't bring all of our packed bags, just half of them so, still in shock, we got into the car and headed home.

7.10am
Got home, took a shower, grabbed my bags and told our new Cambodian maid who doesn't speak much English - "Maam. Baby come now. You stay here. Maggi Mee. U eat. Bye!" and we ran out the door

7.12am
Met the neighbour on the way out and chatted for a while. All the time, the contractions were becoming stronger.

7.20am
Told Paul to swing by Mc D as I was hungry. As there were no places to stop and we didn't want to park, he dropped me off while I went in.
Me: 1 big breakfast and 1 sausage McMuffin. To go.
Mc D server: Coffee or tea?
Me: (Deep breathe) 1 coffee and 1 tea (cluthes counter top tightly while bending over in pain)
Mc D server: Here u go.
Me: Thank you (Grabs food and half run, half hobble out the door to Lord Gaga's waiting truck)

7.45am
I go straight to the labour room while Lord Gaga goes to register me. Nurses were already expecting me and made em comfortable and gave me a realy ugly and thick green gown to change into.

8.00am
The doc comes in to check and asks a few questions. Predict's I'll deliver about 1pm or 2pm

8.15am
I go into meditation and practise my Hypnobirthing methods. They work. With every contraction, I breathe and relax and the pain subsided.

8.30am
I ask to try the ethonox gas. It's fun! Tastes funny and every breath gets me high. Giggling, I ask Lord Gaga to try.

8.45am
Lord Gaga puts on some photos of scenic beaches on his laptop for me to see and futher relax. And played my meditation CD.

9.00am
By now, the pain was so strong, I was on all fours on the bed with my ass in the air, rocking back and forth.

9.15am
The doc came in to check me again and asked if I wanted the epidural. I said no, I wanted to do this naturally. He said okay but in his experience, the epi helps mothers relax and therefore able to birth the baby more quickly. And it will be more comfortable too.

9.30am
No amount of breathing (natural or gas), visualisation, rocking, walking or moving is helping. I felt PAIN! I was at 5cm. I was thinking ... if this is the pain at 5cm, what is going to happen at 10cm when the baby is ready to be pushed? Bring on the epi NOW!

9.45am
They administer the epi. I didn't feel any pain apart from when they put the needlle in ... or when they pushed the epi liquid in ... can't tell which. Anyway, i felt an electric jolt then was asked to lay down. I was then shivering uncontrolably, an effect of the epi (some people puke).

10.30am
The epi took on its full effect and while I felt no pain, I could feel movement which was important cos I didn't want to be so numb that I could not push.

10.45am
The doctor came in again and said that I was ready.
Me: Huh? Ready for what?
Doc: Ready to push.
Me: Err ... okay

10.55am
More nurses and midwives came in to hold me hand, monitor me and encourage me. Lord Gaga was standing right next to the doctor.

11.00am
The pushing begins. The nurses tell me when a contraction was happening and told me when to push.

11.30am
The doctor says that I'm pushing very hard and doing a good job but the baby wasn't coming. Lord Gaga says he can see the baby's head. Doctor said he'll need to "help me out". I prayed he didn't say the dreaded "C" word. Whatever it was, I hope no C section was involved. Instead, he took out a vacuum and stuck it on my baby's head.

And before 12 noon
With just 2 more pushes, my baby was out.
And within 3 seconds of being birthed, my baby girl was placed on my tummy.
Eyes wide opened, she looked into my eyes.
It was totally sureal.

Welcome to the world, little baby Aydreanne Alexia Wong!

Mummy and Daddy loves u so much. Good job with the birthing!