The Delivery

I was very calm when I arrived at the hospital. This is my third time there and I know what to expect. Even my husband was very well-prepared. (He wore his long-sleeved shirt, long pants and sports shoes because he knew that it was going to be cold in the delivery suite. The last time he was there with me, he was freezing.)

Soon, I was brought to the delivery suite. I was still sleepy so I thought I could just sleep there, but the contractions started coming once in a while. Time seemed to pass very slowly. At about 8.30am, the doctor ordered to speed up the contractions. This was when the pain started to get intense. I could not lie down properly on the bed because the pain was so unbearable. I wanted to keep moving so that the pain would go away. (It worked for Jia Yi and Jia Ya) But, this time, it did not worked. (Probably, I am older now.)

I started screaming whenever the pain comes. My husband was shocked. (I did not screamed when I had Jia Yi and Jia Ya.) I screamed louder and longer as the pain became more intense. My husband tried to cover my mouth. He even offered me ice so that I can keep my mouth shut. But that did not stopped me.

The nurses from other delivery suite even came over to ask if I need pain relief so that it would not be so painful and I would stop screaming. I rejected them. ( I did not use any pain relief for Jia Yi and Jia Ya, so I wanted the same for Jia Ye.) I just continued screaming all the way till about 9.40am. That's when my doctor said that my baby is ready to come out.

I knew that I should not scream anymore. I had to use all the energy to push the baby out. I stopped screaming and concentrated on pushing the baby out. It seemed like forever. The doctor kept telling me 'just one more' but that was not true. I was soon breathless. Three nurses had to help me. My husband was holding my hand and encouraging me to keep pushing. I could feel the baby coming out, but somehow he was stuck there. Finally, I managed to push Jia Ye out. It was relief for me.

I could hear Jia Ye coughing and the nurses commenting that they now understand why I was screaming so loudly. Jia Ye is huge. Even my husband was shocked when he saw Jia Ye. My doctor commented that she expected the baby to be big, but not so big. Guess how much he weighs?

I was sent to the ward to rest after the delivery. It was really an unforgettable experience with all those screaming.

Coincidence??

Hi! I have finally delivered Jia Ye on the 17 March 2008 at 9.56am.

I do not know if Jia Ye understands me or is it just coincidence. When my doctor told me that I may deliver earlier than the estimated delivery date, I told Jia Ye that I do not want him to come so early. I wanted him to be just like his siblings, who arrived after 40 weeks of gestation. (People say that these children are fully-developed in the womb and are healthier.)

Then it was Chinese New Year. I had Jia Ya just before Chinese New Year and I missed eating all those Chinese New Year goodies. So, I told Jia Ye, 'Come, after I finished eating all those Chinese New Year goodies that I have bought.'

I managed to finish all the Chinese New Year goodies during the first week of March and the weather started to change. Usually, it is very hot in March, but this year, there is lots of rain. I told Jia Ye, 'Do not come on the day when it rains. It's very difficult to hail a cab in the rain.' I also told him, 'Do not come in the middle of the night.' He did not.

Jia Ye came right after the estimated delivery date (after 40 weeks of gestation). I had finished eating all the Chinese New Year goodies. And when I had my first contration, it was already 5am in the morning. The weather was good and it was not raining.

Do you think he heard me? Or is it just coincidence??