Isabel arrived just before midnight on the 4th of March last year. And being the third born, her birth and pre-birth was quite different from her big brothers'. For one - we tried to get to the hospital as late as we possibly could. With the first 2 births having to be induced, I wanted to avoid having to wait and wait and be stuck to a drip for hours. So when I had a bloody show in the morning, it was quite a non-event. My other labours started the same way and I didn't even bother to call the gynae this time round. I added last minute items to my hospital bag and told my helper that baby will probably arrive today or tomorrow. It was school as usual for the boys. I even managed to have lunch with my sister in law and the Husband at Tim Ho Wan.
The other big difference? Lack of pictures! Who has the time??? Hence the entire first portion of this blog post with no pictures. I didn't even get a proper belly picture this time round.
Contractions started to actually hurt around 4 to 5 pm, so I downloaded a contraction timer to start tracking and determine if these contractions would continue or stop halfway like the other 2. After dinner and a shower, I told the husband that he should have his shower and get ready to leave soon. At around 7 pm the contractions were 6 to 7 mins apart. Still bearable but they definitely weren't going away. I asked God to give me a clear sign as to when we should leave the house. My helper got the boys showered and ready for bed. We told her to also shower and get ready to sleep in the boys' room tonight. I recall going to the loo and when I sat down on the bowl, I heard a "pop" sound. Ok this was the sign I was looking for, it was really time to go. I was still asking my eldest if he had any homework to do before we left the house at 8 pm. It's never the same leaving the house excitedly when expecting your first, compared to leaving two kids at home as you rush out to have your third!
The Husband drove as carefully as he could as he didn't want me to pop along the way. At one point contractions were 3 mins apart. The Husband had called our gynae before we left the house and she rang to check on me whilst we were driving.
When we arrived at the hospital the husband dropped me off at the driveway. The attendants didn't even realise I was in labour. I had to tell them what to do and whilst they were chatting with me on the way in the conversation went something like this:
"So ma'am is this your first child?"
"No, it's my third and my contractions are 6 mins apart."
(Total silence in the lift) (attendants started to panic silently and did everything with 10 times the speed)
I had the same conversation with the midwife. (And since this was our third, we knew she wasn't a very competent one! But that's another story.)
I was asked a few times where my husband was - to which I replied - parking the car. Which to me is a strange question - am I the first expectant mother they see walking into the labour ward alone? And what if I was a single mother??? It wouldn't be a very PC question to ask! But I digress.
I had to be put on a drip for a dose of antibiotics as I was Strep B positive and that's when the contractions became unbearable - the midwife insisted on me lying in bed for the drip and fetal monitoring. I asked for the epidural before it was too late (I was already 4cm when I arrived.) Almost all my friends who were too late for the epi regretted it, and I wanted a graceful and peaceful birth, instead of me screaming my head off at everyone.
The other advantage of the third time round? I knew which anesthesist to call for. For those who don't know, every anesthesist uses a different drug - with my first I could feel the contractions but I had very bad nausea and shivering. With my second I had a diff anesthesist and I didn't have any bad side effects. So I called for her again. I wish I had a picture of her - she drives a sports car (can't remember the model) and at 9.30 pm at night she still showed up perfectly preened with her Birkin bag to boot! The nurses all love her and said she's very kind and friendly.
Just after I received my dose of heaven in a bottle (that's what epis are called), the midwife said I was 10 cm. 10 cm within minutes??? I didn't even get to nap! This time round I was given the lowest dose of drug possible but I was totally numb! I couldn't feel anything at all. I told the midwife to turn off the epidural drip. If I couldn't feel anything I wouldn't be able to push. She dissuaded me to turn it off completely as afterbirth contractions often hurt more than actual contractions. I insisted and after 10 to 15 minutes I finally got some sensation back in my upper abdomen. The drugs take time to wear off and I didn't want to prolong labour any longer than necessary.
Isabel finally emerged before midnight!
I nursed her in the labour ward, as I did with her brothers. When we finally got to our room it was around 1.30am. I told the nurses to keep her in the nursery so that I could get some rest. The Husband headed back home to sleep. We chose to not have him room in with all 3 births. One of the best pieces of advice given to us which I am happy to dish out to all who are willing to listen - Spare your husband the agony! Let him sleep at home so that he can come back refreshed the next day to help with visitors and guests. There is plenty of help in the hospital and there's no need for him to be around. What's the use of 2 tired people versus just one? There are plenty more sleepless nights ahead and he can sleep with baby for the next few years if he wants to!
I thoroughly enjoyed all my 3 hospital stays. Not having to lift a finger, yummy food served to you in bed, what more can a new mother ask for!
We even got a special dinner having given birth 3 times at the same hospital! We had no idea that there was such an arrangement until the nurses informed us.
And now Isabel is 1!! Unbelievable how quickly she's grown.
When I look at (and battle with her daily), I am often in disbelief. Compared to her brothers, she hardly moved when she was in the womb. More than once I had to tap or poke my belly to check if she was ok. The boys never stopped moving! Friends said that it was probably a girl thing, and she was probably a sweet little girl who would sit still and behave well. Couldn't be further from the truth!!! We battle with her daily over milk and other things, and she's far more agile than her brothers. So my disclaimer - behaviour in the womb is not an accurate indication of future performance!
We love having Isabel around and before she's even learnt to walk, she can smack her brothers and protect her toys from being snatched. The life of a third born indeed! Happy birthday my darling - the world is your oyster and here's to many more exciting years!
