Rubens Ng is born!!!

Yay, the first boy in our Ng Family after 33 years has been born! He arrived at 1748 yesterday at Thomson Medical Centre. Look at his gorgeous head of hair! And he has a very nicely shaped head too. All thanks definitely to the amazing labour that his mum had.



Here's the supermum Ling Fong, all well and alert. If you thought I was brave giving birth without epidural (Birthing Angie), then you will kow tow to this one. She was induced and also gave birth with NO EPIDURAL. Plus, she did not tear at all, so no stitches either. What a marvelous birth!

In fact, she was still walking around at Novena Square about 3 hours before Rubens popped out. If anything, this is a lesson to all second time and beyond expectant mums. Never underestimate how fast your baby can come out! Another lesson, the contraction stage does not have to be super painful. Most of the time, it can be managed. Dr Adrian Tan, Ling Fong's Obgyn induced her at noon and actually told her to go "gai gai". He said he encourages movement to just take the mother's mind off the labour. So, Ling Fong had a huge steak for lunch and I think did a spot of shopping after being induced.

She then came back to the clinic to be monitored. Her contractions were getting closer and she said the feeling was pretty crampy but manageable. Close to 5pm, the nurses said it was about time she checked into the delivery ward. My brother busied himself with all the admin registration and Ling Fong was brought to the room for her preparation. You know, they gave her an enema and asked her to go to the toilet but everything progressed really fast from there.

She suddenly felt the urge to push. Ah, there is no mistaking this urge... My brother stepped in just in time to hold her. Ling Fong very innocently asked for her epidural but I think the nurse gave her a bemused look and said, "what epidural, you're fully dilated and the baby is coming out now.. no time for epidural already lah . Ling Fong probably had the same reaction as my other friend Sher Maine (Birthing Terror)who did not realise how far along she was till in the delivery ward. Basically," I WANT MY EPIDURAL! GIVE ME MY EPIDURAL!"

Anyway, the nurses told my brother to gas her at that point to stop her from pushing. A few floors away, Dr Adrian Tan was doing the 100m dash to the delivery ward. Two pushes was all it took I think, and the baby was out!!!

Glorious Birth. If anything, it inspires me. After my successful hypnobirthing VBAC, I've suddenly become a scaredy cat again as I wonder if for my third child, I might be able to replicate the same calmness. What if the next time it is painful? Knowing that Ling Fong did it this time round, I am convinced again that everything is manageable, really. Yay!

Here's a picture of the happy family. Rubens has a loud hearty cry, very much like his sister Rachel. Hhahah.It's going to be a noisy household!