Birthing in Thailand...

Ok, let's see how far I can get with this post before I have to tend to my kids...

On April 20 at 11:29pm, we welcomed Allison Jessie Yu into the world. She was 7 pounds, 5 ounces and 19.3 inches. She weighed a pound heavier than the boys at birth. We're so thankful that she was born healthy and that my recovery has gone smoothly. It was truly one of the hardest physical experiences I've had to endure, but the Lord sustained me. Praise God!

We were originally going to deliver at Chiang Mai Ram Hospital, the only local hospital that administered an epidural. But a few weeks before my due date, the hospital announced it would no longer give epidurals for natural births. We decided to deliver at a different local hospital called Sriphat. In some cases of emergencies, newborns are transported from Ram to Sriphat, so we thought we'd go with them. While there were many uncertainties and concerns, there was much peace as we meditated on the truth that the Lord would work all things out according to His good purposes. We met one woman who came from Vietnam to deliver at Ram, but ended up traveling 3 hours to Chiang Rai to get an epidural.

My original estimated due date was April 10, but my ultrasound seemed to show an April 17 due date. After many bounces on the yoga ball and then a 20-minute walk, on the evening of April 20, just after dinner around 7pm, I felt some strong contractions. They were coming about every 10 minutes. Then after 8pm, they were coming about every 5-7 minutes. We were told to stay at home as long as possible so that we wouldn't have to labor at the hospital for very long. But once I had to stop and use the wall for support through contractions, I told David I wanted to go to the hospital. I didn't want to be keeled over in the car.

We arrived at the hospital around 9pm. I was 5cm dilated. It was eery when we arrived because there were no other patients and the lights were all turned off except some dim lights where the nurses were.

Here I am waiting for a contraction on a yoga ball:

The room itself was nice:

Ok, here it comes:

Ouch...do you like David posing while I'm in pain? Months ago, I told David that if I have to give birth without an epidural, he would have to sing Maxwell's "This Woman's Work" to me. He did sing a line or two, then started playing and singing some DeBarge song to me. I told him I didn't want music after all. 

Another mom who just gave birth a few months before me told me that someone told her that when your legs start shaking through contractions from the pain, you're at 7cm. She said this ended up being true for her. Sure enough, my legs started shaking. When they checked me at 10:30pm, I was indeed 7cm. While going from 5cm to 7cm was painful, everything after 7cm was unbearable. I tried my best to use the techniques we learned to relax through the contractions and not fight against them. I was able to do this until 7cm. After 7cm, I just couldn't relax through them. The doctor kept asking if I wanted to lay down, but I was afraid I wouldn't be able to adjust positions from a reclined position once the contractions came. So I stayed on a yoga ball, hunched over at the foot of the bed. The pain was so intense that I started rubbing my forehead on the bed, moaning, pulling on my hair (I think to create an alternate source of pain), scratching the bed, and shaking my head and breathing out like a horse. David said he's never seen me like that and I was going crazy. I actually wish someone videotaped me so I could watch myself go crazy and at least get a good laugh with my sisters.

Around 11:15pm, I couldn't take it anymore and I asked for some medication. They were just walking in with demerol, when I said that I felt like pushing. They hurriedly got me on the bed. I was 9cm. I thought the pushing would be easy, but I had several moments of panic when I thought I wouldn't be able to push her out. At this point, I was screaming, yelling, and crying, "Help me, please! Help me, please! Get her out!" While pushing, the Thai nurses howl "Oooooo." I heard about this, so it was funny to experience it. Thankfully, Allison came at 11:29pm. I was told that because the labor was so quick, it was more painful. At the same time, I don't know if I could've endured a longer labor. After all this, I don't think I could go through labor without an epidural again, but God-willing, I won't have to because if it's up to us, we're very happy with our family of 5. =)

Here she is:

Proud papa:

Relieved mama:

A visit from my mom and the boys:

Our duplex neighbors, who've become close friends, brought them. This is Mrs. Chang: 

"We did it!":

"Hello world!":

We left less than 24 hours in post-partum. The doctor only ordered Tylenol for me, and for some reason, the nurses were slow to bring it to me after repeated requests. With that, the ants on the countertops and tables, the language barrier, and general hygiene concerns, I thought I would just be more comfortable recovering at home.

"Home sweet home":

Excited big brother Ian:

Curious big brother Eli:

The men in her life:

Very alert:

Daddy's in love:

Gaining well:

Gaining really well:

Lately, she spends a lot of time in the Bjorn because she seems to have acid reflux, so she's very colicky. She cries in pain and she's inconsolable during some parts of the day. She doesn't like to be laid flat.

We were able to celebrate Mother's Day out with the family. I couldn't have gotten through these last few months without my wonderful mom:

We have yet to get a full family shot...Alli was sleeping:

What a blessing to have gotten through all of this with a healthy baby girl and full recovery. We are so thankful for the gift of a beautiful new daughter. We have wonderful support with our ZOE family and new friends we've made here in Chiang Mai. God is good. And here's a wonderful care package with requested items from our church family back home: