38 weeks 5 days

Assalamualaikum wbt,

My last day in office today. I have a check-up with Dr Ummul tonight and since I am about to reach my 39th week of pregnancy, I plan to ask her for few days MCs maybe or a week MC? I don't know. Will consult her tonight. I don't think it's a good idea to drive to work by next week when I am at 39 weeks, which baby will make her debut anytime soon (even though I am still feeling fine, no labour sign yet). I can't really tell whether it's gonna be next week or it's gonna be overdue (hopefully not). 

Alhamdulillah, since it's the semester break now (just the perfect timing), I have no classes and all of the marking-related works were done, the exam board meeting had been held, so basically for these few days all I did was online, online and online and of course membawang with my colleagues and friends 😂

So, I did manage to read some tips on the correct ways of breathing in preparing for labor. So, kita share kat sini:

Credit to this blog: http://cheerisheverycherry.blogspot.my/2013/01/belajar-teknik-pernafasan-ketika.html

Masa mula-mula rasa nak sakit...contraction manja-manja atau braxton hicks

• Tarik nafas dalam-dalam ikut hidung, pastu lepaskan ikut mulut

Masa contraction makin kerap dan makin sakit

• Tarik nafas pendek-pendek ikut mulut, dan lepaskan cepat-cepat ikut mulut jugak..
• Gaya mcm huuuppp-haaappp huuuppp-haaaappp (mcm lepas lari 100m or 200m dulu kot tp dengan lebih bertenang)
• Tp jgn kosongkan lung/paru2 terus sebelum sedut nafas seterusnya.

Bila rasa nak meneran tp belum dilated 10cm lagi

• Tarik nafas 2kali ikut hidung, lepaskan sekali ikut mulut
• Gaya mcm sniff-sniff-fuhhh
• kalau tak rasa nak meneran, hembus nafas mcm biasa

Bila dah tiba masa meneran

• Tarik nafas dalam-dalam ikut mulut, dan lepaskan dengan sekali nafas secara perlahan-lahan ikut mulut jugak.
• Lepas dgn sekali nafas, untuk elak baby termasuk balik (mcm mana tu ek??)

Posisi ketika nak meneran

1. Nurse ajar tadi, masa nak meneran ni, position kita ialah dlm keadaan duduk bersandar sikit.
2. Mintak katil diangkat. Tak pun husband tolong ampu bahagian belakang badan/kepala kita supaya lebih tinggi dari berbaring.
3. Mata pandang perut (boleh jadi penguat semangat nampak perut mengempis bila baby keluar). Dagu cecah dadaketika meneran.
4. Kedua-dua tangan pegang buku lali dengan kuat untuk elak diri sendiri dari angkat punggung.
5. Bila rasa sakit baru push dengan sekali nafas.

Posisi suami ketika saat-saat isteri nak meneran pula:-

Sebelah tangan pegang bahu isteri untuk dijadikan sebagai tempat menyandar (isteri boleh bersandar dilengan suami supaya terasa lebih selesa). Dan sebelah tangan lagi tekan lutut isteri untuk mengelakkan isteri mengangkat punggung semasa meneran (elakkan koyakan)

And another good reading which I have found from this blog: http://myaishah.blogspot.my/2011/12/breathing-technique-hypnosis-method.html

"Kalau ikutkan kaedah sebenar Hypnosis Method tu, dia ajar kita guna pernafasan dengan ratio 20:20. Sambil tarik nafas guna hidung dan fikirkan "RE..." (20 saat), kemudian hembus guna mulut sambil fikirkan "LAX..." (20 saat). Tapi saya tukar RE-LAX tu jadi Doa Nabi Yunus. So, dalam kita sakit dan cuba aplikasikan kaedah pernafasan tadi, kita boleh tambah bertenang. Insya-Allah."

Well, TBH, I did not practice a proper breathing technique during previous labour because I did not do any research about it. All I knew was .... the pain was unbearable! I guess the mindset was already negative (of course the contractions are painful) but let's play with psychology this time, will ya yana???? Whatever it is, may Allah ease my labour pain and labour journey in shaa Allah.