Due or No Due?

Today marks the 39 weeks of my pregnancy. The baby has not arrived yet. Jaden was born in week 38, thus preparation was made earlier too for baby No.2, just in case he follows the footstep of his elder brother.

Overall, I adapt better in this 2nd pregnancy. Water retention only kicks in in week-38 and tingling and numbness on the fingers only mildly felt since yesterday (severe water retention and Carpal Tunnel syndrome kicked in as early as week 24 in my first pregnancy).

24 Sep, 2014 (Wednesday)
It was 7.30 am in the morning when I woke up. Jaden was still sleeping soundly while hubby has gone to work as early as 7am for an important meeting in the heart of KL. Whenever hubby needs to go out early, sending Jaden to the daycare will be my responsibility.

I noticed there were some blood strains in my discharge. Was this a bloody show? I did not know, as the labour symptom was much clearer during my first pregnancy while my water bag broke. I straight away decided to have a quick shower and wash my hair, just in case I will be admitted soon.

By 8.am, I came out from the shower, Jaden was already half awake. I passed him his milk bottle and he finished his 'breakfast' shortly. While I tried to put his uniform on him, he refused by putting his both arms tightly to his body, preventing me from removing his pyjamas. After fighting with him by pulling his arms forcefully, I managed to put on his shirt, but not his shorts. I was all sweaty at that moment while he continued to cry out loud saying "I don't want......."  Decided to give him a break to soothe himself, I sat aside to blow dry my thick hair. By the time I finish blowing my hair, he was calmed down and allowed me put on his shorts.

I checked myself in the toilet again, there were more blood strains accompanied by very mild eeling of period cramp.

At 8.50am, after sending Jaden off to the daycare, I texted Dr. Paul to ask for advice. There was no reply from him thus by 9am, I called up his clinic to ask the nurses for opinion.  I was told that Dr. Paul was in the labour room, they will convey my message to the doctor as soon as they see him.

By 9.30am, I received a reply from Dr. Paul asking if the baby was still active and if there was any contraction. The blood strain might be one of the early symptoms of labour, but it might also take a few more days until the real labour begins. To be safe, I could do a tracing in the labour ward to track the contraction level.

My sister, who has been contacted earlier, picked me up from my house at 10:30 am. By the time I reached the delivery suite at the hospital, it was already 11:30am. Receiving the instruction earlier from Dr. Paul's clinic, a Chinese nurse, who looked like she was not in a good mood led me to a labour ward and started the tracing process. A sensor that connected to the tracing machine was put on my big tummy.  I was told that she will come back after 30 minutes to collect the tracing result. Before she left, I asked if the baby's heart beat is fine and if the other reading on the machine indicating the contraction level, she firmly replied that "I told you I need 30 minutes to monitor". All right, it is not an obligation for everyone to be in a good mood and to show me his or her friendly face, maybe she was just having a bad day. My sister was not allowed to enter the delivery suite thus I ask her to go home once my hubby has arrived. My hubby arrived shortly after and moved all my hospital and baby bags from my sister's car to his car.

After 30 minutes, the nurse came in and told me that she would do an internal checking on me. Seriously, I hated internal checking where fingers were inserted deep inside the vaginal to check the opening of the cervix. Indeed, it was another painful experience. She did not tell me the result after the checking so I decided to be thick skin to ask her was my cervix open? If it did, how many centimetre was that?

"It is open, but since this is your second baby, it would not be closed. Your cervix is still very thick and deep in, it will take time to become thin and come closer to the surface". Well, obviously I was not told how many centimetre has my cervix opened. She then told me she would call up the doctor's clinic to inform him the outcome. She then tore the paper that has recorded the tracing result for the past 30 minutes and left the room. 10 minutes later, the nurse came back and asked me whether I want to wait in the hospital or go home. Huh!?On what basis should I make a decision?

"So, what is the situation now? Am I in labour or not yet? What was the tracing result?" I asked what I thought might help me to get some answers (at least some hints) in order to reply her earlier question.

"Well, baby's heart rate is good, you have some degree of contraction, but it was not consistent and strong enough to trigger the active labour process. So, looks like it might take some time, maybe up to 2 days ". Good, this is the kind of answer that will help me to decide.

"Then I would like to go home and wait for more obvious contraction. By the way, I have a follow up appointment set for tomorrow, do I still need to come back for check-up?"

"Why you didn't tell me earlier? Now I have to call Dr. Paul's clinic again." Obviously, she was very annoyed.

"It's OK, I can call the clinic myself. Thank you." I don't think calling the clinic by myself is a problem at all.

"Oklah, I go and call now, you wait here, my staff will come to send you down, for payment."

At the end, I was told that I still have to come back to see Dr. Paul for consultation the next day.

Tracing fees: RM 150


25 Sep 2014 (Thursday)
There was no obvious changes to my condition. I still saw blood strains in my discharge. The only difference was there was some degree of non-consistent mild contraction, which each contraction only lasted for 15 to 30 seconds at an interval of 30 minutes.

Hubby and I reached Dr. Paul's clinic at 9:30 am and was told that the doctor was in the labour room again.  Luckily I didn't need to wait for too long this round. It was my turn for consultation at 10:30 am. The baby's heart rate was good and he has also positioned himself well for labour process. The head has engaged nicely close to the cervix, with his body facing upright to my chest and his face facing my back. The verdict was ---wait for more strong and frequent contraction OR heavier bloody show OR the rupture of water bag. Another follow up check-up was set on next Thursday, a day before the baby's due date which is on 3 Oct. The doctor predicted that I would not be able to make it for the next check-up as he feels that the baby is coming soon!

I hope there is no more false alarm and the baby can arrive safe and sound.

Till then.

Consultation and ultrasound fees: RM105

P/S: If it were not for this round's false alarm, I don't think I will bother to read more about what is real labour's contraction. Found this articles about 5-1-1 rules for timing contraction very useful for mother-to-be to identify what real contraction is, as compared to 'period-like cramp' and Braxton Hicks. Well, now I have a better idea about the theory, let's pray I can practise it well!