My Birth Story!

Thanks so much for all your prayers and indeed God is gracious and faithful. My birth story is such a great testimony on how much God cares and loves us and He is faithful.

19 Nov 2008

1.30pm - Called Doc A and told him about baby Evangeline not kicking much for the past one and a half day. I thought it was nothing serious and maybe just needed to take a trip down to the clinic for check up but Doc A wanted me to admit to the hospital immediately. It was so sudden. Hospital bag and luggage for my one month confinement at my Mum's place were not packed and I was only in my 37 weeks of gestation. Rushed to pack hospital bag first and bathe. I was feeling very anxious and afraid.

2.00pm - Left home and on the way to hospital. Pray with Hubby and even joke with him that we will be back home after check up. It was just a normal procedure. Trying to calm myself with that excuse.

2.30pm - Put on CTG to monitor Baby's heartbeat. Doc A came and did a VE. Was 2 cm dilated. Doc cautioned me not to delay and advised me to deliver on that day. I was shocked and not expecting to deliver so soon. I was stunned and speechless. Hubby was lost too. Doc and nurses persuaded me to give birth that day as Baby was already not kicking much and this could lead to the possibility of baby dying in the womb. Before I could answer them, Doc did another VE and broke my waterbag.

2.45pm - Nurse inserted some solution into anus to help me clear my bowel.

3.00pm - I was put on drip.

3.25pm - First contraction set in. Still bearable.

5.00pm - Couldn't bear the pain anymore. Ask for Epidual. Was put on gas while waiting for the anesthetist to come.

5.30pm - Epidual injected. Felt instant relief. Able to laugh, chat and relax. But still 2 cm dilated.

7pm - Nurse did a VE and I was 9cm dilated. That was pretty fast.

7.45pm - 9.5 cm dilated. Doc was called in to prepare me for labour.

8.04 - Doc came in and everybody in that delivery room got me ready to give my first push.

8.05 - With only one push, Baby Evangeline was out! in less than a minute. Praise the Lord for smooth delivery.

When Evangeline was brought before me, I couldn't help but questioned why she was so small. I kept asking Doc if she is healthy, whether her size and weight is acceptable. Doc assured me that she is alright. Hubby was overjoyed and immediately all attention was on Evangeline..Ha Ha...
Doc stitched me up and I was pushed to my ward. Super hungry as I did not have any lunch and dinner. I was only allowed a cup of milo and sandwich as supper. Evangeline could only be pushed to me for breastfeeding at about 1am. Hubby has to go home to try to finish up his last paper which was due on Friday and due to this sudden and unexpected arrival of Evangeline, I guessed he may have problem completing it. Hopefully, God's grace is with him.

Some pics to share!

This is how big my tum tum is when I was 37 weeks in gestation. I remember the date was 15 Nov. 4 Days before the birth of Evangeline.



Baby Evangeline in my arms



Evangeline's weight



Evangeline Birth Details



Who is staring at me?



Current Mood: Overjoyed

Bad Timing..Praying for full recovery

Yesterday, I managed to get some errands done and a visit to my Gynae. Baby is doing fine except no weight gain since 2 weeks ago. Still 2.7kg yesterday and I was kinda worried. As for me, I gained another 2 kg and I wonder why none of it went to Evan. Ahhhhhhh! This is my 37th week and Evangeline has engaged. Doc A told me to be prepared as Evan might pop anytime from next week onwards. I am super anxious. Hubby still has one more paper to complete and have told him to try to finish as soon as possible in case of unexpected arrival of Evan.

But for now, I am more concern about my flu and cough. It is getting worse and have problem sleeping at night due to backflow of mucus. Praying for full recovering if not, it will be tough during delivery. I wouldn't want to sneeze and cough my baby and stitches out.

Mr Sun, Do be available for the next two weeks as I desperately need your rays to dry my last bit of laundry.

Talk about sleep...medication is setting in and it's ZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz time.

Current Mood: Sick

Nesting Instinct

Talk about getting ready for Evangeline's arrival, I am suffering from a nesting instinct syndrome. Sounds wierd but I learnt about this from a pregnancy book and couldn't believe that all these while, I am displaying signs of such syndrome. Even hubby agreed after reading the book.

It is actually the uncontrollable urge to ready the nest before delivery. For some mothers, they will all of a sudden find it important to clean every corner of the house, cabinets, rearranging furnitures and items in the house. For others, the behaviour can be dramatic like cleaning every crevice of the nursery with toothbrush, rearranging the contents of the kitchen cabinets, ironing and washing everything that isn't tied down or being worn and refolding baby clothes for hours on end.

Trust me, I am doing most of what was said above. Readying the nest is what I have been doing and Hubby is finding it worrisone as he would tell me to rest and I would ignore his concern. After which I would complain to him how tired I am but I still find it satisfying and rewarding when the place is clean and neat and ready for Evangeline to use. Okie, just treat it as house cleaning for the coming New Year!

So have I finished my nesting instinct assignment? Nope...still cleaning here and there, packing here and there but lesser now as my energy is depleting as the day passes. My big tummy, weariness and back pain have been obstructing me from doing work. With frequent Braxton Hicks acting up, I have a strong feeling that I will be popping my baby soon. Still, hospital bag, things to bring over to my Mum's place for confinement are not packed yet. I better get it done soon, if not, I will not have a peace of mind.

Can't wait to carry and play with Evangeline in my arms. Hubby couldn't wait too to caress and hug his precious daughter. So Evangeline, be good, stay healthy till week 37 and after Daddy's exams before you pop into this world k!

Current Mood: Sleepy and Exhausted

At 32 weeks...

Just seen Doc A and baby's head is facing downward already but not engaged so should be able to have a full term baby. However, I must be careful, not to exert too much strength and learn to rest more.

Baby weighs 1.8kg and I put on another 2kg more. My current weight is 63kg and only 500g goes to baby...Argh......

Next appt is 3 weeks from now..Hopefully, baby will put on more weight but not too heavy as I aim to have a natural delivery rather than C-sect.

I am feeling very anxious and excited. Still got lots of things to prepare before her arrival. I can't wait!

Current mood: Blissed

Evangeline at 28 Weeks

Just went to see Dr Adrian. Beside the usual routine and the same catch up phrases, we were glad that Evangeline is now 1.3kg at 28 weeks! However, as for me, I put on 10 kg from 51.3kg to 61.3kg at 7 months. My oh my! I must indeed maintain my weight for the last two months. Hopefully, I do not exceed a total of 15 kg weight gain for my whole pregnancy. Evangeline is considered average and normal and I am thankful to God for taking so good care of her and protect her thru out this whole pregnancy. Hubby can't wait to see her and I can't wait to hold her in my arms. We continue to pray for the last two months ahead that Evangeline will continue to grow healthily in my womb. What a joy!

Current Mood: Hopeful

Time to give credit to our Lord!

As I pondered back all these months, the wonderful and miraculous things that the Lord has done, I felt compelled to blog my heartfelt thanks to Him. God, thanks for being there for me and Samuel. The journey is tough, the future is bleak and insecure, lot of anxieties and yet looking forward for Evangeline to arrive as she has been such joy and blessing in our life.

1) Thank God for guiding Samuel and his studies. Samuel has been struggling both his studies and finding time for family. Time is so limited, not much for himself to breathe or even to catch up with his friends and family. If it wasn't for God's grace and mercy, he wouldn't have even done well for his examinations, his papers and assignments. It is indeed a miracle that he can still be mentally and physically strong to handle all the pressure. All these come with a sacrifice too, sacrificing the quality time with family but I am glad he tries and makes effort all the time.

2)Thank God for my pregnancy. So far, my pregnancy has been smooth. No morning sickness, no cravings for particular food or having any signs of rejection for certain food. Normal appetite, eat as per normal and my lifestyle has not much been changed, still the same as before I was pregnant. Everyone says I am blessed and indeed, I am. My baby is also healthy and results for every check up and scans are normal, healthy and positive. Thanks be to God.

3) Thank God for ample time for mental, physical, emotional preparation for the arrival of Evangeline. Ever since I stopped working in March, I have been praying and trying to find a temporary job just for these few months till delivery to help in relieving the financial aspect of the household. Despite earnestly applying for tuition assignments and applying to be a relief teacher, doors were not opened for me. After a while, I understood why and I am glad that GOd knows what's best for me and Samuel. If I am working, I wouldn't be able to settle all the things needed for Evangeline. During these months, I am able to do research, read up about pregnancy, spend time taking care and helping Samuel whenever he needs help. I also have the opportunity to have a taste of how it is like to be a full time housewife which will prepares me to be a SAHM (stay at home mum).

4) Thank God for providence. Depending on one person's income is indeed challenging. We have to change our lifestyle, the way we spend our money, becoming very calculative and careful in the things we wanted to buy. We are thankful that by nature, in terms of the way we are brought up, we are able to live simply thus it was not tough changing our lifestyle and habits in such a short time. As we have one more member in the family soon. Expenses are extremely high as we need to buy things for baby. Thus God gave us wonderful ppl in our life to provide for us. Baby clothes, rocker, baby cot were all given by others..that really save us lots of money as those are expensive items. Now, we only need to spend on daily necessities like diapers, milk bottles etc.

5) Thank God for my parents especially my mum. I specially mentioned my mother because she is not a christian but yet show the characteristics and personalities of one. She is self-less, loving and willing to go extra mile in caring for others. All these months and years, she took good care of Samuel and I. During my pregnancy, she was the one who bought and cooked the tonic, bird nest and sometimes did marketing for us. Despite us wanting to pay for those items, she refused and told us to save that money up. Samuel and I feel very touched by her gestures and love. Those items are not cheap and she is not rich either, but she uses her hard-earned money to show such extention of love to me and baby, what a sacrificing love and heart she has! Thanks Mummy! You are the best and I love you lots!

6)Thank God for friends. I am glad to have friends to ask and seek support in my whole pregnancy journey. They gave me valuable advise, support, encouragements to help me curb my anxieties and insecurities. Without them, I am clueless and may even fumble when baby arrives. Thanks my friends who pray for us and being there when we needed help!

7) Thank God for bringing Samuel and I closer together thru this child. A lot have changed even since we have this child. Unknowingly, we became more patient, loving and understanding towards each other. We used to take lot of things and each other for granted. We quarrel, lose temper at one another and at times having cold wars to spite each other. But things are different now. We know that we needed to be role models, to set up the right environment for our baby. We wouldn't want baby to inherit certain negative traits from us and allow generation bondages to pass down to our children. Role and responsibilities as husband and wife, as father and mother were shown clearly to us thru God's words and we placed these commandments dearly in our hearts. We became more joyful as parents and as a couple. We learn to love each other more deeply and in special ways. Thank you God for such a change.

Continue to pray with us as we move on from one stage to another. May the Lord bless you abundantly in each of your lives just as how you have been a blessing to us!

Current Mood: Thankful

Pls Pray for Evangeline!

I am super duper worried..Evangeline has not been kicking much. Normally, she is very active at night but yesterday, she hardly kicked at all, less than 10 times a day. Today, I tried talking to her, tapping my tummy, trying to feel her, but silence is all I get.

Should I call my gynae? Should I see doc now? or should I wait and observe and not get panicky? Oh I am so worried. What should I do?

Just pray!

Current mood: Worried

An update of my pregnancy

Yup! Evangeline's blog is up! Who is Evangeline? My baby girl, our precious child. Took me one whole day to do up the blog for her. The whole pregnancy has been smooth except for a back sprain last month. One week of groans, pains and total bed rest. Thanks for the prayers of church members and my wonderful Mum who took good care of me that enabled me to recover speedily.

17 more weeks to go. Tummy's getting heavier, movements become more strenous and slow. Oh well, have to buck up in getting the baby stuff ready for Evangeline's arrival since hubby is super busy. So far still lots of things to settle like doing up the baby's room, buying baby's furniture and the necessities for myself.

COntinue to pray for us and Evangeline for good health and GOd's guidance and providence in our lives.

Evangeline's blog: http://preciousevangeline.blogspot.com

Current mood: hungry

Our Precious (5th Week, 5 April 2008)

* The water bag is the one where the arrow is pointing. *

Hubby and I got up excitedly to prepare ourselves for the second visit to the Gynae. We were rather nervous and worried. Praying hard that we could see the water bag and knowing that our precious is safe and sound, growing well in my womb.

As usual, Dr Adrian is forever calm and cool. Guess hubby was too lost to even get up from his seat to see the scan. Imagine he has to be 'invited' by Dr Adrian, asking hubby to join him to see the ultrasound.

It was so amazing to see a tiny black dot which Dr Adrian explained that that is the water bag and the embryo is still very small. The water bag with the embryo in it is just simply 1.1cm long. How tiny and this little precious is growing in my womb, till now I still cannot believe that I am pregnant!

After checking that I am eating well, sleeping well with no more cramps and pains in my abdominal, Dr Adrian declared the session closed. Of course, I would not let him get away so easily..I took out my little booklet with thousands of questions to ask him...He just grinned and smile, helped himself with the booklet and wrote down the answers to my questions. What an interesting gynae he was! I just can't help laughing.

Asked Dr Adrian about my EDD and he said that he could only confirm with me once the foetus has grown bigger. By measuring the size of the foetus, it would give him a more accurate prediction on the due date of our precious.

Thus, my next visit will be in two weeks time on the 19 April. Can't wait till then. Each day, I am joyfully learning how to cope with my pregnancy and praying for my precious. Hubby and I are going to make a point to pray for our precious every night and establishing a bond between our precious, hubby and I and not forgetting God!

Dear God, fill our little precious with your abiding love, joy and peace each and everyday. See through his / her physical and neuro development and every parts of the organs and body. May this child inherits the characteristics of Jesus and help us as parents to learn how to pray and build an amazing relationship with our precious even when the little one is growing in my tummy. We surrender every worries, concerns, inadequacies and insecurities into your hands for we know that You are a God who provides and a God who is merciful, gracious and loving. Thanks for this precious we have. Amen!

Current mood: Amazed and thankful

PMS!!!!!!!

I dun know what's wrong with me. I am just restless, bored and irritated. Guess fell off the wrong side of the bed this morning. Hubby's not at home and started to miss him badly. He has been having hard time adjusting to his sleeping patterns, catching up with his school work and all these are just tiring him out. Poor Dar, you need to press on in God's strength.

As for me, I needed to buck myself up. No more lazing ard, no more groaning and whining...just do it...

*Sigh*

Hated today...It could have been better.........

Current mood: restless

Lesson 1: Start reading pregnancy books

Today, I had a wonderful time catching up with Lena and her little baby boy Issac. Just bid my company goodbye in the morning before joining Lena for lessons on what to expect next in being a Mum Wanabe. Hearing her experiences on how she dealt with her first trimester and what she did to cope her anxieties gave me a sense of assurance that I will be fine as well. It's all about learning from people, picking yourself up when mistakes are made and read lots of books to prepare yourself physically and mentally. Reviews and opinions on Dr Adrian were being discussed and somehow I knew I would most likely choose him as my Gynae for my little baby. I believe that with his vast experience and good reviews from forumers and even from my friends and colleages do earn him great credibility and trust. I know I would be in good hands. Anyway, I left Lena's place full of treats in my hands, yah pregnancy books and magazines. When will I be able to finish I wonder?

Hubbby was so sweet to give me a call, asking me to join him for dinner and we headed for our favourite fish soup stall. Yup, I needed to eat more fish as I just learnt that fish is rich in DHA which is good for the baby's neuro development.

Feeling very lethargic now as if my bones are giving way anytime.....Sigh....hopefully God will take away any morning sickness from me...I wouldn't want to puke for 9 months like some of my friends did.....It's going to be very tough......

Looking forward for my next scan.....

Dear God, bless this child and in your hands, mould the child into your likeness. Protect the child and see through his/her every development (brain, organs, limbs, arms etc) that he/she may be healthy and beautiful. We thank you for this miracle baby at your divine appointment, we commit this child into your hands and may each stage of my pregnancy be smooth and joyful. Amen!

OMG!

28 March 2008 2215hrs

OMG! It was confirmed. No turning back, No regrets, Lost, Perplexed, Bewildered.........Arghhhhhhhhhh.....It was positive. Yup...I am pregnant....!
So what's next?

Called Hubby and he gave an amusing reply.

Wifey: Dear, I am pregnant. It's positive.
Hubby: How do you know? haha
Wifey: Aiyo, pregnancy kit lah
Hubby: Oh really...but how did you test it? How does it works?
Wifey: Duh?!!!!!!
Hubby: Ha ha coming back now....Ha Ha you are pregnant...haha

Upon reaching home.
Hubby: Hi dear, where is the pregnancy kit? Why positive? so what does it means?
Wifey: Sigh...you should be saying, 'Yeah I am a father!!!!!'
Hubby: *Grin*

What a night!
Current mood: Lost, Shocked