JK and I Got Admitted

14th March 2010

Today we sent baby to KKH emergency clinic as instructed to check on baby JK's jaundice. We reach KKH at around 11am and the clinic were packed with people already. First we are told to sent baby for blood test, it really break my heart to see the nurse squeezing little baby's JK's feet for two tubes of blood. JK's cries really made me sad, but have to endure.

After that, we went to see Doc Lee Khai Pin. He told that baby's jaundice level has increased from 200 to 259, a definate case that baby needs to be admitted for phototherapy. After finishing the admission procedure, we are led to ward 32. It was really heartbreaking to see baby put on the photolight, naked with both eyes covered. I could not control myself but cried inside the ward. There were many babies there, and they look much plummer and bigger than my JK in size.

I spent the following days visiting KKH daily to pass the expressed breastmilk to the nurse so that JK can continue to take my BM. I also tried to latch him but without much success as JK was very sleepy. On the 15th March i got the Medela Pump In Style advance from KKH Pharmacy at S$589 using $100 voucher given by KKH. You see, i have started shopping on day 4 after i've delivered!!!

On the 16th March, JK's jaundice has improved so we can discharge and bring baby home. Geo came to pick us at KKH at around 5pm. We went to Yishun to fetch mum, cos we really need extra hands to help us take care of baby so that i could rest. For the past 3 days i did not rest well, weary and physically worn out, and i did not have any proper confinement food until i started to order from Natal Essential a one-week package meal at the cost of S$418.

18th March 2010

Since 17th March, i started to find it weird that i suddenly have increased mensus flow. It became a sign of worry when i see blood dripping down my legs. I never expect anything serious i thought it was just mensus blood. And i further confirmed with my colleague Lois and it was normal.

18th March 230am - JK woke up asking for milk. I tried to latch him lying on the bed. When i moved my body i felt a lot of blood oozed out from my bottom. I knew something was not right, and i woke up Geo. He was terrified to see so much blood and clot coming out from the wound, and it seem nothing could stop the bleeding. I called KKH delivery suite and was told to call ambulance instead. Geo dialed 995 and i was sent to the KKH 24 hour woman clinic immediately. During the journey i was very very very terrified cos the bleeding never stop and i wonder how much blood i still have in my body.

Upon arrival, the nurses came to me, measure BP while waiting for doctor to come. About 15mins later, a sleepy looking female Doctor Lee came. she looked calm and composed. Checked me and she found out that the bleeding came from the eposiotomy wound, the previous stitches did not hold, gave way and apparently there seem to have an artery there causing massive bleeding. The doctor spend a long time stitching me up again, it was so painful and i really could not find a stronger word to describe the pain. She knew i was in great pain, gave me several local anesthetic jabs while she sew up the wound but the jabs did not seem to work. I was in great pain and body went shivering uncontrollably. Finally the stitches were done, she explained to me the cause of this incident but i was already in the state of shock according to her.

I felt so sad over this episode. I blamed myself for not taking good care of myself. Have i over-estimated my capability - worked too much, over exerted my body? I really did not expect things would turn out like that. Looked at my tired husband i don't know what to say to him.

I was discharged on the same day. After this i really need to be careful with my wound. I have bed rest most of the time since that.

This is the worst nightmare i experience, far more scary than the piles episode. GOD, please protect me from anymore pain and physical suffering, please.............

My Labour Story

Well, i never expect to write the labor story now. I should be writing this sometime in April.

Everything happened so quickly and suddenly, some times i am still wondering if all these are just dreams, or nightmare to be specific.

09th March 2010

2am : Geo received a text and subsequently a call from his boss L. The call was unpleasant and i shan't go into detail about it.

I could not sleep, spent the next 1 hour on the bed toss and turn. At around 3am, suddenly i felt a "POP" sensation and water gushed out uncontrollably. Immediately i knew my waterbag has burst and i quickly woke up Geo. He sprang up from the bed, shocked but asked me to stay calm. By now the bed was soaked with the amniotic fluid. I stood up, felt so panicky and scared, i realized i was shivering!~~~

I made a call to KKH Delivery Suite, the nurse took down my NRIC no, and asked me to go to hospital immediately as waterbag burst could cause infection to the baby. We quickly packed our half-done hospital bag, then drove off to KKH.

Upon arrival, the nurse asked me to go to toilet, she checked me and confirmed it was waterbag burst. Put me on wheel chair, we waited for a while before they can get a delivery suite. I was sent to Room 8 after that. Put on CTG to monitor baby's heartbeat and contraction. By 4am i started to feel some contraction, doctor on duty prescribed me medicene to stop the contraction and at the same time called my gynae Doc Benjamin Tham to notify him about my case.

Doc Benjamin came at around 5am+. Poor doctor, i feel embarrassed to "disturb" him at wee hour like this. He explained that at this stage baby is not full term, 35week 2days to be exact, afraid that baby's lungs could be immature, he explained that i need to stop contraction for the day so that they can give me two japs to mature the bb's lungs. He measured baby's weight and estimated at 2.5kg.

I was bed ridden throughout the day, and i could feel the amniotic fluid continue to leak. They put me on IV drip with antibiotic EES to prevent baby infection. Oh man! the drip is known to be painful to the hand as the liquid goes in. I texted my boss, my family members and my colleagues. They were shocked. I guess this is very normal response, no one would expect me to deliver so soon! Towards the evening 5pm, the nurse examined me, alas the cervix was only 2cm dilated, the earliest i could deliver the baby would be on 10th March.

10th March 2010

Today doctor stop giving me the medicene that stops contraction and let the nature takes its own course. The doctor wanted me to go natural to see how fast cervix dilate. I have not slept for the past 30+ hours, during the morning check, cervix was only 3cm dilated, i prayed that i could deliver today but it seems that contractions have slowed down.

In the evening, Doc Benjamin came. I asked him if i can delay till Saturday 13th March so that baby is bigger at 36week old. He said once waterbag burst cannot hold that long, need to deliver within 48hours, furthermore Saturday he has to run clinic at Ang Mo Kio so cannot deliver for me. Doctor concluded that he needs to induce me the next day morning, by now i was pretty sure that i have to deliver the next day at 11th March, probably around noon time.

11th March 2010

05am - A female anesthetic doctor came to administer epidural on me. Soon my lower body went completely numb and i felt more relaxed at once.

06am - Nurse started to IV drip to induce labor

10am - Cervix opened to 9cm. I started to feel strong contractions, when i looked at the CTG monitor i could see the graph shows very close interval contraction like every 2 min. I wonder if the epidural dose was adjusted to make me feel the contraction pain so that i know when to push?

11am - started pushing. Different midwives came, seems they were working for several deliveries at one time. The midwife on my right, Geo on my left, each of them supported my leg upward and on the count of 1-10, encouraged me to push with the rise of contraction pain. Using all the strength i have, i kept trying to push but after probably 20-30 mins Geo said he could see the crowning. Perhaps my pushes were not strong enough, baby's head slided back and i have to push harder subsequently. I perspired so much, really tiring man! Then to my pleasant surprise i heard the nurse said can call Doc Benjamin already. Yay!

Soon Doc Benjamin arrived, he was very encouraging and told me a few more pushes baby would be out, ah, that sounds like i could see light at the end of tunnel. I felt motivated at once! Haha, so keep on pushing and pushing...................... At the same time Doc Benjamin used his magical hands to presh my tummy to push out the baby. At 1205pm, baby is out! Few seconds later i heard the first cry of baby, Oh My God! I have delivered my baby Jun Kai! I am a mother already!! After that, Doctor Benjamin allowed Geo to cut the baby's umbillical cord.

I felt more relieved now, wanted to cry but did not cos still have important mission to do - ie to deliver the placenta. Doc gave me a jab, soon he pulled out the placenta and put it into a plastic bag. Huh? How come I didn't feel anything when i delivered the placenta huh?! :D

Soon after that, nurse passed the baby to me, i carried the baby with both my hands, my heart was pumping fast, that was the first sight of baby. My dear baby in my arms finally, after so many months of waiting, finally the baby was in my arms. I felt a sense of achievement i did not expect i could deliver the baby naturally :) I am glad i made it!

After that it was stitching time. I have episiotomy done cos doctor said baby size is big relative to my body size so he had to cut me. I have local anesthetic jabs so stitching did not cause me much pain. While doctor was busy sewing me, nurse weighed the baby and measured his length. Baby JK was 2535gram, and 45cm long. Geo was now the proud father, busy taking photos and video of our newborn baby :)

Doctor said we can discharged the next day, we were delighted. After a couple of hours in the delivery suite, they sent me back to the ward to rest. I has selected A class single bedded room, was assigned ward 81, room 29. The room is newly renovated, very comfy and well furnished.

In the evening, brother KK came with SK, and sister Jean and Bert came to visit us at the same time. As my body was still numb, i could not move my leg so have to rest on the bed until the anesthetic wear off. I took my dinner and suddenly recalled Doc Benjamin said i need to pass urine after 6 hours so Geo helped me to the toilet. When i pulled down my panty, gosh i saw a big blood clot at the size of my palm! Scary, the mensus flow was so heavy!

12th March 2010

Early morning, i took a shower to clean my hair and body. I really could not stand the sticky feeling on my body and hair.

After that the lactation consultation came in with baby JK and shown me how to latch baby. Yeah i have got colostrum so the lactation nurse said i should breastfeed now to pass on the good antibodies to the baby to strengthen his immunity. After that i went to attend the parentcraft lesson. It was a very useful recap for me. At the same time Geo went to register baby's birth cert and open CDA account with OCBC. My sister in law Steffi came, followed by a big groups of my office colleagues and friends, with lots of gifts and hampers. Thank you all for the care and concern :)

13th March 2010

We have deciced to stay one more night in the ward so that i could rest well. The hospital confinement food wasn't fantastic but my appetite has resumed and i managed to complete most of the meals to recharged my body. We discharged on the following day (13th March/Saturday) with baby JK. KKH gave us a complimentary cake for baby, and in the afternoon around 1pm the nurse came to do discharge procedure. We are told that baby has some jaundice (level 200) so need to come back to KKH to test blood on the following day - Sunday.

We drove home with the latest member in the family - baby JK :) All the pains sufferred during the pregnancy now seem so immaterial. When i see JK smiles, my heart will melt. Thank GOD, thanks to my dear husband Geo who has been consistently supporting me, encouraging me and staying by my side. Baby (Geo), thanks for accompanying me to every doctor visit, pregnancy and labor are a miracle journey we've travelled together, and now we will continue to work together to bring JK up. Also, thanks to my family members and friends, colleagues who never stop to offer me good advice and words of encouragement.

Welcome to the world, Jun Kai!

Daddy and Mummy love you so much so much.................... :)

35 Weeks Now

07th March 2010


Yay, two more weeks from now my baby will turn 37 week and full term le :) I keep telling baby to be a good boy and stay inside tummy, at least until 37-38weeks.


At 35 weeks now, baby is pushing up against the rib cage and make me a little breathless sometimes. Not sure if it if due to the recent hot weather or pregnancy hormones, i feel so warm all the times, at night i have to turn on both air cond and fan, and i could still sweat at my chest area. Geo has to tahan the "cold wave" for now, haha. These few days i have strong craving for cold drink - ching tng and ice cream, yum yum!!!


This weekend, Geo is away travelling in China from Thusday to Monday morning. Deep down in my heart i was quite afraid if i go into labour when he is not around. Thanksfully i have very supportive family - my sister Zoe and her boyfriend Jason came all the way from KL to Singapore to keep me accompanied. And my brother KK too came to visit me on Sunday morning, we had great lunch together. I am really thankful for their companionship and support :) Zoe even bought me 5 BIG bottles of sesame oils from Penang wor, ha, i wonder if i can ever finish all 5 of them during confinement month, must shed off those kilos that i have gained since pregnant.


For the past few days, i have finally washed all the baby clothes and get ready the hospital bag. Reading the April mum-to-be thread in the forum, some mummies already popped, that really makes me a little nervous now. Not sure when i should start counting down?

Worst Pain Ever!

05th March 2010


Can anyone ever imagine piles can be such a nasty pregnancy monster? I never expect it but it has just happened on me last week.


23rd Feb - the day i experience true high and low in pregnancy journey.

Geo and I went for routine 33 week check up in KKH TPS. The moment i stepped into Doc Benjamin's room, his smiling face put me at ease immediately. He was surprised i have lost weight instead of gaining kilos due to CNY feast. I suppose it is because of improved condition with lesser water retention now :)


He scanned the baby, thank GOD baby is now 2KG at week 33, the weight is of medium large and he said i may have to control diet. Then i casually asked doc if i can do natural delivery bcos now i got 4 external piles, he assured me no problem and prescribed me some tablets to control the size of piles from now until delivery.


Well, everything seems smooth so we left KKH and back to work.


I never expect thing would take a sudden twist. On the same day evening, after passing motion the piles suddenly became swollen and painful. By the time Geo came to pick me in the office i was already in great pain. Until now i still have no idea what caused it


I spent the next 3 days seeing GPs and even went to see a colo-rectal specialist in Gleaneagles Hospital (GH), Doc Goh Hak Su. He affirmed that at this stage of pregnancy actually can do surgical removal of the piles but will need the gynae to be around during the operation in case the surgery induces labor. He advised me to go back to check with Doc Benjamin if I can remove the piles in KKH by the surgeon, but with gynae's presence. I was so disappointed, it seems nothing can be done and i just have to bear with the pain.


That weekend was horrendous, it was endless, sharp pain pain pain 24x7, i could not sit, could not sleep, all i knew was pain..sigh. Emailed Doctor Benjamin he suggested i do salt treatment - make a concentrated salt solution by dissolving salt in hot water. When the solution is cooled, soaked the salt solution with a gauze. I did this treatment but the piles became worst, they started to bleed! I don't know i have cried how many times over this, but for the sake of baby i really have to bear with it.


On 1st March Monday morning - rush to see Doc Benjamin in clinic B. He admitted me to the ward while waiting to check with colorectal doctor from SGH to see if KKH can do the piles removal surgery. Felt like wasted the whole day there cos there were nothing much they could do to relief the pain except applying numb gel and do SITZ bath. Towards the evening the ward doctor confirmed that surgeon from SGH advised to do conservative management and don't do surgery for fear of premature delivery.


Next morning Doc Benjamin came, i asked him to discharge me and i can do all these self treatment at home. He tried to push in all the piles back to back passage, that was the worst pain i ever experienced in my life. I wonder if delivery pain is as bad as this? gosh......


Now i am feeling much better, piles are shrinking slowly and causing less pain. Thank GOD! I seriously hope i will never experience such trauma again...