The Arrival of Baby Kara

Baby Kara is healthy & well after a smooth < 5 hour delivery at TMC.

Birthday: 6 Sep @ 2.43am
Weight: 2.78kg
Length: 47cm
Head: 31cm

Here's my Birth Story...

3 Sep (Fri) @ 8am:
The Show - Mucus plug came off I.e light discharge tinted with blood. Could still have work telcos, met up with friends for lunch & coffee and relaxing dinner w hubby.

4 Sep (Sat):
Minor on/off contractions in the early morning. Could still swim & head out for the weekend.

5 Sep (Sun):
Woke up at 2.30am because of contractions & thought I'll endure a few more hours & head to hospital in the morning. However contractions wasn't too bad in the morning so decided to wait. Could relax, watch TV & soak in bathtub before heading to parent's house for dinner. Contractions are on/off about 15 mins apart & still bearable intensity.

Reached home, shower & could feel contractions becoming more regular, about 6-7 mins interval and was about to leave for the hospital when water bag broke at 9.45pm.

Actually heard a "pop" sound before the gush of fluid! In the car, contractions are getting more frequent ~3-4mins & higher intensity.

Upon arrival at TMC, was lead to the Delivery Room to change & clear the bowels. Staff nurse Geetha who assisted me throughout was very nice & comforting. Luckily my gynae happened to be at TMC (just completed delivery for another patient) so she was here within 15 mins.

Short vaginal examination indicates that I'm just 2cm dilated. According to regular statistics, baby will be out in another 8hours! Checked with gynae & found out the current pain rating was approx 3/10. At the transition stage, will feel intense pain & wanting-to-poo-feeling. Decided that I'll likely go for epidural as I don't wanna endure & end up with a phobia for delivery.

Was transferred to the Birth Room at ~11pm & contractions were 2-4mins interval & higher intensity (at times causing me to shiver) so decided to ask for epidural. 45 mins for doc administrating the epidural to come! While waiting I was whining in pain & nurse offered me gas which I declined.

Epidural was a godsend. The jab into the vertebrae was nothing compared to the contractions & feel sooo much better thereafter.





Could doze off to sleep until ~1.30am when I started to again feel the want-to-pee feeling. Apparently it was the baby's head descending. Short check by the nurse & confirmed dilation is already 10cm & could see the baby crowning! Doc was asked to come & after 2 pushes, the baby is out at 2.43am.

Amazingly smooth & fast delivery for a first-time mum. When the baby was left in my arms the first time, the feeling of joy brought tears to my eyes. Indescribable feeling of motherhood...





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Final Pregnancy Photo

Potato: week 39, day 2

Horrifying 42"

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Sopie's 1st Year Bday

After minor contractions in the morning, I was feeling ok in the afternoon & even went for a swim before joining Sopie's 1st Year Birthday Bash.

Bday cake was a mega huge fruit cake with cute icing animal farm deco.. heavier than Shirlene's 9kg daughter!











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Last "Ang Mo" Breakfast

Have a feeling I'll deliver this weekend so decided to have a western breakfast (imagine 40 days of confinement Chinese food!).



Relaxing breakfast at Siglap Coffee Club & muddy mud pie as the FINAL pregnancy sweetener...


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Relaxing Dinner @ Barrage

Traditional hainanese pork chop & steamboat dinner with Gerald at Marina Barrage followed by kite watching... Awesome relaxing Friday evening!

















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The Show

I think my mucus plug came off this morning!

In pregnancy, a plug of mucus forms within the cervix to prevent infection entering the uterus. At the end of pregnancy, as the cervix softens & widens, this plug is dislodged & comes out through the vagina.

When this occurs, you may see a discharge known as the "show", although some women don't notice anything. The discharge may appear as a thick, clear or yellow clump that looks like mucus from your nose. It's common for small amounts of blood to be present due to small tears in the cervix as the plug comes away.

Losing the plug of mucus usually means that labour will begin soon and you should make plans to leave for hospital in the near future (within 48 hours). However if loss of plug is accompanied by other symptoms such as painful, frequent contractions, heavy bleeding or leaking fluid (indicating your waters have broken, you should call your hospital immediately."

Source: The Day-By-Day Pregnancy Book



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