My Baby Is Eleven Today.

Oh yes, my baby is eleven years old today, 1 May 2005. Time does fly so fast, the little girl that I hold in my arms eleven years ago is turning into a young lady. I can still remember how she was born because she decided to come out to the world 1 foot first. Yes, 1 foot first. No, no, no, she is not disabled, she has all the limbs don't worry....

When I was pregnant with her, the company was working on getting the ISO 9000 certification. I was in charged of that project on top of my other position as a Chemist. I was still in the first company. So being so busy doing 2 work at the same time, I just keep on delaying my pre-natal check-up. Since that was my fourth pregnancy and they were all normal before, I was not really alarmed. Fisrt few month was normal, she was in normal position and all. Then, there was the fasting month so I procastinated further.

The last week of my trimester, I was sent to a training course in Penang. The training went until late at night and I had to travel back and forth from Penang Isaland to home for the whole week. Yeah, me full term pregnant and all. The training involved a live quality system audit at another company as well. On the first day the trainer asked when I was due and, I told them, the following week. The almost flipped over in their chairs. All they can say was, "Why so fast?" "What? Why so fast?, Hey ladies, I was carrying her for the fast 9 months here, it is already time". They were fast becoming my friends so that I could talk to them like that. Behind my back they made preparation at the client company where the audit was going to take place, so as not to panic if I decided to be in labour pain then. Which would be the fastest exit to take be to the hospital etc. I was not told on this until I met them again a few years after that. There was a joke going on as the audit was a 7 and a half man day audit. The half being the baby I was carrying. The training ended on 29th April.

On Saturday, 30th April 1994, I was working half day. I planned not to take the maternity leave from the following Monday onward. The company was renovating the office so I had to pack my things just in case they decided to move when I was on leave. Probably that could have caused the early arrival of my baby. I had not been to the pre-natal check-up for I think 4 months at that time, so I wanted to go and have the check-up on Sunday 1st May. But when I was getting ready to go to the clinic, I had my labour pain. So I told my hubby, I think it was time. When we were at the maternity clinic, when the midwife did the check-up, she told me that the baby was breach. The legs were down as opposed to the normal position of the head down. It was too late to move the foetus because I was already in labour. So, let just say, pray for things to be OK.

For the first time as well, my water bag broke, the last 3 deliveries, it was the doctor who broke my water bag. Then when the pain was so intent, when pushed out, she decided to show her best foot forward. I really don't remember which leg came out first, but I guessed it must have been the right leg firat becasue she is right handed. The leg cam out until her knee so I could feel her dangling the foot against my skin. It felt ticklish. Oh no, she decided that, let's wait for a while before I come out properly. So there we were in the labour room with one foot dangling out and the rest of her body still inside my womb. You find this funny, now that I recalled it, it is funny. You guys, may be asking why the doctor did not pull her out. Couldn't do that because, if they did that, there was a risk of her foot being wrenched off her whole body or she may have 1 leg longer than the other. So we waited until she was ready to let me push her out. Finally she came out. It was quite a while actually. The doctor said the the other foot was crouching against her body so if we had pulled the leg out, the risk would have been as mentioned. And it all happened as a normal birth, I did not need to be "cut" or stitched when she came out. A miracle isn't it. I hope none of you find this story gruelling or crude.

Being the baby of the house she is naturally very "manja or pampered". Bibik adores her and pampered her. This is so because bibik took care of her from day 1 to now. She bullies her other sisters especially Kak Long, but none of children ever throw tantrums with me. No one will ever get away with that. She is very active and her Saturday schedule keeps me busy the whole day. She loves cats, that's why we never throw away stray cats and when one of the cats died recently she cried. Sounds like a softy for a green belt Tae-kwan-do girl rigth? Apparently she is. This morning after she did her subuh prayer she took her bath and then came into my room to curl up between me and my hubby. That's my baby alright.

Nurbatrisyia, mama wishes you Happy Birthday today. Go into the world with all our love and be happy as you always are.