Well, I guess it would be pretty apt to kick off the birth (pun absolutely intended) of this blog with the birth story of my little man.

It’s been close to 10 months (better late than never, no?) since the birth of my precious bundle, before I decided to set up an account on WordPress to keep track of his various milestones, anecdotes and moments worth mulling, crying, smiling over. Parenting is a life-long rollercoaster lesson on patience and sacrifices from the word Go. The hubby and myself have never been so humbled or shed so many tears (okay, it’s just me) since we got ‘promoted’ as parents to a very spirited little boy.

Before I get side-tracked by the avalanche of emotions and trying times, let’s get back to the topic of Dean’s pretty sedated birth story.

Baby Dean’s EDD (expected delivery date) was 8 March 2016 as advised by Gynae (Dr. Benjamin Tham from Thomson Medical Centre – WC Cheng & Associates). However, right from the start when he (Dean not Dr Tham lol) was conceived, I knew I wanted a C-section as my birth plan. Even though, some well-meaning relatives / friends had gently questioned/advised on a natural birth plan, I was not (stubbornly) deterred.

My stand was that it was my body delivering this baby that my body is also sustaining. No one but me (even my gynae unless it’s for a justified medical reason) can decide how I want to deliver my baby.

Dean had turn head down when he was about 7 months in gestation and he wasn’t exactly a small baby. I recalled he surpassed the 3kg mark when he 8 months and by then, my gynae was informed on my C-section birth plan.

I’m thankful that he wasn’t forceful or reprimanding when he knew of my decision (I have read of some pro-natural gynaes who rejected the mummy-to-be just because she wasn’t comfortable delivering her baby naturally).

He gave us a period where we can choose when to have the C-section operation. We just had to inform his nurses once we made up our minds and check-in to the hospital 5 hours before the actual op-day/time.

After some discussion, we selected 1 March 2016 as the day baby Dean will be ‘evicted’ from his comfortable womb. The night of 29 Feb (yeap, 2016 is a leap year and I was praying hard Dean doesn’t suddenly decide to pop out earlier than the planned date), both the hubby and myself didn’t managed to get much sleep. Too excited and anxious I guess.

A part of me couldn’t wait to meet my son but a part of me was scared shitless of the future ahead. I believe no one would be 100 percent be prepared to a parent no matter the age bracket.

So, soon it was time to get our butts moving to the hospital. We called for a cab, did the paperwork and was ushered to my 2-bedder ward. There was already a couple (patients of Dr Tham and parents to a lovely pair of twins – a boy and a girl!) getting ready for a C-section. They had their twins an hour before my operation.

A friendly nurse than proceeded to get me ready for the operation (read: shaving of intimate bits, clearing my bowels and getting into the operating theatre gown etc). A first-time parent, all these were very foreign to me especially the shaving and bowels part lol).

Then, the hubby was ushered out to put on his scrubs. While I got ready to be wheeled to a waiting area to get jabbed (seriously forgotten what was it for) and then wheeled into the operating theatre. It was a brightly lit room (not very big) and Dr Tham was already there with his nurses and getting prepped. I was then told to gently roll on my side to have my spinal block/epidural delivered.

I don’t recall it being painful but I was very cold and shivered till Dean was delivered – side effect of the epidural as advised by the anesthetist. Dr Tham than applied numbing gel and asked if I can feel him lightly slicing (forgot the exact word he used) my tummy. I couldn’t feel a thing. By then, I was wondering where the hell is my husband. I thought I would see him in the operating theatre when I was wheeled in but he wasn’t in sight.

It was only up till the very moment Dean was to be removed from my womb, then the hubby was allowed to enter and sit (nervously) by my side. He divulged he caught a brief sight of the blood and works when he walked but quickly diverted his eyes.

The nurses then quickly proceeded to hold me down tightly because Dr Tham was about to deliver the baby. Soon, we both heard a very loud cry.

Baby Dean was born. 

I remembered his cries were loud. 

I remembered I was trying hard not to cough when they delivered the epidural.

I remembered a warm sensation overwhelming me and my eyes welled up slightly when my son was born.

I remembered how soft his skin was.

He was quickly bundled up for me to hold briefly. We took a quick family picture before the hubby followed our son and the mid-wife to have the baby’s weight and measurements taken and to be cleaned up.

I was then still lying on the operating table to get cleaned and stitched back. I honestly cannot recall the stitching up process, it felt like I zonked out (which I could be for I had zero memory of it and getting wheeled back to my ward).

Yup, so that was the very unexciting and smooth delivery (very thankful for) of baby Dean born at 39 weeks.

Thank you for being ours my little one.

(yea, and the various 4D/TOTO numerals we concocted from your birth snagged us zero winnings over the week).