The Imanies Diaries: THe BiRTH of SaRaH iMaNie

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. Welcome to this new blog of mine, The Imanies Diaries. This blog is a bit different from my previous blog, Aku Sebutir Pasir, which was all about travelling. The reason I'm writing The Imanies Diaries blog is to treasure all the moments that I spend with my lovely daughter, Sarah Imanie & my future children, insyaAllah. When she/they grow up & read all the things that I wrote here, I hope she/they will learn & realise how much I love her/them. A father's love is pure, unconditional & will last forever. There's nothing that I wouldn't do for her/them. In this blog, I will use simple English so that everyone even the little ones will be able to understand. :)

I still remember the day when me & my wife, Shakirin, who is already used to be called Intan found out that she was pregnant. It was morning 14 December 2014. We used the regular urine pregnancy test kit that we bought at the pharmacy. And the result turned out to be positive!! OMG. I was the happiest person on earth at that time. No words can describe how I felt. I was going to be a father!!! Actually, we had already tried few tests few days earlier because Intan was 2 weeks late for her normal regular menstrual period. However the results were all vague. But this time, it was clearly positive. Alhamdulillah. We thanked Allah for the wonderful gift. Intan's last menstrual period was on 27 October 2014. So, according to Naegele's Rule, Intan was already about 7 weeks pregnant & the Estimated Date of Delivery would be on 3 August 2015. Alhamdulillah. We just got married on 1 August 2014 & we're going to have our first baby almost on our 1st Anniversary.

UPT +ve

As Intan's pregnancy was confirmed by the urine pregnancy test kit, so the next day (15 December 2014), both me & Intan went to Klinik Kesihatan Manjoi which is located near to the house that we rent in Taman Merdeka & also near to Intan's school to register her for regular check-up there & to get her pink book. Luckily two of the Medical Officers there are my friends. We did housemanship together in Hospital Taiping. That would give me & Intan some privilege. Hehehe. So, one of them saw Intan & did the first ultrasound scan on her tummy. Intrauterine Growth Sac (womb sac) was seen, so uterine pregnancy (pregnancy inside womb) was confirmed. Alhamdulillah. However, fetal echo (baby) was not clearly seen yet as 7 weeks pregnancy is too early. So, Intan was given appointment in 2 weeks time (9 weeks pregnancy) when the fetus (baby) would be bigger & easier to see using the ultrasound machine. And Alhamdulillah, during next appointment & ultrasound scan, fetal echo (baby) was seen as expected.

Pink Book

First ultrasound scan at 7 weeks pregnancy

Second ultrasound scan at 9 weeks pregnancy

Intan went for check-up regularly at Klinik Kesihatan Manjoi as planned. Since the clinic is located very near to her school, that would be convenient for her. We also went to my friend's clinic (Poliklinik Tanjung Perdana) at Tanjung Rambutan on 21 March 2015 for 3D scan to check the gender & the physical appearance of the baby. At that time, Intan was 20 weeks & 5 days pregnant. From the scan, we were told that the baby was most probably a girl & Alhamdulillah, the physical appearance were all normal.

3D Scan done at Poliklinik Tanjung Perdana

Intan's pregnancy period went just fine with only few episodes of vomiting which is normal. We even went travelling to many places such as Melaka, Johor, Sabah, Cameron Highlands, Kelantan, Penang, Langkawi, Pangkor, Kuala Lumpur & few more. Alhamdulillah, nothing bad happened. Everything was fine until 35 weeks & then, suddenly everything became haywire. When she was at 35 weeks pregnant (6 July 2015, during the month of Ramadhan), suddenly she had one episode of leaking liquor. She was at her school at that time & I was working at Green Zone. Suddenly, I received a phone call from her saying that she saw some clear fluid over her thigh which she thought coming out from her private part. I became panic. So, I took Emergency Leave for the day & I straight went to her school to pick her up & brought her direct to Labour Room, Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun, the hospital where I work, for further assessment.

After she was assessed by the doctors there, it seemed like there was no proof of leaking liquor. However, they still need to observe her for few days. So, she was admitted to 1st class maternity ward. During her stay in the ward, there was no more episode of leaking. But the specialist in charge of the ward planned for induction of labour to reduce the risk of infection due to the leaking. She gave us option whether we want to do it on that day itself or next week when Intan was at 36 weeks pregnant. We discussed & we agreed to do it next week so that our baby will be more mature. So, Intan was discharged the next day & planned for readmission on next Sunday for induction of labour on Monday.

So, as what had been planned, Intan was readmitted to 1st class maternity ward Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun on 12 July 2015 for induction of labour the next day. Both of us were totally prepared mentally to having a baby real soon. But when the time came, suddenly one of the senior consultants changed the plan. Since Intan's Bishop Score was poor, so he said she's not a good candidate for induction of labour as she might end up with Caesarean Section. Furthermore, there was only one episode of leaking, which is not so worrying. So, he let Intan go back home & to come back when there's a natural contraction & only for induction of labour on due date (3 August 2015) if there's still no contraction. He didn't allow delivery after due date as Intan had history of leaking before. Me & Intan were quite unhappy with different set of plans made by different specialists & consultants. It was very confusing. But since they're the experts, we just followed what was the best for our baby. The good thing was that Intan can celebrate Hari Raya first. Heheh. So, on that same day, Intan was discharged home.

Then, on Day 5 of Hari Raya (21 July 2015, 37 weeks & 1 day pregnant) when me & Intan was celebrating Hari Raya with my family in Parit Buntar & we were planning to visit relatives in Penang, suddenly Intan said that baby's movement was less compared to yesterday & the days before. We got scared. So we cancelled our plan to go to Penang and we went straight to Hospital Parit Buntar. Intan was admitted to the maternity ward for one day for observation. Thank to Allah the baby was fine. Maybe the baby got scared because of the minor on and off contraction. The next day, Intan was discharged well.

After waiting and waiting, there was still no contraction. So, on 2 August 2015, Intan was readmitted to 1st class maternity ward Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun for induction of labour on 3 August 2015 (yesterday). When the oncall MO did ultrasound scan, she got Estimated Fetal Weight 3.8kg which was quite big & she's quite scared that there might be risk of shoulder dystocia during delivery. So, she asked the oncall specialist to repeat scan. The weight that the specialist got was 3.4kg. Me & Intan felt relieved. So, when the time for induction of labour came, which was the yesterday (3 August 2015), prostin was inserted into her private part. And contraction began & became stronger & stronger. However, the contraction didn't maintain & becoming weaker. Cervix dilatation was only 2cm.

So, Intan was reassessed again today morning. Contraction was still not that strong & cervix dilatation was still 2cm. The induction of labour which was started yesterday morning was not in a good progress. When the senior consultant came doing rounds at Labour Room, he decided to repeat again ultrasound scan to reconfirm the Estimated Fetal Weight, using the more detailed & accurate ultrasound machine. And this time, the weight that they got was 4.0kg, which is quite big. Since they're scared of shoulder dystocia during delivery, Intan was advised for Emergency Caesarean Section today instead of waiting for normal Spontaneous Vaginal Delivery. Me & Intan felt quite unhappy with sudden change of plan as we preferred to wait for normal Spontaneous Vaginal Delivery rather than surgery. However, since they're the experts, we had to agree for Caesarean Section. We just wanted the best for our baby. We didn't dare to take any risks.

So, Intan started to fast from 12.00pm & was planned for Caesarean Section around 6.00pm. However, since they were few emergency cases, Intan's surgery was postponed. Only at 8.45pm, Intan was pushed to their Maternity Operation Theatre. After almost half an hour, our precious jewel was brought out at 9.14pm. I was waiting outside with my parents-in-law with all kind of feelings inside my heart. I was scared, but at the same time I felt happy & can't wait to see my wife & my baby. The surgery finished at around 9.45pm. After it had finished, I was called to see Intan in the recovery room. Thank to Allah everything went just fine. She was alright. Thank you my love for everything that you had to go through & you had sacrificed. The pregnancy and the surgery, for the sake of our baby. InsyaAllah I will always be by your side.

Few minutes later, our baby girl was brought to us. The moment when I first saw our baby girl was absolutely priceless. No words can describe the feeling I had. Subhanallah & Alhamdulillah. She is soo beautiful, soo perfect. I was totally stunned. I was speechless. My eyes were full with tears & I can feel they were dropping slowly one by one. Tears of joy & happiness. Sarah Imanie. That is the name that me & Intan had planned to give her after long discussion that we had few months earlier. The name really suits her well. Sarah is the name of the first wife of Prophet Ibrahim a.s & the mother of Prophet Ishaq a.s who was well-known for her beauty. And Imanie in Arabic means "my trusted one". Sarah Imanie, Daddy & Mommy loves you sooooo much.

Our baby's birth weight was 3.3kg, not 4.0kg as what was estimated by the latest ultrasound scan. To be honest, me & Intan were quite frustrated as Intan could have delivered normally instead of surgery. But when we rethink back, it is better to choose the safe side rather than to take the risks. It was our baby's life that we're talking about. And we believe that Allah SWT had already planned for this & He is afterall the Best Planner. Intan still has chance for normal Spontaneous Vaginal Delivery in her next pregnancy. So, there's nothing much to worry. Anyway, Alhamdulillah, everything went well. So, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all the staffs in 1st class maternity ward & labour room Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun for their warm hospitality & assistance. Only Allah SAW can repay. And to my beloved baby girl, WELCOME TO THE WORLD!!!