On the day Shah Iman Izwarith was born - 11th March 2009 (Wednesday)
We welcomed Warith with great joy.
Warith was 3.15kg.
2 months prior to Warith's birth, I was hospitalised in Seremban Hospital for total placenta praevia (i.e. type 4). Not a day passed by without tears and fear. Tears because it was miserable being alone in the hospital without your loved ones especially when you are in your last trimester. Fear, because I was afraid of the LSCS that I have to go through and praying hard that my baby was going to be alright (sempurna segala sifat dan anggota).
Warith was worth the wait!
I could still remember the night before the LSCS. I was 'prep'ed and a single IV line was established(OMG, the line was so annoying after it was administered) and I was given syrup lactulose. My last meal was at 8 - was kept NBM (nill by mouth) after that. I couldn't really sleep that night.
I was all alone waiting for tomorrow to come.
Then it was morning. Said my subuh prayers and read yassin. Before 7 o'clock, Abg Shazrill came to visit me and then mama came with ayah. I was glad to see them. I was first on the Op list. But the OT bed hasnt arrived yet. I was told later by Nurse Ting that there was an emergency LSCS so I was going in 2nd. This pic was taken by Abg Shazrill (he insisted to document the historical event) before I went to the OT.
Finally, the OT bed came. I was taken to the OT room, my heart was beating faster. The man from the OT said to my family the ever-so-famous-cliche-line "Sampai kat sini saja boleh teman." So i waved to my family and they kissed me.
In the waiting area outside the OT, the patients were lined up (haphazardly). After confirming my name and IC number to the OT nurse (and her group of interns) another IV line as established. Then I was left alone. I looked around and saw this small boy near me, I learnt that he inhaled 2 magnet balls from his brother's toy. But he didnt look scared- just extra bored.
When the nurse approached him and asked "sakit tak?" He nodded and said "sakit". A second later he was found roaming around and then he was put back on the bed and was instructed to stay put. It was rather funny to hear the surgeons talking. One surgeon said "so how are we going to extract the magnet? through the nose or mouth?" The other one replied "which ever is easier!". I laughed to myself. And closed my eyes for a moment.
I drifted to sleep. A deep slumber. I was too tired with all the chaos around me. When I woke up I was still at the waiting area waiting to be operated on! Until a young doctor came to me and said that they have another emergency LSCS to perform and that I have to wait in line!
Dr Tham was there and insisted ("demanded" would be exact) that I should be operated since he and the patient (i.e. me) was ready as planned. So, finally I was wheeled in to the OT. There i met the sweetest Anaesthetist, Dr Julina. She calmed me down by informing me of the procedure that i requested for, i.e. CSE (combined spinal-epidural).
Two things that seemed quite funny to me while the CSE procedure was performed. Firstly, Dr Julina conforted me and said "when the CSE is administered, you will experience a funny feeling as if your legs are not there. But dont worry before we perform the LSCS we will first test whether the CSE has taken effect by touching you with a sharp object." Sharp Object! Hmmm..not a comforting thought, at all. But I smiled and nodded.
Secondly, Dr Julina marked my spine. Then said "Dr XXX will be performing the puncture. She is very capable." Then Dr Julina looked to the dear doctor and said "Please check again, sometimes the mark is not accurate." Hmm..inaccurate??..Nasib badan...
After the CSE was completed I was told that the operation had already started and Dr XXX reminded me to selawat. I didnt stop murmuring and reciting the selawat at all. I could hear my heart beat on the machine and a whisper "She is anxious..."
Around 10 minutes later I heard a loud cry from a baby. "Is that my baby?" I tought to myself "kuatnya suara!". Suddenly a nurse came up to me and said "Puan, ini anak puan. Cuba tengok lelaki ke perempuan?" I told her that I am short sighted. She brought the baby closer and I said "ok". She said I need to say it out loud whether the baby was a boy or a girl. So i glanced again and said "lelaki...?" I wasnt sure since I was quite worried about the operation at the same time. She just smiled and said "tahniah."
Warith was almost blue-gray when I saw him (macam tanah liat). I was so excited+shocked+nervous to finally see my baby. When she left with my baby to clean him up, I suddenly realised that I dont think I had memorised his face yet. I was scared if i wouldnt be able to recognise him later.
I was back at the maternity ward shortly after that. And mama said while accompanying me back to the ward "Anak ikke cute!" (very touching) meanwhile Ayah said "tak lama lagi ikke boleh kurus cepat, perut dah tak nampak dah..."(hahaha) Later, they brought Warith to rejoin me back at the ward.
Abg Shazrill said "we will name him the name that you like, Shah Iman Izwarith." I smiled back and said to Allah "alhamdulillah".
