Exhausted but exhilarated

Say hello to Mia Emmeline, my daughter who was born on 30th October at 913am, in the Damansara Specialist Centre. It happened very quickly- my wife and me had travelled back to Malaysia from Singapore on the 28th October, fully intending to deliver in KL. We had mentally prepared ourselves to have the baby delivered on 21st November. My wife, who oversees both the Malaysian and Singapore markets (and thus travels extensively between the 2 countries, although she had ceased travelling to and fro since late August), had planned it such that her final day in Singapore before delivery was on the 28th October (she had worked half day), and her final day in KL would have been on 15th November, less than a week before she was due to deliver.


But how the most well-conceived plans changed- with the simple act of the water breaking.

The evening before on 29th October, with no inkling of what is about to hit me, I had gone for a run with Ronnie and Kei Ming at Lake Gardens. It was 4 loops of the approximate 2.8km route, starting at the children's playground, taking us up the Carcosa road and round the Lake itself. Because of the mileage I had put in in Singapore, I was in reasonable shape, and managed to stay with Ronnie throughout the run. I met my wife (who had a long day at work) around 815pm, and she was quite drained from the day's work. I decided to stay at my parent's house in Subang that night as my wife had another long day on 30th October which will start very early in the morning. Before reaching my home in Subang, I stopped by a DVD shop in Damansara Uptown, and bought 2 DVDs- Pineapple Express (a stoner comedy) and T4XI. I watched Pineapple Express and went to bed around 2am.

My Singapore mobile phone rang incessantly. In the midst of my slumber, between being half asleep and fully conscious, I thought I was dreaming that the mobile phone rang. I lifted my head off the pillow, looked in the direction which I placed my Singapore mobile phone (on the dresser some 2 meters away), and went back to sleep.

Then it rang. Again. And again.

Moments later, I heard a loud knock on the door- the maid told me that it was my wife, calling for me. Groggily, I looked at the time- 450am. I went to the house phone- located outside my room and picked up.

Me (groggily)- Hullo??
My wife- Guess what- my water just broke! At 430am! I've been trying to call you at both your Malaysian and Singapore mobiles but you haven't answered your phone!
Me- Huhhh? Are you sure (I stupidly asked that)
My wife- Yes it broke!
Me(still groggy)- Uhhhhh, ok! I'll make my way there now!
My wife- Don't rush!

I woke my parents up, and my mother told me that she would come along. Quickly, we got into the car and drove to my wife's parents house in Damansara.

We got into the car and headed for the Damansara Specialist Centre. Time of arrival- approximately 545am.

At around 610am, my wife was then placed on a bed, and had her belly strapped. I found out later that the straps were to determine the heart beat and the time between contractions. After what it seemed like eternity, the nurse then came in to read the printout from the machine and determined that my wife had to be checked in.

After completing the formalities of checking her in, we were led to a room, shared with another patient.

At 820am, the gynaecologist came to the room and examined my wife. She confirmed our suspicion that the baby had not yet moved into the right position. We were informed that my wife had to undergo a C section to deliver the baby, and as the operating theatre was not yet ready, the operation would take place around lunchtime.

We braced ourselves for the C section, and hoped against hope that the baby's head somehow would turn. I sat next to my wife and squeezed her hand, assuring her that everything will be alright, although we both nervous wrecks at the time.

About 5 minutes later, the nurse came into the room and informed us- the operating theatre was ready NOW and the operation can commence forthwith. My wife was then wheeled into the operating theatre and the nurse told me to wait outside. My nerves were somewhat assuaged when she told me that I will be called in to the operating theatre shortly.

20 minutes or so passed without a word and I was beginning to wonder if I would be called in at all. I asked a nurse passing by about the status of my wife's delivery, and she told me she would check. Moments later, I received a call on my mobile, telling me that I can enter the operating theatre. A lady in surgery gear emerged (clad in the usual shower cap, mask, green top and bottom, gloves and so forth) and led me to the male doctors' changing room, and got me to put on exactly what the other attending surgeons/nurses were wearing.

I walked into the operating theatre and saw the baby already delivered, and they were in the process of sewing the wife up. The baby was then brought to me, and when I held her in my arms for the first time, I was completely moved beyond words. My heart skipped a few beats, and I was lost for words as I stared into my daughter's face. Tears threatened to stream down but it never did, although my eyes glistened. I couldn't believe it- the baby was finally out. All these months, some of the days seemed to pass by slowly. I also wondered how she would look, how things would be like when she arrived. Now it has happened- 3 weeks early!

My wife was quickly moved back to her room and the baby was moved to the nursery to be cleaned up. Mother and daughter were doing very well.

We have since had numerous visitors and well-wishers and my wife was discharged on Saturday. She is now at her parents' home in Damansara, recovering and in confinement.

Fatherhood so far has consisted of me cleaning Mia's poop, changing her diapers, swaddling her, comforting her when she cries, and bringing her to her mother for her breast-feeding. We have had little sleep in the past few days, but although we're exhausted, the experience has been nothing short of exhilarating, exciting and rewarding.

I would like to thank all the visitors and well-wishers. This is certainly a new chapter in my life, one which I look forward to with great relish.

I also found out that my good friend and "Godfather" and founder of Der Pacemakers, Ronnie See, had his wife Rachel, deliver a very healthy, strapping baby boy weighing at 3.4kg on 31st October, just after midnight. Ronnie intimated to me that he hoped Mia and Adrian (his son) would share the same birthday, but it wasn't meant to be. But he is a very happy man too. Congratulations, Ronnie and Rachel!

On Friday afternoon Kenneth gave me a call, asking if I wanted to join him for a run on Saturday. Route was to be the Double Hill. I agreed to go for the run because I haven't run since the night before my wife's delivery. I was in dire need of a workout even if I was tired.

Met Kenneth at Bukit Aman at the time planned. The moment I started my run, I felt the tiredness immediately. The entire body was plain exhausted. We were running at a pace that was difficult for me to maintain! I struggled throughout, but managed to complete the run. The timing I took over 11k was immaterial; it was an achievement itself to complete it. I'm no Prefontaine!

Sunday, the other new daddy Ronnie texted me and asked me to join him for a 5 looper of the 2.8km route at 445pm. Met him as planned and we discussed how the delivery went, and how fatherhood has changed us. Nice to share the experience with a fellow new daddy!

Went for a 4 looper of the 2.8km route today. I am tired from lack of sleep, but I suppose the body does adapt to it eventually, although it is not healthy to be suffering from a lack of sleep for an extended period of time.