After more than a month of not writing, I finally had the time to catch up with my blog and it feels good. But before anything else, Yes, I finally gave birth to a wonderful eight pounder baby boy, Felipe Inno last March 12 at 1:52pm via normal delivery. (Yehey to me!)
Looks like I have so much to share so let me start with my labor story.
March 12, I woke up a little sore and there's some throbbing pain in my lower abdomen. The night before, Kali slept beside me (Yup, we didn't share a bed in UP Bliss because we don't fit in a single bed. Hehe.) and I was still feeling normal by that time although impatience has already set in. That night, I remembered Kali talking to Inno inside my tummy asking him to go out already.
5am. Kali was already up for work and usually, I'd wake up by that time too to check him before he leaves. I was already feeling some pain but decided not to tell him because I wanted to be sure first that it was true labor already. He left for work and I slept through the pain thinking that it might be gone by the time I woke up. Apparently, the pain even got worse after I woke up which was around 6:30-7am. It felt like a stomach pain urging me to poop. So I went to the bathroom and poop thinking that it might just be a poopie thing but I told myself that if the pain doesn't go away, I would text my OB na about it.
I pooped. Success!
But the pain didn't go away.
I texted my OB already and told her I was feeling cramps on my lower abdomen and that I pooped na but the pain won't go. It took an hour or so before she finally answered and when she did, she told me to go straight to the labor room already.
I took a bath. Dressed up.
Grabbed my bag. I didn't bring the baby bag just yet because Tita Carol can't carry all those stuff. By this time, I've already told Kali that I'm in pain and that Doc instructed me to go to the hospital already.
On our way to the hospital, I'm still feeling normal with little pangs of pain that goes on and off every five minutes. It was still tolerable but it's making me uncomfortable.
I went straight to the labor room bringing my admission slip, jacket and my small bag.
I rang the doorbell and a resident who already checked on me before opened the door. Upon seeing the twist on my face (because of the pain), she laughed and asked, "Totoo na ba yan?" which made me laugh too.
Upon entering the labor room, other residents who've checked me before were also asking if I'm really on labor already. To be sure, I had to go through an IE (Internal Exam) to check if I'm dilating already. If you were able to read my previous posts, I was sent home 2-3 times because my IE's say that I'm not yet dilated. To be totally sure, I was IE-d twice by different residents and by that time, it was quite painful because of the contractions. After the exam, they told me I'm already around 4 cm and I was like: Eto na nga yun. The nurse then asked Tita Carol to get my stuff. I brought my bag and jacket inside the labor room thinking that I might just tweet or listen to music while laboring, however, the hospital doesn't allow that.
The Whole Process
After changing into a hospital gown (which was really awkward to wear because it's tied at the back and kinda short for me), everything else followed. I was shaved down there. And by the way, just so you know, moms are asked that their undies be removed so it's really extra cold down south during the whole labor.
The awkward Enema. I thought I'd escape this part since I've pooped already that morning but unfortunately, I didn't. When I first heard the word Enema from the Dra. Teng, the resident who monitored my whole labor, I was like, "Ano yun?" She explained that it's a process where bowel movement is induced by injecting fluid inside your pwet or in tagalog, labatiba. Yun pala yun. Para daw walang kakambal na poopoo si Inno.
Anak ng pitumput-pitong puting pating.
During the whole process of labatiba, I was thinking, ganito pala ang pakiramdam ng mga bading. I was induced three times and during the first two takes, there was nothing inside my tummy when I tried to poop but Manang Chelly, the head labor nurse won't agree to stop. She said she had to be sure. It was an EXPERIENCE.
After the awkward enema, I was laid on the bed again. For thirty minutes to an hour, I went through fetal monitoring. At that time, my contractions were not normal yet. Dra. Teng asked that I tell her every time Inno moves or kicks and she'll see if the monitor says the same. With the progress that I was going through, she said I would definitely have a swift delivery and she even predicted that my delivery won't reach 4pm (and yes, she was totally right). They were already in touch with Dra. Olalo by that time and she instructed that I went through some urine and allergy tests. I was also given an IV which was a first since I've never been confined before. After so many syringes that pricked me that day, I think I'm over that fear already.
Around 11am to 12 noon, I was IE-d again to check if my dilation is progressing. My contractions were already painful that time so I really freaked out when she checked inside me. I remember she even said, "Mommy, tutulungan kita ha." And you know what she did? She just tear up my cervix to progress my dilation. After the IE, I was 6cm already. Dra. Olalo came to check on me. And since my water bag isn't broken yet, Doc had to pop it to fasten my delivery. Imagine inserting a long toothpick inside my area. It wasn't painful but after the process, every contraction was already nagging I have to twist my body to resist it. They also injected some drug to really haste my dilation. In the next hour, the pain was extreme and I already had the urge to poop. Doc Yolly, a senior resident, IE-d me for the last time and asked if the urge to poop was strong already. During the IE, I was almost about to scream, I'm grasping Doc Yolly's hand because the bed had no bars to hold on to. The next moments, I felt I was in a haze. I'm groggy but I remembered being transferred to another bed by a male nurse, we entered a room which looked like a big comfort room, tiled in white and there was a large spotlight down at me. I remembered my arms being strapped on the bed (like I'm being crucified) and my feet held up.
Four hard pushes.
It felt like a poop that won't go out.
I could see shadows and hear voices.
The next thing I remember, I'm being curled up into a ball by a male nurse. I was trying to resist but he won't let me. And then I felt something pierced my spine. In seconds, I'm numb. Until now, I'm assuming I was undergoing episiotomy the reason I couldn't feel a thing.
I didn't know Inno was already out by that time. Dra. Olalo came to me and patted my cheek. Her hand was warm, I knew then it's all over. She whispered to my ear that we're done and that Inno looked like Kali. I even remember this short conversation before I blocked out.
Dra. Olalo: Arianne, tapos na. Eight pounds ang baby mo at ang haba.
Me: Talaga, doc? Kamukha ba ni Piolo?
Doc: Hindi. Kamukha ni Kalayaan.
Me: Akala ko kamukha ni Piolo e.
And then,
I passed out.
They said I was in the recovery room for four hours. I really couldn't tell how long I stayed there. All I could remember was I was so tired from sleeping. By the time I was conscious, all I wanted was to be transferred to my room but the nurse said I need to undergo an IE (again!!!) before I leave the room. Apparently, we had to wait for an hour or so for an OB resident to check my stitch. I'm becoming impatient already. I'm fighting off sleep. Thankfully, a resident came IE-d me and then I was released from the recovery room.
I was happy to see mom, Kali and some friends in the room. Inno was still in the nursery and I had to endure not seeing him that night. I wanted to see him badly because I was worried that the nurses are giving him formula milk. But mom and Kali insisted that we have Inno roomed in the following day so I could get some rest.
The anesthesia was wearing off slowly and I could feel the pain stinging from my butt to my "area". I was twisting and turning that night and because I wanted to see my bundle of joy already, I slept the pain off.
The next morning was the happiest day of my life.
Finally, I was able to held Inno in my arms. It was love at first sight.
Indeed, he made every pain, every day of the last nine months and everything worth it.
<3
