Your arrival

Renee Melanie Tay
13th Jul 2007

Weight: 2.9 kg

Lenght: 50 cm

Here you are!!

Finally, finally we meet you in person.

You are so tiny.

Tiny little hands, tiny little feet, tiny little lips, ears, nose, eyes....everything is so tiny. You little precious are perfect!

Here is what occurred the day mommy had you:

2:30 - 3 am:

Woke up from sleep. It was the first time ever I'm having this feeling around my belly.

Feeling of cramp and uneasy. Pa is snoring as we just went to bed not long ago.

3 - 4 am:

Can't really fall back to sleep as the cramp continued. Remember auntie Linna's description on contraction. She said it feels just like a serious period pain. Oh my God, mine felt just like period pain now. Am I having contraction? Pa was still snoring. Didn't want to wake him up as he has not been sleeping really well lately being on standby mode waiting for your arrival.

4 - 5 am:

Kept waking up because the slight cramp continues.

Went to pee not knowing whether I wished to see if there is any show (blood stain) or not.

But no sign of show. Phew...

5 - 6 am:

Went to pee again. Felt a slight expand on the pelvic bone but not sure if it was what I thot it was.

There was blood stain this time! Gees...you have finally decided to give a little sign. Ok, this is The day then I think. Went checked on our 'superbag' (that have everything we need for the hospital stay during delivery). Done. Everything is in.

7 am:

Took a warm bath, washed my hair and changed. Woke Pa up and told him I'm already having contraction and blood stain. His eyes went big and asked me to repeat what I just told him. I repeated and he stood up from bed right away wanted to go to the hospital immediately.

I didn't want to go as yet because I think it is not going to be so fast plus our check up was at 10am.

8 - 9am:

Made smoothies and had the left over spaghetti as breakfast.

9 - 10am:

Heading down to the hospital. Felt calm and not panic surprisingly.

11 am:

Took your heartbeat test in the labour ward. If there is still no dilation or any sign of delivery and your heartbeat is stable and well, we can go home. Can you believe we were still allow to go home. I can't!

11:40am:

Felt warm liquid flew from between my legs while lying on the bed still doing the heartbeat test. Thot I had bladder problem that I couldn't hold my urine during my last stage of pregnancy. But the liquid keep flowing down. Nurse confirmed that my water bag just broke. We need to check-in immediately. We were not going home. We were finally going to meet you today. But the midwife predicted that it will be after 6pm when you make your entrance. Sweet Lord, another 6 more hours to go!

1 - 2pm:

Pa finished doing all the registration. Now, there was nothing all of us can do except waiting for you. Contraction goes on. The pain was still bearable. Nurse kept checking on us. We were doing well.

2 - 3pm:

Still waiting. I was listening to the songs from my phone. Can't read, can't really concentrate.

Counted from 1 - 50, then started all over again. Doctor came checked on us on and off. Contraction continues. The pain was still bearable. If this is as bad as it gets, I think can handle this. Pa was beside waiting with us. Nothing can be done except kept waiting.

3 - 4pm:

I was started to feel I wanted this over soon as I needed something better to do other than waiting in pain. Nurses and midwife kept monitoring our progress. I was offered a last chance to eat. No way I could eat at moment like this. Who can actually eat? Offer me the most delicious food on earth and I still couldn't put it in my month.
Pa was reading his novel while waiting.

4 - 5pm:

Oww...the pain was at the scale of 7 now I think. The contraction was more frequent now. The pain was damn f****** hurting now. I was offered this gas which I must inhaled everytime I felt the pain. It was suppose to help lighten the pain and make the pain more bearable. And wow, I love this gas. It makes you high. Love it, love it for moment like this. I felt stone and that was good!

5 - 6pm:

The pain continues. Felt like you were trying to push yourself out. Thot you were coming out soon as the midwife predicted that you will be here sometime around after 6pm.

She came in and checked on us again and thot you won't be out anytime soon. It might be another 2 to 3 hours. Holy God! I was thinking she must be kidding right, what do you mean by another few hours. What were you doing in there. Aren't you eager to see us? Is this what human race do? Does animal feels this pain that we going thru?

6- 7pm:

Doc came checked on us. Other than your head is tilted to one side which will make pushing you out hard, everything else was good. The pain came and go on a more frequent basis now. The pain got longer now and I was still counting from 1, 2, 3, 4....owww....deep breathed...deep breathed, inhaled on my favorite gas. Stone and felt high is good now. I was feeling high and dreamy. And that felt good!

The pushing part kicked in here. I was asked to push everytime I had contraction. I was still concentrating on the gas. That helped me forgot the pain.

You still refused to push your way thru. Everyone in the team were in the labour room now. Talking and laughing, like I was not in pain and not fighting for my life...I'm still pushing, hello.

7 - 8pm:

This part was the real shit as I was really concentrating on really pushing you out. 1 nurse, 1 midwife, the doctor and Pa were there with us since earlier. I was asked to really pushed and hold, not to let go if I can to prevent you from going back to the initial position. During this phase, my contractions grew shorter so I couldn't push you effectively. Doc suggested an option - vacuum-assisted delivery due to your head was still tiled to one side. I agreed. In fact I would agree to whatever option they want to do with my body now. In another push, the doc asked me to push harder as they can see your hair. It's getting closer now I thot, yay...they can see your hair. You were finally one step closer to us. Pa could see your hair too. He was so delighted and keep cheering us to push harder too. The midwife suggested that I tried a few more pushes on my own before we op for the vacuum. Everyone in the room keep asking us to push harder...like a cheering team ...and we went push...push....yes...that's right...one more...harder, don't let go of your breath...yes...harder, a little bit more...and I don't know where the extra pushing power came from but I just pushed with all the breath I still have left and I heard doctor said here we go, she is out...you showed up finally...my baby was out!! You cried out loud right away without having to spank you. The nurse passed you to me, you looked a little like an alien I think but you are perfect! You are normal and well. Finally, it was proven that this is another case that fell into the false positive Triple test result stastic. And we felt so relieved.

9 pm:

After I carried and cuddled you, the nurse took you away for cleaning while doctor took about half an hour to do the necessary cleaning and stitch me up.

Approximately another half an hours later, the nurses came in and helped move us to the Mother Baby unit.

This pregnancy is quite a ride, the birth is more but if anyone were to ask me, I would tell you that anyone on earth can go thru labor because I have totally forgot about the pain I went thru the moment I saw my little sweetie pie.

Today marked the end of my pregnancy and the beginning of our new life with my little princess...

The day I had you

This is the dress and perfume mommy were wearing on the morning I went to the hospital for our last check-up not knowing I would meet you in person on the same day.

Your Chinese Name

Your Chinese name was proposed by a naming Guru.
We were given a list to choose from.
And 郑靓蓉 is what we have chosen.
I like this name the most compared to the rest.
So, here you go: 郑靓蓉小妹妹 you will be.

Voter for this name 4/4:
Mom
Papa
Po Po
Ta Ku ma

You are late

Overdue: 3 days

You still did not make an appearance today so we did what any soon-to-be-parents would do, we cooked. Kai Ma Sue asked about your arrival again yesterday. She is now back in Perth. She reakon you wanted to wait until you are older to be a queen insted of just a princess. She might be right.

I cooked spaghetti while your Pa baked a chicken with rosemary and peach. He claimed that's his own recipe, and that chicken taste real goood...

We had your uncle Ryan, uncle Sam & auntie Linna dropped by for dinner.

I then had durian after dinner.

I want to eat all food before you came cause that's a smart thing to do I think.

Again, when are you coming? We are still waiting...

Anyway, mommy will need to go check on you in the hospital tomorrow morning.

Will see how it's gonna be then. Goodbye for now.

Kiss...kiss...

The Day

Countdown: The Day - 9 Jul

Woke up in the morning and didn’t feel a thing. Not even a slight cramp on the stomach.
Gees… you really are not ready to meet us huh?
Pa dreamt that my water bag broke and I’m going to labor while I dreamt that I am going to Australia for holidays.

I have not feel a single sign that you will be here yet, so me & Kai Ma Sue went shopping at Gurney Plaza the whole afternoon. We went to the night market outside too. Walking around with you inside me is a challenge now. It's tiring plus you should look at people’s face when they found out you are due today and you will be here anytime.

Kai Ma Sue was laughing at us. She swears she is going to spank you if I were to have you the minute she left Penang.

Now, I don’t know what to feel anymore and I think I’m not even nervous now.
You better get ready and give me a hint if you are coming any minute ya. We are supposed to work as a team remember? Just make sure you squeeze yourself out as quickly as possible and we shall do fine. Good night for now till mommy see and cuddle you in person…

Mom's feet

Count down: 1 day to go till 9 Jul

If you really want to know, yes, I'm freaking out.
Tomorrow will be the due date. Tomorrow will be "The Day"!
Gosh...I can't believe this.
Nevertheless, it is still the same thing I wanted to tell you: I can't wait to see you!
But still, the whole process still scare the hell out of me.

Put that aside, this is how mom's feet turn from a size 5 to a size 6 now.
They really swell.
I can't really walk and I can't feel my feet.
I am walking like a penguin now.

I don't know if I can sleep tonight, Pa said he can't.

Such a unique day

Count down: 2 days to go till 9 Jul

We wanted you to show up today actually as it is such a special day today: 7/7/07!

I did told and persuade you to appear today but it seems like you are still not ready as it is already almost midnight now and you still have not given any sign, unless you plan to give us a surprise after midnight.

I'm nervous actually...

No sign from you at all

Count down: 3 days to go till 9 Jul

There is no sign of you coming at all. I don't feel anything, not even a single bit.
You are still not ready, aren't you?

We went in for our most likely final check-up. The doctor checked me and she confirm that there is still no sign of you arriving. Your heartbeat are well and stable, I still have not feel any contraction and the pelvic is still shut (zero cervical dilation).
And that would means that we will not meet you anytime soon yet as the doctor also said that you will definitely be overdue, given a period of another 7-10 days before your arrival, and that is still not sure. It's up to you now.

Your Pa was obviously disappointed. We asked the doctor if we could have a C- section to get you out but the doctor was strongly againts it. She claimed that there is no good reason for her to ask me to go into a C-section as everything is good and stable. You are well. Your heartbeats are stable. I am totally well except you still want to stay inside me for a little longer. So, your Pa and I agreed to wait and follow what you want.
You just make sure you push harder anytime you wanted to be out ok. Don't drag too long during the whole process. Give mommy a quick delivery, deal? Deal! :)

Oh, your Pa dreamt of you again. You were playing in front of the fountain and you refused to go to him when he called upon you.

Let's see what else or how many more dreams about you he will have until we meet you :)

It's like we have known you a life time

Count down: 4 days to go till 9 Jul

Your Pa and I went back to see grandpa & grandma today.
Ya, I know a little risky to go out of island with you coming to the world anytime.
But I didn't feel a single thing or sign that you are on your way. Not even a slight contraction, or any kind of pain that is describe as period cramp or pain.

Ah ma (婆婆）& ah kong （公公）were so delighted to see us. I know. I can tell from that smile on their face. It was so good to see them too. Ah ma cooked mommy's favorite food.
Mommy is happy to see them before you are here as it might be a while till I will see Ah kong again.

Every other people at home commented that I have put on so much weight that I might not lose after delivery. My feet swell one hell of a lot. It's huge.
Believe me baby when I tell you that. My face has turned into double size rounder. What to do? It's all for you and I am willing to do it all over again just for you seriously.

We reached home at 11:30 at night. Will go in for a so call might be my last check up tomorrow until the expected due date given by the doctor-9 Jul. Both of us are so thrill knowing that we are so near the finish line. Your papa has been having a few sleepless nights waiting for your arrival.

And then, that mix feeling comes back and attack me again. I felt emotional again looking at your scan photo given by the doctor thinking I can't believe I'm finally going to meet and hold you in such a short time.
Tears started to slip thru my eyes (I am sure by now that it must be the hormones) and I am thinking how come we are already so in love with you even without having to hold, kiss and meet you in person?
It's like we have known you a life time to have love you this much.

Checking on you

Count down: 5 days to go till 9 Jul

So many people, friends, families and colleagues of ours had called up asking about your arrival. But I've told them not yet and that we are still waiting eagerly.
You know, there is so much love even way before your arrival, you are being loved.
Your aunt Tisha, grandma Mary, grandpa Gary calls very often to check on you too. They seriously can't wait to meet you in person.

Your papa dreamt that he has contraction and asked mommy to go into delivery soon.
He is so stress out waiting for you!