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Ewan's birth was a complete contrast to the birth of
our first baby, Callum (click
here to read the story of Callum's birth). At
my 20 week scan, the ultrasound technician
commented that my placenta appeared low. My doctor,
Paul Tseng, told me that this may not
cause any problem, but we would monitor it.
After returning from a visit to the UK at 6+ months pregnant, we went to
Bangkok for the weekend to spend the weekend with Colin's sister. In the
middle of the night I got up and found that I had been bleeding heavily.
The hotel staff helped to get me checked in to an international
hospital, while Colin's sister looked after
Callum, who luckily stayed asleep.
I remember feeling strangely calm while being admitted and checked by
ultrasound scan. At least I could still feel the baby (whose name was
still under debate) kicking, so that was reassuring, and while I had
lost a lot of blood, at least the bleeding seemed to have stopped. I
stayed in Bumrungrad Hospital for two nights and then was given a letter
to certify I was fit to fly back to Singapore,
although I would have to be pushed in a
wheelchair to the plane. Callum was very confused at this – at 16 months
old, maybe he was wondering why his mummy was in a big stroller.
Colin and I saw Paul the next day and he told me I would most likely
have to have a c-section. I burst into tears, as I'm very squeamish and
the thought of surgery, epidurals, etc., did
not appeal. Our doula, Tania,
who had been with us during Callum's birth, came round that
afternoon and we discussed my fears and
options. Had a look through Callum's birth-plan and cried some more. But
talking about what was worrying me really helped. I had to take it easy,
and try not to walk too much. I was still at work, and driving, but had
to slow down – my body had given me a warning.
A month later I woke up during the night with more bleeding, and off we
went to Thompson Medical Centre. It stopped again and I was allowed
home. This time I was put on bed rest; again
more confusion for Callum – I couldn't bath him, or lift him, and he had
to "be careful" all the time around me. We set up the sofa bed in the
living room, and my life was between our bedroom and the sofa bed for a
couple of weeks. The only other place I went was for my weekly check-ups
with Paul; I remember getting upset at his clinic because I was
frightened that the exertion of getting to the clinic might trigger more
bleeding.
Another bleed sent me back to Thompson for a couple of days;
they always started during the night, so I was often worried when
getting up to the bathroom in the night in
case I found it was happening again. Two days after being discharged
from Thompson, we were discussing names, and decided on Ewan Andrew. It
was Sunday afternoon and I was on my sofa bed, when I felt a bleed
starting again. For some reason, I thought this was a bad sign – the
fact that it was during the day. Off to Thompson again! 
Colin had to travel to the US the following week. My due date was still
more than 5 weeks away, and so we hoped he could get there and back
before Ewan arrived. The plan was for scheduled c-section at 38 weeks,
if I could make it that far. (caesareans are often
scheduled in cases of placenta previa because labour can trigger severe
bleeding; the key is to balance ensuring the birth happens before labour
starts, but giving the baby the maximum time to mature in the womb.)
The bleeding stopped and Paul reassured me that I could be OK for
another week or two. Meanwhile my parents had booked themselves on
flights to be in Singapore while Colin was in the States, just in
case I had more problems. So I settled down to sleep in the
hospital, happy that I should be getting home the next morning. Just as
I was dozing off, I felt the familiar unwelcome sensation of more
bleeding … I was taken back down to the
observation ward. This time the bleeding got worse. Paul arrived to
check me, and told me, "This is it," I was
going to have an emergency c-section.
Colin and Tania were both on their way … Tania
made it first. I was all prepped and the doctors
were waiting for me, but I was waiting for Colin. He made it, and I was
whisked off to theatre. I felt quite calm and confident that everything
would be fine, but also so helpless and reliant on the medical staff.
After going under, the next thing I knew the nurses trying to work out
which room I had to return to (my case notes had so many room numbers
from the past few weeks). They told me everything had gone well. Tania
was waiting for me, and Colin was with Ewan. Ewan had been fine
initially, but then started to have some breathing difficulties, so was
taken to the ICU.
Colin brought me lots of photos of Ewan from frequent visits to the ICU,
while I was still hooked up to a painkiller drip. Ewan was born in the
early hours of Tuesday 5th October, and I made it to the ICU the next
afternoon for the first time and then as often as possible after that to
feed him, a very slow walk!
Mum and Dad arrived the next day, delighted
that Ewan had arrived already. Ewan was allowed out of ICU on Friday
evening, with Colin passing him out of his cot to me
for feeding. We made it home on Saturday morning.
Today, Ewan is a happy, healthy toddler, shown
here with his big brother Callum.
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