My VBA2C story and thoughts

Well folks, you won't see stuff like "went to the loo and had a show". Here's the gist of it:
Drug-free VBAC, although we had to do a vacuum because right when I was pushing they did the Doppler and the baby's heartbeat had dropped quite a bit. Because of the vacuum, I was transferred to the bed and put in stirrups, but these actually helped to alleviate some of the cramping and numbness in my legs. I birthed lying flat on my back (not semi-reclining!).
No episiotomy, but I did have a first degree tear and a few stitches.
The whole thing lasted for 6 1/2 hrs, from 3.30am to 10am, much shorter than expected. After all, I laboured for 14hrs with Reuvel, before being told that it wasn't gonna happen and they shot me with an epidural and sent me to the OT.
Reflections:
Some of you know just how much I wanted a VBAC when I was having #2. When it didn't happen, and my postnatal discussion with Paul concluded on the note that chances for a future VBAC would be very slim, I told myself then, if I can't have a VBAC, I WON'T have another baby. Then along comes the unplanned #3, whom God used to show me that I really can't give up hope. Anything is possible with Him.
Regrets:
My perfect birth would be birthing standing or kneeling upright, no tears (and no stitches!), and DH catching the baby. But my legs were numb and cramped from lying on my side once we got to the hospital, so that was out, plus I was tired out. But hey! I got my VBAC! And delayed cord clamping! And DH cut the cord! And I could nurse the baby immediately after Paul was done stitching! All these had been in my birth plan for #2. And I laughed and cried simultaneously for 3 minutes straight when they put the baby on my chest and I realised it was all over.
My deepest gratitude to:
Jehovah God - who heard all our prayers.
Ginny Phang - who taught me, 6 years ago, how to breathe and vocalise when the contractions got intense. This was how we got there drug-free.
Pat Chong - who lent me her last minute buddha's leg.
Amy Chin-Atkins - who encouraged me in every single email
to listen to my body and have faith in myself. And sent me the "research evidence" that I needed to put my fears at rest and go ahead with a TOLAC.
Gigy Chong - who was the very first person to tell me, straight to my face and without a doubt, that I would be able to do it. You know how much it meant to me.
Paul Tseng of TLC clinic - who at first discouraged me to go for a VBA2C but in the end, consented to my birth plan. You rock!
DH - who held my hands when it became unbearable and cried tears of joy with me when the baby was finally put on my chest. And who supported and trusted me in my decisions every step of the way.
And then the fourth trimester began d:)

Time to move on

The renovations for our new home have begun and we have an estimated 5 weeks before we move (that is if Murphy's Law doesn't happen). There are a lot of decisions to make, rethink, and confirm.

In the meantime, I am popping my veins over Temasek MagicLand, a fund-raising carnival organised by Ray's primary school (also my alma mater) for the needy students in the school (and I am proud to say that there are quite a number, as well as special needs students). June and I are in charge of the Chinese food stalls at Foodland, only one part of the whole show. This happens on 16 July, and it's open to the public.

I've never been a part of it, MagicLand only having been developed way after I graduated so I am pretty excited (although I'm not sure what to expect). It's challenging to say the least, to organise the food and roster, and in this respect I am bowled over by the generosity of the parents when it comes to fund-raising. We have food, monetary, and time and effort contributions from so many parents! I can only say that I am very proud to be a part of this school.

Once MagicLand is over, I can focus more on house-moving as well as birth plans, with the latter giving me the greatest headache. Paul doesn't want me to go for a VBA2C, on account of my having tried with the boy (who was huge! 3.98kg!). But he says he's open to it IF I go into labour earlier (unlikely) OR if the baby is much smaller (perhaps more Ray's size at 3.28kg). Well, I told him I will give it more thought once these 2 imminent projects are over.

Decisions, decisions!

And I have to decide which of my beloved plants (which have been neglected rather) will be making the move with us. The compost pile will be "inherited" by my parents, and I have been doing some minor reading up on container gardening. My original plan was to build a raised bed at the balcony, but alas! the costs are way too high, so till our situation changes, everything will have to be in pots or troughs. I hate pots!

All the herbs are going over of course, tiny pots which will sit nicely on the low bookcases at the windows. The chilli is already in a pot (I read that chillies and peppers do better in confined soil than open ground), and the red okra will have to be reseeded once I can find the right sized pot (easy) and the time (not so easy). My four o'clock plants are not setting seed (!) and I don't have the time now to read up and make changes, so I will have to ask Amanda for more seeds. They germinate very easily anyway, and grow very fast. Ray's asking for one specimen in her room, but I told her the 4 o'clock will be too big for the bookcase at full maturity. So she's going to try her hand at seeding some new basil.

I will miss my garden, but there's no point in moping over what cannot be changed.

First Antenatal Appointment at 20 weeks

I will be seeing Paul for the first time tomorrow. Many have expressed their surprise that I haven't gone earlier. "Can meh?" they ask with raised eyebrows and eyes wide open. Why not? I counter, will the police come and haul you off to the clink?

The point is that I am comfortable with my actions, based on what I know. If there is something wrong, I will accept it. This is making an informed decision, and I have all my birthing friends (you know whom you are) to thank.

I have also decided that I WILL go for the developmental scan and bear the discomfort of lying on my back for an hour. This after talking through with HL and a close neighbour and friend, so we can prepare for any possible problems.

Other than that, I'm not thinking much about this pregnancy or the birth. I believe I have made my preparations (short of taking the appropriate bag of baby clothes from Mum!) all those years ago when I was expecting Rv and I have never really forgotten what I learnt.

My mind is turned to some other matters instead - renovation, garden, and my work. A lot to consider, and alas, I can multi-task, but not very well. It doesn't help that even at 20 weeks I have horrid nausea days (like today) about once a week. And normal life has to go on - schedules, meals, laundry, cleaning, voluntary work...

Life is full.