Rafael's birth story - October 2014, Prince Court Medical Center
Assalamualaikum and hello..
Last night I had a very random dream about my previous OBGYN, Doctor Seri Suniza from Prince Court. In my dream, I went to visit her for antenatal check up and considering to give birth with her which I find very weird since my experience with her can be considered not that good. So, today I want to share with you my birthing experience with Doctor Seri Suniza in October 2014.
Disclaimer : This is my personal opinion. It might not be the same as yours.
Firstly, when I found out that I was pregnant the 2nd time (around Januray-February 2014), I immediately made a phone call to PCMC and booked an appointment with Dr. Seri. I knew that she has lots of mothers queuing to meet her for antenatal check up. So, I got an appointment at my 5th month check up since earlier slots are already full! I'm very keen of meeting her for antenatal since I received a lot of positive feedback about her.
My first visit was very short and simple. We greeted each other, she asked about my history of pregnancy, made a 2D scan to check on the baby and that's it. I didn't prepare questions to ask so I left her room after about 20 minutes. The next antenatal check up, I prepared a list of questions to ask. Some of them I took from the internet, some from the book I was reading (Ina May's book). She was very positive towards my questions and even wrote answers in the piece of paper I provided. She is also very supportive of my plan to have a VBAC that time. I was also very comfortable with her response and decided to give birth with her.
Fast forward to one day before labour, this was my last antenatal check up before giving birth. That day, I came very late for the appointment. This was because I already had 2 sleepless nights due to strong contractions at night. So I slept and was late to the appointment. During the check up, she again reassured that I can have my VBAC and will deliver anytime soon. She also planned to induce me on the 17th October, which was 1 day past my due date which I just laughed to it(because I totally didn't agree!)
That night, I had a very strong contraction. I just stayed at home bouncing on the gym ball, had a hot shower (very relaxing, totally recommended!), drank RBL tea and zam zam water, ate lots of dates, asked husband for back rub which also helped a bit. I was unsure whether to go to the hospital or wait at home. But then, around 6 am I had the strongest contraction and felt that it was the right time to go. So I told my husband to get ready to send me to the hospital. We sent Yousef to the nursery and headed straight to the hospital. Since my office is only 700m away, we parked at the office and walked to the hospital. We stopped a few times when I had contractions and continued walking to the admission counter. Then, I was asked to head to the labour room for checking. As soon as i got checked in, my husband went to make some payments and the nurse did the first VE. I was already 6cm dilated. Hurray!! The nurse immediately informed the doctor and started to strap on the CTG. I asked to be able to move around and not having the CTG on me all the time. They were fine with it, so here starts the journey of labour in the hospital.
Contractions started to get more and more intense. I did all labour positions in the picture below which helped a lot!
My favourite position was the lean on a wall, all fours and walking. My husband left for work after making the payments so I was left all alone in the labour room. The nurses came to check on me once in a while. At this time, there were more blood discharged that I had to change everytime before prayers. Alhamdullillah, I get to pray Zuhur and Asar in the labour room although the contractions were strong and I had to stop in between contractions. My favourite doa was Prophet Yunus' prayer when he was stuck in the fish's belly.
All the while, I was thinking about my mother. How she had to face the contractions to birth me. It made me cry buckets! May Allah grant her Jannah insyaAllah.
The doctor made the first visit around 11am - 12pm. She confirmed that I had dilated around 7cm which was a very good progress. She estimated that I will birth sometime in the evening. She suggested to burst the waterbag (AROM) but I rejected. I told her that I prefer to have it burst naturally. I also declined any kind of induction and told her again my preference to birth as natural as possible. To my surprise, after the doctor walked out, one of the nurses came in with a bag of pitocin and started to prepare to induce me. I said that I just mentioned to the doctor that I refuse to be induced! She told me that it was the doctor's order. Well, I asked her to tell the doctor I don't want this and we have agreed earlier during her visit. Alhamdulillah the doctor gave in.
I was making progress but quite slowly. Around 7pm, I was still at 8cm. Doctor's and nurses are already quite uncomfortable. I was even threatened for a C-Sect by one of the nurses since I refused to take the gas. BUT, I gave in and took the gas since the pain was so extreme that I started to raise my voice. At 8pm, since I was still stuck at 9cm, the doctor made her call and performed AROM which I didn't object since she was already scolding me. Her exact words were " I have 22 years of ONG experience, you don't have the right to tell me what to do. This is my call now. You were rejecting every single pain relief. Next time, please just birth at home" . Wow..just not something a birthing mother should be hearing, right? I know I was a bit difficult, it is only because I trusted my instincts and I don't want to have another C-sect. And, the nurses weren't helpful too. They also scolded me for refusing epidural and so on.
About 30 mins after the AROM, I was already 10 cm and ready to PUSH! Husband came just in time for the delivery. After two strong contractions, baby Rafael was out! Alhamdulillah... I felt really goooodd afterwards. I had my delay cord clamping and baby was immediately put on the breast to be fed. After cutting the cord, the nurses took the baby for weighing and wrapping in the blanket. Baby was again given to me to initiate breastfeeding. After stitching was complete, the nurses took the baby to the baby room for monitoring. I was changed and wheeled to the ward.
I felt very empowered by the birth and would consider it as a beautiful birth despite some hiccups here and there. I really liked the labour room in Prince Court but I don't like the experience I had with the doctor and nurses. I feel like they should be more supportive towards birthing mothers. They should understand that this is a life changing moment for all mothers and keep supporting us with kind words at least.
So, for this third pregnancy, I have selected a different doctor at a different hospital. Stay tuned!
Muhammad Rafael, day 1. May you be the coolness of our eyes insyaAllah.. Amin..
Last night I had a very random dream about my previous OBGYN, Doctor Seri Suniza from Prince Court. In my dream, I went to visit her for antenatal check up and considering to give birth with her which I find very weird since my experience with her can be considered not that good. So, today I want to share with you my birthing experience with Doctor Seri Suniza in October 2014.
Disclaimer : This is my personal opinion. It might not be the same as yours.
Firstly, when I found out that I was pregnant the 2nd time (around Januray-February 2014), I immediately made a phone call to PCMC and booked an appointment with Dr. Seri. I knew that she has lots of mothers queuing to meet her for antenatal check up. So, I got an appointment at my 5th month check up since earlier slots are already full! I'm very keen of meeting her for antenatal since I received a lot of positive feedback about her.
My first visit was very short and simple. We greeted each other, she asked about my history of pregnancy, made a 2D scan to check on the baby and that's it. I didn't prepare questions to ask so I left her room after about 20 minutes. The next antenatal check up, I prepared a list of questions to ask. Some of them I took from the internet, some from the book I was reading (Ina May's book). She was very positive towards my questions and even wrote answers in the piece of paper I provided. She is also very supportive of my plan to have a VBAC that time. I was also very comfortable with her response and decided to give birth with her.
Fast forward to one day before labour, this was my last antenatal check up before giving birth. That day, I came very late for the appointment. This was because I already had 2 sleepless nights due to strong contractions at night. So I slept and was late to the appointment. During the check up, she again reassured that I can have my VBAC and will deliver anytime soon. She also planned to induce me on the 17th October, which was 1 day past my due date which I just laughed to it(because I totally didn't agree!)
That night, I had a very strong contraction. I just stayed at home bouncing on the gym ball, had a hot shower (very relaxing, totally recommended!), drank RBL tea and zam zam water, ate lots of dates, asked husband for back rub which also helped a bit. I was unsure whether to go to the hospital or wait at home. But then, around 6 am I had the strongest contraction and felt that it was the right time to go. So I told my husband to get ready to send me to the hospital. We sent Yousef to the nursery and headed straight to the hospital. Since my office is only 700m away, we parked at the office and walked to the hospital. We stopped a few times when I had contractions and continued walking to the admission counter. Then, I was asked to head to the labour room for checking. As soon as i got checked in, my husband went to make some payments and the nurse did the first VE. I was already 6cm dilated. Hurray!! The nurse immediately informed the doctor and started to strap on the CTG. I asked to be able to move around and not having the CTG on me all the time. They were fine with it, so here starts the journey of labour in the hospital.
Contractions started to get more and more intense. I did all labour positions in the picture below which helped a lot!
My favourite position was the lean on a wall, all fours and walking. My husband left for work after making the payments so I was left all alone in the labour room. The nurses came to check on me once in a while. At this time, there were more blood discharged that I had to change everytime before prayers. Alhamdullillah, I get to pray Zuhur and Asar in the labour room although the contractions were strong and I had to stop in between contractions. My favourite doa was Prophet Yunus' prayer when he was stuck in the fish's belly.
All the while, I was thinking about my mother. How she had to face the contractions to birth me. It made me cry buckets! May Allah grant her Jannah insyaAllah.
The doctor made the first visit around 11am - 12pm. She confirmed that I had dilated around 7cm which was a very good progress. She estimated that I will birth sometime in the evening. She suggested to burst the waterbag (AROM) but I rejected. I told her that I prefer to have it burst naturally. I also declined any kind of induction and told her again my preference to birth as natural as possible. To my surprise, after the doctor walked out, one of the nurses came in with a bag of pitocin and started to prepare to induce me. I said that I just mentioned to the doctor that I refuse to be induced! She told me that it was the doctor's order. Well, I asked her to tell the doctor I don't want this and we have agreed earlier during her visit. Alhamdulillah the doctor gave in.
I was making progress but quite slowly. Around 7pm, I was still at 8cm. Doctor's and nurses are already quite uncomfortable. I was even threatened for a C-Sect by one of the nurses since I refused to take the gas. BUT, I gave in and took the gas since the pain was so extreme that I started to raise my voice. At 8pm, since I was still stuck at 9cm, the doctor made her call and performed AROM which I didn't object since she was already scolding me. Her exact words were " I have 22 years of ONG experience, you don't have the right to tell me what to do. This is my call now. You were rejecting every single pain relief. Next time, please just birth at home" . Wow..just not something a birthing mother should be hearing, right? I know I was a bit difficult, it is only because I trusted my instincts and I don't want to have another C-sect. And, the nurses weren't helpful too. They also scolded me for refusing epidural and so on.
About 30 mins after the AROM, I was already 10 cm and ready to PUSH! Husband came just in time for the delivery. After two strong contractions, baby Rafael was out! Alhamdulillah... I felt really goooodd afterwards. I had my delay cord clamping and baby was immediately put on the breast to be fed. After cutting the cord, the nurses took the baby for weighing and wrapping in the blanket. Baby was again given to me to initiate breastfeeding. After stitching was complete, the nurses took the baby to the baby room for monitoring. I was changed and wheeled to the ward.
I felt very empowered by the birth and would consider it as a beautiful birth despite some hiccups here and there. I really liked the labour room in Prince Court but I don't like the experience I had with the doctor and nurses. I feel like they should be more supportive towards birthing mothers. They should understand that this is a life changing moment for all mothers and keep supporting us with kind words at least.
So, for this third pregnancy, I have selected a different doctor at a different hospital. Stay tuned!
Muhammad Rafael, day 1. May you be the coolness of our eyes insyaAllah.. Amin..
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