The Experience of a Life-time!

Giving birth seems to be so natural and generally, nobody would give you specific details of what it was like. Maybe everything happened so fast or it was all a 'blur' or mother nature just makes mothers forget the whole ordeal. well, I don't know but I sure do not want to miss out on it when my turn comes! Yes, I wanted it to be a meaningful experience, something that would be an experience of a life-time.

Having a doula (Ginny) on board seems to be the most logical thing to do and I felt that she would be critical to achieving the birth experience (drug-free and minimal intervention). Having embarked on this journey, William and I started reading up and learnt a lot more about pregnancy and birth. Ginny gave us private pre-natal classes which were great because of our irregular schedules and also, we are pretty private persons, that arrangement suited us well.

Ginny was like a walking resource and it was really great to be able to have an independent party to talk about things rather than purely from a medical point of view. I would not have achieved the birth experience I wanted without a doula. She is that source of knowledge, alternatives and a great sounding board. and she does not make the decisions for you, just surfaces you with options. Aarrghh. at times, I do wish I could pass on the decision-making to someone else!

At the end of the day, having more knowledge also means greater accountability in the decisions we make. It was scary at times, unnerving. actually, the easier way out would be to leave it to the medical personnel. Strangely, having struggled through the decisions and at times wished I didn't know so much.you know, I would not have had my birth experience any other way. We are also thankful that God was with us each step of the way.

Everything was pretty much in order and within comfort zone until we discovered that Sammy is shy and prefers not to arrive head first. he is a breech baby!

After much research, contemplation and prayer, we decided to change obgyns to attempt a vaginal breech birth.

21 Feb 2005

03:48am
.begins the long journey of 45 hours before the arrival of Sammy. Since Sammy was in breech presentation, we decided to head for the hospital once the water bag leaked with some contractions. Within that period of time, we heard many 'births' in the labour ward and wondered when it would be our turn!

Night turned into day and day into night.We were really glad that Ginny was on call and she provided very professional advice and guidance with regards to different birthing positions to ease the pain, offering options for decision making as well as explaining whatever we had no clue of. Her presence and expertise throughout the entire pregnancy and birth was critical to achieving the birth experience we wanted.

 

22 Feb 2005

7:21pm - Sammy finally arrived!!
Weight : 3.08kg
Length: 52cm

William & Sabrina Wong