Loïc is here!

After a week of on and off contractions, things finally got more interesting yesterday after my attempt to naturally induce my labour by going for a foot reflexology massage.

I had lunch with Etienne in the afternoon and was taking my usual long afternoon walk (I try to walk for at least 3 hours everyday to help bring on the labour) when I came across a Chinese massage place offering foot reflexology. I decided to give it a try since I did read somewhere that it could help bring on labour. I had a half hour session which ended at 3pm and then I continued on my walk to the grand magasin area. While walking, I felt my contractions, which I had been having on and off, getting closer and greater in intensity. I told myself that only when it is almost unbearable will I think about going to the hospital. In fact, I managed to go shopping (bought 3 skirts and a shirt in my pre-pregnancy size), tried to shop for a bag (but failed to find one I like) and looked at some stuff. Between 4-5pm, the contractions were starting to hurt much more. At this time my sister called from Singapore to check on me and I was still telling her about my efforts to induce my labour by walking, carrying heavy stuff, eating pineapples etc. As I was talking to her, at some points I had to stop walking as the pain was getting to me. Finally at about 5pm, I decided that it was enough to go to the hospital. The contractions were less then 5 mins apart and hurting quite badly. I called Etienne when I was in the metro to let him know that I was going home and then will take off to the hospital.

After reaching home (and grimacing in pain for most of the way), I managed to put the dishes away, start the dish washer before taking my small hospital bag and leaving for the hospital. I initially thought I'll try walking but by now, I was in so much pain from the contractions that I had to stop every time it comes on (which is about 3-4 mins apart). I barely made it to the main road before deciding to get a cab. However, there was no cabs in sight! After 10 mins wait, I tried making my way slowly but had to give up. Luckily an empty cab was coming in my direction and I managed to hop into it.

By 5:30pm I was in the hospital. The nurses asked me if I was alone and I explained that I wanted to verify if I was in real labour before having my husband join me. They took me into the delivery room, had me strapped to the monitors, give me an internal (I was only 1 1/2 cm dilated!) and told me they'll be back to check on the readings in 15 mins. During this time, I called Etienne and updated him. By about 6pm, the mid wife had taken a look at my readings and commented that I am having some serious contractions (they were 2 1/2 mins apart and VERY intense) and my waterbag broke minutes before. They decided it was time to give me the IV and call for the the anaesthetist to give me the epidural. Once again I called Etienne to update him and told him he could come after settling the logistics of who is watching Laetitia. I got the epidural by 7pm and Etienne got to the hospital by 7:30pm. By 8pm, I was 3-4cm dilated, and at 9pm 4-5cm dilated. It looked like it was 1cm every hour so we thought it would last another 6 hours.

At about that time, I started to feel the contractions again and when Etienne helped me to press on the button to add some dose for the epidural (I had a mobile epidural where I could control my dose of anaesthesia), we realised that for the last hour, there was no anaesthesia given. Slowly the pain returned while I waited for the new shot of pain relief to come. That was some serious pain and boy am I glad there is such a thing as epidural! My husband was a great help soothing me through the pain and it was really great having him next to me.

At around 10:30, I was checked and am told I'm fully dilated! The doctor decided to take some blood samples from Loïc's head to check on his pH as he had pooed inside to make a decision on whether to let him descend naturally or help him with some tools. Luckily, the results was good and they said they'll wait for him to descend naturally. At about 11:30pm, the midwife came back to check on us and said we're ready to push. After setting up everything, I started to push around 11:45pm, doing three big push each time before a short interval and Loïc came into this world at 12:05am!

The midwife did such a great job controlling his delivery that I only had two very small tear which needed 3-4 stitches each. I was bleeding slightly more then normal so they gave me antibiotic through the IV but otherwise everything was fine. Loïc had to be taken away to have his lungs cleaned and checked as he pooed in utero. Once all was fine, they brough him to me and I was able to put him on my boobs for a little suckle.

Loïc passed his first test with flying colours, scoring 10/10 on his apgar. He weighs 3.210kg and is 50cm long.

Here's a picture