Samuel's First Blog

Off the Records, I (Samuel's mom) am writing on my Little Samuel's blog as he is still a baby.

- In Labor -

27th July 2004

Today we are scheduled to be in RIPAS hospital to prepare for the induction for Samuel to come out as he is already 40 weeks and 3 days of the Gestational Week. That means he is already 3 days overdue. As we have constantly did our checkups, we were quite excited and yet worried about the delivery.

2.00pm - Arrived at RIPAS hospital (Ward 18) and the nurses checked the heart beat and movement of the baby with a machine that draws a graph. After the tests, we didn't want to be admitted to the hospital to stay over for the night as the actual induce will only happen on the next morning. We waited for the doctor as the midwives cannot make the decision to discharge a patient.

3.30pm - The doctor came and had a checkup. During the checkup, the doctor also conducted a membrane sweep. After the checkup, a slight spotting was showing and the doctor refused to let us go home for the reason that she said the dilation is already 1cm and was already in labor.

4.30pm - Samuel's daddy left the hospital and left me alone while he went with his mum to get some food and prepare fried ginger and rice (for traditional confinement drink). Our only means of communication when we were in the vicinity of the hospital is our pair of walkie talkie.

7.30pm – Samuel’s daddy came back and brought some stuff for the preparation of coming baby. We prayed together and spent time till the hospital asked Samuel’s daddy to go home at about 11.30pm.

10.30pm – Samuel’s daddy went home.

- Labor and Delivery (Birth of Samuel Thoo Jensen) -

28th July 2004

5.30am – The doctor went round ward 18 to conduct a routine checkup for all patients.

6.00am – It was my turn for the checkup and I was still 1 cm dilated. The gynae conducted a second membrane sweep. It was extremely uncomfortable and painful.

6.15am – Samuel’s daddy sneaked into ward 18 as it is not opened for visitors yet.

7.00am – Breakfast was served (Milo, biscuits and an orange).

8.00am – I was then asked to go to the labor room. From there I found out I was 2cm dilated. This is where the I was experiencing backache. Samuel’s daddy was not allowed to go into the labor room and had to wait outside. We quietly communicated via walkie talkie.

8.30am – The midwife came and tried to break the membrane (waterbag) few times but was unsuccessful. She described that it does not have any bulge on the membrane that would allow her to break it easily. Samuel’s daddy waited outside and had his breakfast.

10.10am – Dr Onn came and did a checkup and tried to break the membrane (waterbag). During the checkup, I was already experiencing serious backaches. To the doctor’s surprise, she felt that the membrane was already missing.

10.30am – The doctor instructed the midwives to induce the birth by putting in the medication for induction into the saline drips. The dilation was 3cm and contractions started. Samuel’s daddy came in and out of the labor room to pray and to see if everything is alright.

12.00pm - Requested for pain killer and the midwife gave me a pethedine jab after consulting the gynae. After taking the pain killer, the midwife increased the dosage of the induction by increasing the flow of the saline drips. At that time, I was already 5cm dilated.

2.30pm – I felt very sleepy and the contractions were very strong. Samuel’s daddy was in the labor room and had to leave for a while when I felt like there was water coming out. In actual fact, the amniotic fluid is flowing out. When the midwife checked, she already saw Samuel's head and says that I am ready to give birth. Samuel’s daddy was there when the midwives prepared all the necessary tools for delivery.

3.00pm – Samuel’s daddy was holding my neck supporting my head when I started pushing.
There were 3 midwives helping in my delivery.

3.10pm – Samuel’s daddy can see Samuel’s hair and scalp appearing. I held my breath and push as hard as I could when the contractions came.

3.17pm - Samuel Thoo Jensen finally came into this world. He was straight away brought to me for a while before he was sent out of the labor room to be cleaned. We heard his cry when he was cleaned. When he came back into the labor room, the midwife took his weight (3.55kg) and measured his length (56cm) and head measurements (34cm). Samuel was then given Huggies Dry Comfort (Newborn) and wore his first clothes with white color “I love Daddy” and “I love Mummy” mittens.

Samuel Thoo Jensen

While this is done, I was having my stitches. The stitches were painful and it took the midwife about 1 hour to finally complete. The midwife lost count on the number of stitches because every time she stitched, it broke, stitched, it broke.

5.00pm – I was wheel chaired out from labor room into ward 16 room 11 with Samuel and Samuel’s Daddy.