Having posted this short video of baby Shun, I have decided to quote the story of my cousin who had just given birth to my nephew. She narrated about her labour story that no book out there can exactly tell you what happened in the hosiptal, moments before the delivery.

If you are planning to have a baby, you got to read this to better understand what labour is.
If you are the husband, read this and know how great all mothers are.

24 June (Sun):

5am
I felt some diarrhea like pains in the early morning. Told my husband about it but brushed it off since it was bearable. Went back to sleep with the pains coming on and off.

9am
Felt the pains coming in more frequent coming once every 10-15mins. Wondered whether it was due to the sushi I ate for dinner on Sat night. Brushed the pain off again since due date is 2 weeks later. Husband started to get nervous and kept asking whether he should call the hospital. I continued to sleep while he start to pack in case I needed to be hospitalized.

11am
Woke up and ate breakfast. Felt the pains coming once every 7-8mins. Decided to call the hospital at 1130am.

12:20pm
Doc said I was already 7cm dilated! I couldn`t believe it and felt excited about baby arriving soon.

1:00pm
Changed into hospital gown and strapped on to CTG machine for 30mins. Husband proceeded with the admission procedures.

2:00pm
Transferred to another room to wait for full dilation. Lunch was served.
Drank a bottle of chicken essence to replenish energy.

3:00pm
Nurse came in at regular intervals to monitor baby`s heartbeat and my contractions.

4:00pm
8cm dilated. Contractions becoming worse but still bearable. Husband kept massaging my spine area and lead me to control my breathing method.

9:00pm
Was fully dilated. Moved to delivery room. Nurse said that baby will be delivered by midnight if everything goes smoothly,

11:00pm
Doc said baby`s head is not moving low enough for delivery. I was told to release my bladder to ease baby`s passage down. Went to toilet with the help of nurse and husband but can`t feel the urge to urine.

11:20pm
When I opened the toilet door, my waterbag burst suddenly and splattered all over the floor. The colour of the water was brown which showed that baby was in distress.

25 June (Monday):

12:10am
Doc came and told the nurse to insert urine tube. PAINFUL! I bited on to my husband`s hand.

12:30am
Put on drip and antibiotics to prevent any infection.

2:00am
Doc explained that I might have to go through C-section as baby is showing signs of distress. Made preparations for C-section (X-ray, blood test, electrocardiogram). I kept praying very hard that I do not have to go through any more trauma.

2:30am
Urine tube inserted for second time. Bited on to my husband`s hand again.

3:30am
Contractions became worse and I was screaming every time it came. Told my husband I want to give up and go ahead with C section. Husband was calm and kept encouraging me.

4:30am
Was told by the nurse that she can see the baby`s head moving down a little.

4:50am
Another doctor was called in for further discussions on how to deliver my baby.

5:10am
Doctors decided to proceed with assisted natural delivery by using the vacuum. I was injected with medicine to speed up contractions.

5:20am
One doctor climbed on a chair and instructed me to push hard when I feel the next contraction. I see the other doctor down there with a pair of scissors giving me episiotomy.

5:34am
The biggest contraction in my life came and I used all the remaining strength I had to push as told. The doctor who was on the chair pushed my stomach hard and the other doctor attached a rounded cup to baby’s head in the birth canal. I gave out a loud scream. Husband told me he can see baby`s head.

5:35am
Baby Shun finally arrived after 23 hours 50 mins of hard and long labour without epidural or any pain reliever !No more energy to shed any tears of happiness. Finally, was given anesthetic injection and was stitched up.”