I experienced my first contractions! That was 2 Saturdays back, on 13 Oct! Boy, i really had a rude shock. Was home, feeling lazy on a Saturday evening and was about to rest my swollen feet when i felt the left of my tummy tightening a little. It began mild so i literally ignored it. However, shortly after, the contractions became more intense! I felt my whole tummy tightening, liken to menstral cramps - first at the middle of my tummy then to lower abdominal. That happened in waves, with irrgeular interval durations. The pain was excruciating at times and guess what? The waves of tightening and relaxing lasted close to 3 hours!
Was i worried? frightened? Sure i was!
Knowledge is really important. If not for the books that i've been reading, i think i would have panicked and thought that i was going into labour. Mart would have probably rushed me to the hospital!
What i experienced was probably "Braxton Hicks" aka false labour contractions. That can take place anytime from week 30 of pregnancy. Can't rem the exact reason for it but it was something to the effect of preparing the expectant body for the actual labour and delivery. So what's the dif between the real and false labour contractions?
Real labour contractions are supposed to start mild and eventually intensify, but at regular intervals, with each experience increasing in duration and eventually at increased frequency. Braxton Hicks, however, take place at irregular intervals + durations and discomfort can be eased with a change of position. BUT, i have heard of cases in forums where the Braxton Hicks didn't ease and the expectant mummy rushes to the hopsital only to be told that that was a false alarm! Those, according to the mummies, felt so real, with features of the real labour contractions.
Well, guess one can never be too sure. =)
As for me, i'm glad i had a little headstart, for i now know how contractions feel like. =)
Lesson Learnt
What hit Mart and I that night was, WE WERE ABSOLUTELY NOT PREPARED TO GO TO THE HOPSITAL!
That night, Mart and I checked the "hospital bag" and realised that many crucial items were missing. Mart wanted to play safe and he started looking for important documents like:
1) Our marriage cert (original. For registration of Baby's name + particulars)
2) Hospital Admission Form (which we were supposed to fill up and post out weeks before but didn't and worse, we didn't even rem where we had placed that form!)
3) Receipt of gynae package (we needed the original receipt in order to claim from Medishield. Boy, we searched high and low. Turned the house topsy turvey and even thought we had left it in our cars. Spent quite a while deliberating on which car we had left it in. And guess what? I finally found the receipt in the tiny zip of one of my bags. =p
Hee, pain + panic = insanity + goldfish memory (forgetfulness) =p
Other than the above utmost important stuff, we didn't have things like apparels for Baby and ourselves in the bag! Boy, can't imagine if i had really gone into labour then. Well, books + magazines advise one to be ready with the hopsital bag a month before EDD but wow, after that experience, i embarked on the journey of getting that bag ready. As of today, other than hubby's apparels, everything else is in place. =)
Any further "attacks" since?
Yes, but real mild ones. =)
Am Week 34 now. Guess i have to be more alert cos Baby can really arrive any time. =)
Am looking forward. =D
5 comments:
I hope u have put in the final few things into your bag! Mart's clothes? =) documents? should write down a checklist and check check check. But its ok, if u forget anything, can always call me and I will fly them down! =) oh, remember to make arrangements for your 3 babies at home when u go deliver! Camera! and battery for camera! =) and... I will try to think of more! hahaha..
wow... must remember to sms us ok? so that we can go visit you & baby Adrielle =)
Sure i will! I will, as Daph has suggested, prepare a msg and store in my mobile and get Mart to hit the "send" button. *wink* Hee, i intend to send 2 msgs, one before i'm actually pushed into the delivery ward and/or on my way to the hospital and the other after my princess has arrived to this world! =D Ha, i only hope that i will remember to remind Mart to send the text amidst the panic and/or joy! =D =D
Oh, think u mz first remember to teach Martin how to use ur hp! Our blur blur lao gongs normally can't function in panic-mode like such! hee.. I am SOSOOOOOOOO excited! can't wait to meet Adrielle! Can't wait for u to give birth! hahaha..
Hahaha, you got me rolling, Daph! You're absolutely right! I should "train" Mart prior to the delivery, esp when mine is a Samsung and his is a Nokia and plus, mine is a sensitive touch phone. Hmmmm...i wonder if his broader fingers will stay steady and hit the right buttons then. =P
Post a Comment