Giving Baby A Fighting Chance

Last Wednesday I was wheeled to the OT at around 7.45 am. It's still early morning, not many staff around. I waited for about half an hour before being attended to. Doctors have morning briefing till 8.30 but they prep me before my doctor arrived. I'll be anaesthetised waist down. I have never been in OT before except for D&C once and I was knocked out during that procedure. I'll be wide awake this time. The anaesthetist asked a lot of questions on medical history as well as explained the procedure. I was asked to fast starting midnight before the procedure.

The jab to the waist in between backbones was quite frightening experience just because I don't know what to expect. I was asked to sit, they give me a pillow to hug and started the jab. I gripped my blanket tightly, closed my eyes and breathe deeply. In about a minute started to feel tingling sensation. I felt poked when they clean the area and then I didn't feel anything waist down. My doctor arrived, greeted me and explained the risk again. Dr Norizan is a petite but determined looking lady. I have signed the agreement form but she asked again just to be sure.

During the procedure I started to feel nauseous. They get ready to suck my vomit. Now I know why fasting is necessary and I'm glad I did. Apart from phlegm and saliva nothing came out. I calmed down for awhile before another bout of nausea hit me. As I was about to calm down again my doctor turned to me and said she discovered my opening is already 4cm and uterus is already bulging. The procedure now have 50:50 chance as membrane could rupture and caused premature delivery. If I didn't do anything cervix will continue to dilate further as well and preterm delivery unavoidable. Sigh! I asked the doctor's opinion. She didn't want to decide for me but in the end said we have a chance if we do something rather than didn't. That is so true. I want to give baby a fighting chance. So told the doctor to proceed and I prayed hard. She managed to push uterus in and I can hear they are being very cautious and careful with a point of potential disaster from their voices and panic exclamations.

Alhamdulillah when the doctor turned to me and said everything went well but the cerclage position is quite short so I'm to be monitored long term at the ward. I can live with that... or at least try for baby's sake. I was observed for an hour before wheeled back to my ward. I felt chilly and shaking even though they kept me well covered. They warned me not to raise my head higher than my feet or I'll feel nauseous again and not to eat anything for 6 hours after the anaesthetic.

During noon visiting hours hubby, MIL, SIL and family came for a visit. I was still in lying down position until 3pm. Hubby came again during evening visiting hours and we shared dinner. Poor hubby, no stalls were opened a day after Aidiladha. I'm still on drip and movements were very limited. By 5 I was feeling the onset of headache. That night I can't sleep till about 3am. Pounding and throbbing like nobody's business. Told a nurse and she came with panadol which I'm allergic to. Then a doctor came and suggested I drink more water since I can't take any painkiller. After talking to him, I ate 2 pieces of bread and drank water. I started burping. Thank God. Though my headache not totally cleared but at least I know the reason. Gas must be due to fasting since the night before and eating late after the procedure. Managed to sleep for less than 2 hours but feeling better afterwards. I woke up because of routine check by the nurse. I was given 3-days dosage of tablet to prevent contraction. The dosage ends this morning. Hopefully everything will be OK. I've also bought utrogestan on doctor's advice because I'll not be taking duphaston after 24 weeks. The hospital didn't have utrogestan in stock but they managed to get it from UPM pharmacy. So praying for the best. We've done all we could. Sabar yer baby. Tunggu besar sikit baru jumpa ummi.