Cheeks to Cheeks

I’m quite lazy to write a long post about Cassie’s birth. So, I’m just gonna jot down the important facts chronologically.

9-ish am- Arrived at Stanford Hospital. Check-in was a breeze. Coincidently we got the same birthing room (Room 1) when I had Belle. We were assigned 2 nurses, Beth & Tina. Usually it is 1 nurse to 1 patient but one of them was under training. Took them forever (seemed like it) to get me ready, hook up the IV, fetal monitors, etc.

10:10am – Pitocin drip began. Dr. Swenson did come in before the nurses started the IV.

11-ish am - Contraction began. Jon IM’ed Vickie and she said it was pretty fast for the Pitocin to kick in. She said hers took 2 hours to kick in. Hunger sunk in and I so wanted to eat but I was only allowed to drink juice or water.

12-ish pm - Contraction grew stronger and more frequent. I couldn’t take the pain and told Jon to buzz the nurse in. Nurse came in and told us she had already requested Epidural for us. I guess she knew I was gonna opt of it (since I had Epi for my previous delivery). We waited quite a while for the anaesthesiologist to come and were told the anaesthesiologist team was busy with a C-sect patient. I was in so much pain and remember asking Jon, “Where is that damn doctor?!” Oh, as for the dialation, I went from 4cm to 8cm within 2 hours.

12:30pm – Jon called his dad the 2nd time to let him know the baby might be coming out earlier than expected. My FIL was gonna bring my MIL and my mom over during his lunch hours. The anaesthesiologist gave me the Epi around this time. He touched my spinal nerve while inserting the catheter and I felt sharp pain. Luckily it went away.

12:45pm – PIL & Mom arrived. Dad stayed home just in case we need him to cook. Furthermore, my Dad is too chicken to see me in labor..hehe. As for the Epi, it just didn’t feel right this time. I could still move my legs and didn’t get much numbing sensation. It helped ease the pain minimally but I could still feel each contraction.

1:15pm – The pain grew intense. I was holding on the the railing and squeezed it whenever there was a contraction. Administered a booster shot but it didn’t help numb the pain.

1:30pm – Told Jon I have the pangsai (Hokkien: pooping) sensation. I had the feeling the baby is already in the birthing canal. Told the nurse about it but she brushed us off and told us it was too early. She gave us another booster shot of the Epi. Hmmph! In the end, she called Dr. Swenson ‘cos I was in so much pain. Dr. Swenson came in with the anaesthesiologist. Dr. Swenson checked my cervix and said, “Yup, she’s ready to push!” The baby was already crowning (See?! A mother knows best). The anaestesiologist administered another dose of Epi but by that time it was too late. I was ready to push. It took the nurses few minutes to prep up and I had requested to have a mirror just so I could view the birth of my baby.

1:48pm – Cassie came out after 3 pushes. Yeah, it was that quick. My mom joked it was so fast it was as though I was laying eggs.

Here are more photos…

My first encounter with Cassie.

Both grandmas were there to experience the birth.

Length: a little over 19 inches.

This is new! We didn’t have this monitor screen when Belle was born.

Cassie loves to open one eye to peek at us. Her sister did that too. Oh, Daddy gave Popo the honor to cut the umbilical cord.

Yay! No more heartburn, no more constipation, no more backache…

Dr. Swenson & us.

Nai Nai, Popo & Cassie

Ya-ya came over after he got the news.

Daddy get to be present when they wheel Cassie into the newborn unit for extensive check-up and bath. As for me, I was wheeled to the recovery room. Coincidently, it was the same room I stayed when I had Belle: Room 131. Unfortunately, I had to room-in with another mom.

A hearty cry from little girl. She is a little better than Belle. When Belle cried she turned purple-faced.

Cassie’s first bath.

Mmmm…I loooove getting my hair washed…

What do you think? Do you think I have more hair than my jie jie?

Jon brought everyone over in the late evening. This is Belle’s first encounter with Cassie.

Grandmas & Grand-daughters.

Right after I met my nurse (Nurse Emelie), I told her my intention to stay for one night only. I had also mention that to Dr. Swenson and she was okay with it as long as the pediatrician has check on Cassie and releases her. Luckily I had opted to stay for one night ‘cos the baby next to us cried so much during the night. I didn’t get any sleep at all. Thankfully, Cassie was a deep sleeper and she wasn’t bothered by it.

We were lucky that Dr. Martino was doing her rounds on Saturday. Cassie’s weight dropped to 6 lbs 1 oz that day but Dr. Martino told us to follow up on Monday. All we had to do was wait for the girl to poop. We waited for half a day and the girl still didn’t poop. In the end, Dr. Martino told the nurse to insert a dispository to stimulate her pooping sensation. Within seconds Cassie laid a big one! We were released from the hospital around 5.30pm.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Daddy didn’t get to be in any photos during that day ‘cos he was the camera-man. Even till today, he hasn’t really taken any photo with Cassie. He has been busy keeping Belle occupied. He is sucha great dad…that’s why I love him so much.

6.41am – Called the L&D at Stanford and got an OK to come in for delivery. The nurse laughingly said, “We’re fully delivered now. Just come in anytime and we will expect you.”

Now it’s time to get something to eat and wake Jon up. I will also take a shower ‘cos who knows when is the next time I’ll be taking one.

7.52am – Took a shower and thankfully Belle is still asleep. She co-slept with both of us last night. We decided to go in a little later so that Belle could sleep a little longer. My dad is awake eating breakfast and wanted to cook breakfast for me but I told him I have eated half a slice of bagel.

8.22am – Belle is awake and she is ready for daycare. My FIL will come over around 9am to drop her off at the daycare. Jon is having breakfast now.

8.41am – Okay, we’re ready to go!