A S.t.a.r. girls

I've diligently finished the confinement set: internal and most of the external stuff. The pantang ritual of massage/ tungku started earlier at week 2, as compared to previous post C-section pantang. The Pfannenstiel incision took 3 weeks to heal externally, whereas the episiotomy wound took 2 weeks to heal all throughout.

It is now 7 weeks post delivery- day 44 was last Thursday (yippee!). End of pantang ritual...penutup pantang they say. The previous 'mak bidan'(s) did massage and womb massage a.k.a. sengkak. I usually go to Nona Roguy spa after that. This confinement- for which I used their home service, I went for 3 days of spa (plus it is a good reason to go out/ drive post confinement). It is specifically for massage/ tuam/ tangas.

Confinement practice varies from each person. I chose to have more massage/ tungku as I really want to regain my pre pregnancy state. I see faster healing because of this and mostly because it is natural delivery, not a c-section.

Don't forget pap smear during gynae checkup at 6 weeks!

So during intrapartum, I survived on entonox gas. Too late for pethidine or epidural.
I had panadeine (paracetamol+codeine) in the ward and upon discharge.
I took diclofenac sodium (ok this is self prescribed) rather than mefenemic acid on the days that the throbbing pain was really bad, or I had to go for hospital visit i.e. lots of walking.

2 weeks later- I'm alright, no more painkillers. Epi has healed.

I was still rostered to work that week. Was busy walking in and out of the CT room that morning. I was particularly tired despite having a 3 day weekend (Aidiladha was on Sunday).

By 11am, I have excused myself and headed to see the gynae.
By 12pm, after an ultrasound, VE of 2cm and a swab later- it is decided that it's time.

*Oh, I was allowed a short trial of labour.
Baby's size didn't change much since week 35. Battling pneumonia, work probably contributed to it. She's a smallish, cephalic baby.
VBAC it is.*

1.30pm: ARM @ 3-4cm
4.10pm: contraction stronger, wanted epidural. Nurse said I was 5cm
4.20pm: cancelled epidural, I was 8cm
4.50pm or thereabouts: Dr. Patrick arrived and stage 2 began
5.02pm: Sarah was born.

*No pethidine, no epidural.
Entonox made me high and floated up to the sky.
Yes, I drove to work, drove to clinic, and drove myself to the hospital. But valet parking la since I had my bag and baby bag.*

Fast and furious labour.