Labour and Delivery

Thursday June 23rd at 9:00 am Dr. Chua examine Margaret then made the first attempt to induce her. She was 0 cm dilated before the induction.

Though she felt some cramping through the night, labour did not begin. The next morning Dr. Chua found her to be just 2 cm dilated. A second attempt was made to induce.

Again she felt some pains and cramping, but labour did not begin. On the morning of the 25th Dr. Chua's partner, Dr. Lee decided to put Margaret on the drip. Confidently Dr. Lee predicted that the baby would arrive by 4:00 pm.

At 10:00 pm, still 2 - 3 cm, Dr. Lee declared that at midnight she would order a c-section. Less than an hour later Margaret called in the nurse with questions about an odd feeling she was having; she was 10 cm dilated and beginning to push.

Sean and a paramedic trainee named David were recruited to hold Margaret's legs while the nurse coached. A surprised Dr. Lee returned to the hospital just before midnight.

Throughout the delivery both Sean and Margaret pointed out to the medical staff that Margaret was asthmatic. A number of times they asked for her to get oxygen; these concerns were largely brushed off.

When Dr. Lee arrived she was not happy that the baby had barely moved in the past half hour (though the crown of his head had been visible). She told Margaret that if on the next push no progress was made she would be using the forceps. Margaret said she could not push again without oxygen, this time the nurse got it for her. With the oxygen Margaret was able to made real progress pushing. However, it seemed that Dr. Lee's mind was made up and she went for the forceps anyways.

Robert John Henderson was forcibly brought into the world at 12:25 am on Sunday June 26, 2005. He weighed just 4 lbs and 12 oz. at birth.