My Birthing Story.
Finally, I got to squeeze in some blogging time here. Have to finish and publish this as fast as I can though before Asher wakes up and start begging for his “bestfriends” (go figure). Since I’m in a hurry, I just hope that this entry is not as sabog as my thoughts are…wanting to blog so many moments and updates on how we are all doing.
==The Birthing Story==
First things first. Let me share to you my birthing story which I have long promised to do and I’m sure matagal niyo na ring hinihintay.
March 1 - Routinary Pre-natal Check-up with my OB and Asher’s AOG then was 38 weeks and 5 days. Looking at my last entry before the day I gave birth, I was told that my cervix hasn’t shown any signs of dilatation (still close) to my dismay kasi I was getting impatient na talaga and wanting to pop out Baby A na. I was advised to walk, walk and walk more so we planned to go malling the next day. After the check-up, I craved for a Zinger so off we went to KFC..unconsciously, I did pala Mec’s advise to eat spicy foods which are known to induce labor. Oddly, I noticed that Baby A then was super likot..madly stirring in my tummy. I even told Paul, “Hala, naanghangan ata ng husto si Asher”. But with the close-cervix-status nga, we just shrugged off this sign (kung sign nga ba ito). So there, I blogged pa about the check-up at 10:32 pm not knowing that four hours later, the most awaited time has come.
March 2
about 2:45 am - We were sleeping soundly in the wee hours of the morning when I suddenly felt an abrupt spurt of fluid down there. I didn’t get up right away and waited instead kasi nga naman baka wee-wee lang although I have a hunch that my membranes ruptured na nga. Minutes later, another spurt came..then came another. I got up, looked and saw traces of blood along with the fluid on my underwear. I was then fully convinced that it was time and I have to wake up hubby na. My half-sleeping-half-awake hubby immediately stood up, reached for his shorts and exclaimed…”ano, tara na?” when I told him na lalabas na ata si asher. Siguro naalimpungatan, he didn’t even ask what was I feeling or how did I know na lalabas na nga. He then informed my mother-in-law then we all readied up. I was nervous pero I remained calm. I tried to remember the bilins of my OB and the things I read what to do in cases of ruptured membranes (to prevent infection, keep it clean down there, don’t take a bath then rush to the hospital).
3:30 - 4:00 AM - We arrived at the ER then was wheeled immediately to the Labor Room. I was examined, interviewed and prepped. My cervix has dilated 2-3 cm na pala. By this time, I felt regular contractions but painless pa naman.
7:30 AM - No progress yet…still at 2-3 cm. I was IV’d and induced. My OB permitted me to take my last meal for the day…one slice of bread, a slice of cheese and 3 pieces of jellyace. Even though I lack sleep, di ako makatulog probably anxious and nervous, excited kung ano ang mga mangyayari. In fact, I was told by the OB who monitored my contractions to sleep muna kasi matagal pa daw ang hihintayin. I was awake the whole time, nakikinig sa chikahan ng mga resident OBs sa LR and watched the clock ticked. Di pa ako bored by this time. I also eavesdrop whenever my OB calls and checks on me. She wasn’t in the hospital pa pero she’s closely monitoring me through the resident OBs. I overheard na ilimit daw akong i-IE as it could cause infection dahil nga sa ruptured waterbag ko.
8:00 AM - I was transferred to the other side of the Labor Room. Excited kasi akala ko kung anong bagong gagawin sakin. Yan pala, they just have to clean yung main Labor Room. Continuous monitoring pa rin….contractions were regular 2-3 minutes apart, may onting pain pero super tolerable. When I got bored, ayun di ko namalayan, nakatulog na pala ako. I woke up pero since walang clock na malapit, di ko lam what time it was na.
11:00 AM - I was wheeled outside of the Labor Room then was parked sa hallway ng DR area. Akala ko ibabalik na ako sa Labor Room. Seconds later, my Dad and stepmom walked in. Pinayagan silang makapasok to check on me…nakiusap sila kasi my Dad’s flight back to Saudi was at 3 pm and he has to leave the hospital na. Ang galing ng timing ni Asher noh? Actually, I’m not sure if I am to be blamed din kasi I joked my Dad weeks before who was anxious na manganak na daw ako as he wants to see his first apo bago daw siya bumalik ng Saudi. I told him na Sunday morning (March 2) lalabas si Asher. And truly, nagkatotoo, except that di pa lumabas si Asher ng morning. I instantly cried the moment I saw my Dad. Dala siguro ng pagkagulat, takot and lungkot. I knew he has to leave na to catch up his flight. I was saddened with the thought na aalis siya na di man lang makikita si asher and that malaki na apo niya probably walking na pagbalik niya next year. Since mababaw din lang ang luha ng Dad ko, he also cried. Seconds later, they stepped out tapos si hubby and Mother-in-Law naman ang pumasok. Hubby kissed me and MIL told me to be strong. By this time kasi, no progress pa din daw ako.
2:00 PM - I overheard from the attending resident OB na nagagalit daw ang OB ko. It turned out may mali sa ginawa ng admitting resident OB sa pag-intindi ng instructions. It was something like dapat daw main IV and di lang side drip ang ginawa sa pang-induce. Kaya siguro di ako nagproprogress because of that. By this time medyo painful na ang contractions. I knew may mali pero I didn’t bother to confront nor ask them kasi I was concentrating sa pains ng contractions ko. I just don’t know the extent ng pagkakamali basta nagpray na lang ako and I just let God control and be in charge of everything.
4:00 PM - My OB arrived and did an IE on me. I think 4 cm na ata ako nun..kaya painful na ang contractions ko. Painful pero tolerable pa…as I told them from 1-10 with 10 being the highest..nasa 7 pa lang ako that time. They told me na magsabi lang daw ako if ever di ko na kaya yung pain.
6:00 PM - Eto na…super dysmenorrhea times 10 na yung nararamdaman ko everytime there was a contraction.
7:00 -9:00 PM - They gave Demerol to control the pain. I feel asleep. Nagigising-gising ako momentarily..i tried opening my eyes pero kusa siyang nagsasara sa sobrang antok. Then I heard sa TV nagchampion na ang Sta. Lucia. I also heard na may bagong pasok na patient sa Labor Room. Ma-C-CS naman siya the next morning.
9:00 - 10:30 PM - The anesthesiologist arrived and gave me an epidural shot. Later on, there was numbness on my waist down to the feet. Two of the resident OBs oriented and coached me how to do the pushing. By this time, sabi nasa 8 cm na daw ako kaya push pa. At first, I couldn’t do it right pano ba naman di maganda ang pagkakahiga ko so wala akong force to hold and last the pushing until the count of 10. I easily ran out of breath at the count of 6 pa lang. Somehow I managed to succeed kaya I was transferred na to the Delivery Room na.
10:45 PM - It was my OB na who’s administering and taking charge. She was assisted by two other resident OBs, two nurses and two Pedia attendants were on standby. The anesthesiologist was also there pero this time, siya ang naging photographer.
11:01 PM - After about 5 rounds of pushing, I heard Baby A’s cry and the nurse’s announcement: “Baby Boy out 11:01 PM”. I looked my OB’s way as she raised Baby A for me to see. There was I, exhausted but seemingly energized as soon as I saw Baby A. He was transferred to the adjacent room para malinisan pero buti na lang, nakikita ko pa rin siya. I saw how he was bathed, how the tubes were inserted into his nose and throat to remove possible blockages, etc. Seconds later, he was brought to me for the skin-to-skin, latching and photo ops. Hay the moment was so surreal. I labored for about 19 hours…sobrang nakakapagod pero lahat yun nawala the moment I saw him.
11:30 PM - Prior I was brought to the Recovery Room where I slept and stayed until 2:00 AM, I saw Paul on the hallway then he kissed me. Obviously, super happy ang daddy.
While I was being stitched, I whispered a prayer and thank the Lord for keeping Asher and me safe all throughout the delivery ordeal. Later, I learned na muntik-muntik na pala talaga akong ma-CS kundi daw nagprogress ang pag-open up ng cervix ko. Sadly, medyo nailagay talaga sa alanganin si baby kasi negative water na ako for a long time so wala na siyang support (and this could’ve caused also the infection). Pero God is good talaga that He kept us safe.
March 3
2:00 AM - I was finally transferred to my private room then slept again.
4:00 AM - I woke up as I need to pee. I had to do it, otherwise, baka ma-catheter ako so ayun pinilit ko talaga.
7:00 AM - The pediatrician dropped by our room and was told that we cannot room in Baby A because he’ll be treated with antibiotics. His WBC count yielded pretty high figures so he has to stay in the Nursery.
I was discharged on March 4 pero si Asher naiwan until March 8. From the time I was discharged, we dropped by the hospital twice a day (10 am and 5 pm) to breastfeed and bond with him.
So there..have to cut it here muna. Asher’s awake na so Mommy duties muna.
…to be continued.
Filed under All About Baby A | Comments (2)Busy Days.
The title of this first ever song I sang to my dear Asher is very apt to my daily Mommy schedule. Albeit a graduation song, I love singing this when I lull him to sleep. I bet he loves it too kasi he falls asleep naman eventhough Mommy is not a singer. 
busy days we have spent
with our crayons and pencils
drawing objects, counting numbers
learning our abc’swe can write our names
spell them out loud and clear
we can sing songs of love
to our baby jesus deardearest daddy and mommy
we thank you sincerely
here in st. paul kindergarten
we’re as happy as can beas we bid goodbye
to the toys we have now
with ever grateful hearts
in our uniforms we bow
Incidentally, this was also the background song in Baby A’s 4D ultrasound video. Hope, I can find and download an MP3 of this soon so I can add among the Children Songs Collection that I play for Asher.
Filed under All About Baby A | Comments (8)Blessed and So Much Happy!
Today, I am getting a year older.
At 27, I have a loving and caring husband, a precious and charming son…I am now complete.
I am so much blessed…and I could say that this is indeed one big HAPPY birthday for me…in fact, happiest ever so far in my entire existence and I’m loving my life even more.
Thank you, Lord. Ang lakas ko talaga sa inyo.
Happy Birthday din, Thet!
Filed under All About Baby A, Celebration, Simply Me | Comments (12)
Home At Last.
Yup, Asher’s finally home. Thank God! Prayers really do wonders, noh?
He was permitted to be discharged last Saturday so here I am, toiling but enjoying the hustle and bustle of a mommy life. The sleepless nights have begun pero ang sarap-sarap nga maging Mommy. Hay!
Thanks ulit for your prayers, my dear friends. Since he’s home, I know you’ll understand if I might not update this blog as frequent as I did before I gave birth. Pero don’t worry, basta may time…I’ll definitely blog.
So yun na muna, Asher’s about to wake up na..bonding and breastfeeding session muna kami. 
Baby A Updates.
First, Paul and I would like to thank everyone for the warm wishes, thoughts and prayers that were and are being sent our way. Our precious Asher [ey-sher] is already 5 days old. Sadly, he isn’t home yet, still completing his medication..is overly missed by us…but we remain hopeful. As of his pedia’s last update yesterday, his WBC count has improved (30 dropped to 17)..he’s active, feeding and thriving well naman. But considering the latest figures, they still have to keep him for several more days to complete the medication cycle. The doctor changed his antibiotics and hopefully, he’ll continue to improve and get well. We’ll know by tomorrow noon if he’s responding well with the new meds and if we can bring him home na. So please, please, please say a little prayer more for Baby A, that he may finally come home to the loving embraces of his parents and to everyone who’s anxiously waiting for him at home.
I know I promised to share my birthing story soon but please bear with me as we haven’t settled down with Baby A still in the hospital and Paul and I have to visit him twice a day. As soon as I’d be able to squeeze some time, I’d right away do it.
It’s physically exhausting, yes..but I’m not complaining. At one point, I’d like to fast track things but thankfully, I have learned and mastered to face them one at a time..with great patience and faith. Seeing my baby peacefully and soundly sleeping in my arms after I breastfeed him in the nursery, I’m feeling high, consoled and blessed. My heart is breaking though for his longing dad whose paternity leave is about to end and he hasn’t carried nor touched him still.
Again, thank you so much and hopefully in my next update, we’ve brought Baby A home na.
Filed under All About Baby A | Comments (9)