“贤明雄志壮才俊，万象功成就于恒。”
“Wisdom, clarity, might and ambition strengthen the talented and charming,
All occurrences and achievements are done by will of perseverance.”
Naming of Thong Jun Heng – “唐俊恒”
I thought I have enough room here forever, but not sure whether it’s the walls closing in on me, or it’s me who is growing bigger?
Time and time again I hear these noises and voices. It sounded like they are talking to me, telling me stories, keeping me entertained. Usually, it’s a soft womanly one, but there’s another deep voice, whenever it appears, the woman will sound happy as well. Strangely, when that happens, I feel somehow excited, at peace even.
Argh, without me realizing the place has gotten too tight on me! I have no room to move anymore!
Hmm? The one deep voice sounds so near this time, I can feel it, this time its different! It seems like there’s something on the other side of the walls! I want to see what is on the other side!
What if I just kick the wall a little…
“Hubby! My water broke!” My wife suddenly jolts out of bed, and storms into the toilet.
It was 1 am midnight. I was in a deep sleep, a well needed rest after 2 days of travelling from Kota Kinabalu, to Kuala Lumpur, and finally back to my pregnant wife in Kuala Lipis. It was a rush, as i predicted that it won’t be long before the baby checks-out his mother’s cramped up womb, and into this beautiful world, where he will have bigger legroom to explore and grow.
I was tired, but that quick sentence from my wife sends my brain into alert mode. Realizing the time has come, I quickly prepare us both and drive to the hospital. We did not wake anyone else on the way out, because there’s nothing to be panic about, yet.
After a brief assessment by the labor room night shift houseman, contraction closely follows and my wife is warded for good. I quickly settle my wife in the ward, bring her personal belongings, and call it a night. It is already 4 am when I lay down on my bed. Although I hardly get any good sleep due to anxiety, I keep my eyes closed as I will need the strength tomorrow, for my wife and future son.
25/07/2022, 8am, I am awakened by a call from the hospital, to ask me to stand by outside the labor room, for my wife is already being pushed there.
The time is nigh, and I realized I bought everything to prepare for this moment except pampers. There’s no time to visit the stores anymore, I quickly dress up myself, ask for my mother-in-law’s help to buy the necessary, and rush to the labor room’s front door and wait.
9am, nothing.
11 am, the nurse tells me it’s only 3cm. I returned home and brought my Nintendo. Monster Hunter does good in calming my nerves.
After soloing some dragons, I grow bored in the cramped-up Volkswagen and decide to sit on a bench near the labor room.
1 pm, I made a new friend of an expecting father, telling me all sorts of exciting tales of being a father of 3, going to 4. I then slowly walk to the canteen for my quick lunch. There’s nothing except plain rice, one piece of chicken breast in curry, and a flaming hot sambal belacan.
Well, I still gotta eat, what the heck right? I’m fine with that.
As soon as I put my plate on the cashier, the labor room called and asked me to quickly be there for my wife, for it was already 8cm. I quickly shove half of the food into my throat, there’s no time to pay attention to its taste nor finish another half, and jog my way to the labor room, past its counter, and into the partition where my wife is.
I have conducted many labors in the past, 6 years ago to be exact, when I was doing my houseman-ship, I have many times seen the unspeakable (for many men, who have no idea how nasty labor can be and shocked by the sight of it) and has grown numb to the situation. Still, seeing my wife in that state does bring heartache. She is groaning silently in pain, hoping only for it to end quickly.
We held hands, as her womb slowly pushes our son’s head through the narrow path, expanding the surrounding bones and muscles. Her grip is so strong it almost crushes my thick palm. Knowing what is going to happen, I soothe her with a calming voice and appearance, hoping it can lower the pain.
When the time comes, I hand it over to my O&G colleagues, praying that they are well experienced and my wife is in good hands. I will spare the critical moment, as it involves a lot of pushing, groaning, blood, and tears.
As soon as my wife’s pain stops, he is born, my very own son, who I believe will take on the world, stronger, smarter, and better than his father will.
My eyes linger with tears of joy when I hear his cry for the first time, loud and fierce, as I visualise him to be for months.
I shall name him “恒”， for I believe that he will know the value of perseverance, and shines bright like a burning sun, bringing warmth to those around him.
Thank you, dear wife, for bringing him into this world, and thank you, my son, for just being born.
What comes next is weeks’ worth of ‘baby cry on-calling’, a venture of neonatal jaundice with phototherapy, taking my own baby’s blood, a revelation by my parents that they know less about taking care of a baby than I do, and enjoying a 5-star ward in KPJ Kuantan while my baby is being suntanned. But that is a story for another time.
Dr Vie Cheong Thong M.D. 