My birth story in NUH (private patient)
Documenting my natural birth story as a FTM!
7th Nov 2025:
- Started having more intense, regular and painful contractions since the past two nights. But the intervals did not follow the 5-1-1 rule yet (5 minutes apart, 1 min long for at least an hour) so I held off going to the hospital as we didn’t want to be on a wasted trip
- but on the morning of the 7th Nov, the contractions got so painful I could barely walk each time it hit, and it became more regular (around 5-7 mins interval each time) hence we decided to head down to NUH A&E
- reached A&E and they immediately pushed me to the delivery suite for the O&G team to assess
- was seen by an MO / resident? And was told during the cervix check that I was barely 1cm dilated so I could choose to return home or stay in hospital for a Pethidine jab for pain relief
- I decided to choose the jab hence we prepared for admission
- was given a jab in the thigh which helped relieve the contraction pain a little, and by afternoon i was able to function better 🥲
- they wheeled me to the ward and I stayed in A ward 9, bed 1
8th Nov 2025:
4am - started having intense and painful contractions
- decided to inform the nurses and again they pushed me to the delivery suite for another cervix check - I was still only 1 cm dilated 😭
- another pethidine jab was given to my butt, but it did nothing to relieve the pain this time
- each contraction was so painful I was gripping the bed railings and practicing deep breathing each time
7am - wheeled back to ward to continue waiting for dilation to increase to 3cm before I could be given the epidural
12pm - nurse came to check and I was finally dilated till 3cm! Wheeled back to delivery suite to administer the epidural
3pm - Anaesthesiologist came and he was really gentle and professional
- there was just an initial sting from the LA needle and after wards a hot flush down my spine but everything was bearable
- no more pain after the epi set in and I could even still move my legs (but tingly sensation)
- oxytocin was administered for induction
- and waited again for further dilation till 10cm
7pm - only 4cm dilated 😭and I could not eat anything after the epi hence I was super hungry
10.30pm - 5cm dilated
- was told that they will check again 3 hours later hence I dozed off…..
1.40am - here’s where everything went so fast. I was still sleeping when the baby monitor started beeping so the MO came in to check and she gave a scream because baby’s head was alrdy out?! she asked for nurses to come and assist and asked me to start pushing. I gave two pushes and out came the baby!
They placed baby on me and he started crying
she called my gynae afterwards to come over to stitch up below
And this was the story of how baby was delivered 🐣 it was traumatic but overall still smooth-sailing all things considered.
Choosing NUH's private maternity package was a decision my partner and I made because we wanted personalized care and comfort during such a critical time. The attentive nurses and medical staff made a big difference, especially when pain relief options like pethidine and the epidural were discussed and administered professionally. One thing I found important was understanding each stage of labor and managing expectations—like realizing that dilation might progress slowly at times, and staying patient was crucial. The medical team kept me informed about every step, which helped alleviate anxiety. After delivery, bonding moments when the baby was placed on me and started crying remain unforgettable. Even though labor felt exhausting and sometimes painful, the overall support and environment at NUH helped make the experience bearable. For anyone considering private maternity care at NUH, I recommend discussing pain management options early and preparing mentally for variable labor progression. Being in a private ward also offered comfort and more personalized attention through the process. The mention on the nurse in charge reminds me how each member of the team played a role in ensuring the safety and well-being of both mom and baby, which truly made the experience more positive despite initial challenges.
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