[Updated 8 October 2020: Fareena was said to be finally able to carry Ariana in her arms on Wednesday (7 Oct) after fighting for her life in the NICU for eight days].
Every woman has a tale to tell about the day she became a mother. Some are funny and others, not so much, but all are 100 per cent raw and inspirational.
For Fareena Ismail, her baby girl Ariana Aaleeyah Binte Arif almost didn’t make it into the world.
Mum Shares Birth Story
Taking to theAsianparent app on 29 September 2020 to share her birth story, Fareena said she woke up to a continuous “gush of fluid” on 28 September morning.
That prompted her to call her husband, Arif who was working at that time to return home. They proceeded to the hospital thereafter and was admitted to Thomson Medical Centre on the evening of 29 September.
“Gynae came to see me at 12PM and told me I was not dilated yet but [it was] confirmed [that the] waterbag broke. She asked me if I would like to speed up the process (something like induced) or go home and wait for contractions, otherwise to come back at 7AM the next day (sic),” wrote Fareena, who then chose the latter.
Towards the evening on the same day, Fareena was once again rushed to the hospital after her contractions grew consistent. Still, she was only 2cm dilated according to her gynae.
Image source: Facebook/Nur Fareena
As Fareena’s contractions intensified, so did her fever which she said had reached a high of 39.7 degree celsius.
“Contractions [were] 2 mins apart and I started groaning in pain. Laughing gas was given but I got too high and nauseous. I asked for epidural,” she wrote.
“They kept checking my cervix and I was only 3 CM dilated then. Tried to sleep but kept [getting] woken up every hour to be sponged and given all sorts of medicine. By drip, by pill in the bum, by mouth.”
On top of that, both Fareena and Ariana were recorded having a high heartbeat rate. When morning arrived, Ariana’s heartbeat fluctuated, once returning to a normal rate before plunging to a low.
Furthermore, with no progress in her cervix, Fareena said she was told to be “prepared for an emergency [C-section] but the gynae will make the call”.
“They kept checking me every 30 mins and kept changing my position, gave me [an] oxygen mask to ensure baby’s heartbeat goes back to normal but nothing improved,” lamented Fareena.
However, a couple of hours later, Ariana’s “heartbeat stopped” and Fareena had to undergo an emergency C-section.
Birth Of Miracle Baby Who Was Brought Back To Life
According to Fareena, her miracle baby came into the world with no heartbeat for 10 minutes but was later saved by the PD.
“[Ariana] came out with no heartbeat and [was] not breathing but was resuscitated by the PD,” wrote Fareena who shares that her baby girl was born at 3.5 KG on 29 September 2020.
Birth of miracle baby: Baby girl Ariana Aaleeyah Binte Arif was born on 29 September 2020, at 3.5 kg. | Image source: theAsianparent community/Fareena Ismail
“The nurses who operated [on] me cried along with my husband after the operation and said that our baby is a miracle baby that was brought back to life!”
Still, the mum’s heart ached for not being able to hold her newborn who was whisked off to the NICU in the KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH) “where it is better equipped to handle [Ariana]”.
“I cried and broke down so hard.. not only did I not get to have skin to skin to her, I haven’t got the chance to even see her or [provide] her [with the] first feeding. Ya Allah, my heart was in so much pain. So much that nothing else hurts more than not being able to hold her!
Image source: Facebook/Nur Fareena
“Still in the ward, I kept hearing the newborn crying and each time I yearn for her. All I had is just her beautiful photo and her shivering like her mummy when I was in [the] Delivery Suite.
Although her heart was still aching, Fareena shared that she felt better from the support she received from her loved ones who came to visit. Her husband too had been out and about to settle everything that was related to mum and baby.
“[Ariana’s] health is more important than anything else. I just can only pray that she will recover,” said Fareena who calls her a little one a fighter.
In her post, Fareena also addressed her newborn directly: “Thank you Ariana sayang for battling to breathe again. Mummy loves you soooo much. I am so sorry you had to go through this. I want you in my arms so badly. (sic)“
Image source: Facebook/Nur Fareena
Following the sharing of Fareena’s story, many mummies from theAsianparent community have left their comments to cheer on the family, as well as wishing the mother-daughter duo a speedy recovery.
Image source: Screengrab from theAsianparent community
Image source: Screengrab from theAsianparent community
Congratulations to Fareena and family for crossing through this hurdle. We wish Fareena and baby Ariana a speedy recovery too!
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Image source: Facebook/Nur Fareena
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