Motherhood: My Baby Story

I always watch "A Baby Story" on TLC where they show how a mom and dad go through the labor and delivery of their baby.

This article is MY BABY STORY. :)

It would look like a long article but it would only be a mere summary of the whirlwind of emotions and events that happened that day.

I was 39 weeks and 5 days that day - 2 days before my due date. My parents who came from the Philippines for their first grandson has been with us for more than a month now. I know they are getting bored being stuck at home most of the time so I told them we will go to Macy's and do some shopping. We were all dressed up ready to go, I was the one who will drive and of course, given the bladder situation of a very pregnant lady, I told them "Okay, I will just pee and we'll go."

I went to the restroom and peed. As usual, I took a quick look on what is in the toilet (Since 32 weeks I have been extra vigilant on what I see 'down there' because of all the information I learned on what to expect, etc. etc.). I saw a very small amount of string of mucus-y looking discharge that they told me I should expect. I went out the restroom, and felt some gush of water. I was thinking "What? I need to pee again?" (Note that pregnant women's bladders are squished so much that you would need to pee almost every hour!). The gush was becoming stronger so at the back of my mind I was thinking 'is this it?!' I went downstairs, my parents and husband were waiting,

Me: "I think we would have to cancel our trip to Macy's."
My Mom: "Why?"
Me: "I think I am leaking."

It was around 2:30 PM, Saturday, April 14, 2012.

I called the hospital (US Naval Hospital Guam, Mother-Baby Unit), and told them what happened. They said to lie down for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, get up and see if the gush of that clear liquid continues. I did... and it did! I called them again after 30 minutes and they said I should go to the hospital.

My husband was so relaxed on our way to the hospital (it was a 20 minute drive), he even remembered to put a towel on my seat, to absorb the 'leak.' I remember sitting in the car, we were just smiling at each other. I am sure we were both already thinking of a hundred things in our minds but on top of it all I was thinking of how weird and embarrassing it feels to be leaking right then and there.

We got to the hospital's driveway, my husband got me a wheelchair. I was in zero pain, but in 100% embarrassment, I got off the car and there goes my water... I was gushing so hard non-stop, my dress, my shoes, and the sidewalk was already wet. It was so embarrassing but all I could do was laugh about it and say "Eeeeewwwww." (See article regarding waterbag here) 

My husband had to park the car so I was left at the hospital reception area with some of the receptionists. They knew I was about to give birth so they were kind of bewildered that I was there smiling and laughing. I told them I was in no pain, I can walk (the delivery area is at the 3rd floor) and all but my water is dripping so I have to stay in my wheelchair and towel.

We got to the Mother-Baby Unit (where the labor, delivery and recovery happens) and it was Nurse Julie who greeted us. She was so nice. She said "I don't think we have a doubt here that you have already ruptured, no need to test you on that." Haha. She put on the baby heartbeat monitor on me and asked if I was in any pain; I said no. I am perfectly fine except for the leaking. She said "let's put on this contraction monitor. Some mommies area already contracting and they don't even know it." Then she did and the monitor showed 2-3 minute gap of contractions. She said "There's a contraction happening right now, can you feel that?" I said, laughingly, NO.

I was then officially admitted to the hospital. After rupturing two of my nerves, they finally got the IV needle in me. It was Nurse Susan, the super hyper happy nurse, that was able to find and put the IV needle in painlessly.

They said I was still 2-cm dilated (same as last week). Nurse Julie and Nurse Susan asked me what my birth plan is... I said "Epidural." And they said "Great choice!" Later on, since the day shift nurses went home already, I met my night shift nurse, Augustin. He will be my 'official' nurse during labor (we only get to have one nurse to help you during the labor-delivery phase).

I then met my doctor, Dr. Mercado. I think it was already around 8:00 PM that time. He said that they would need to give me Pitocin, a medicine to make my contractions faster and stronger, to help me get dilated faster since it was already hours ago since my water broke. He then asked if I want the epidural now, or the Pitocin first. I said I can have the Pitocin now since I had to wait for 4-cm before I can request for the epidural (all the information and birth class told me that). I would be forever grateful for the next sentence my doctor said "No, you don't need to wait for 4-cm for you to get the epidural. It is your choice, if you want it now, you can get it now. " Whew! So they gave me the Pitocin and before I can even feel it's effect, I was already given my epidural. (Related article regarding epidural, see this link) 

My mother, father and sister-in-law visited us in the hospital.  I remember just feeling very hungry but other than that, I was perfectly fine. They brought dinner for my husband which he ate outside the room so as not to torture me. We told our family to go home and get some sleep and they will meet the baby tomorrow for sure.

The baby! I try not to think about the actual active labor (the pushing phase) at that moment, I still was very much terrified of the idea that a baby will actually come out of my vagina! Dr. Mercado came later that night and checked on me, I was 5-cm dilated. In my mind "What?! All that medicine and all that hours, from 2-cm to 5-cm?!" I remember the doctor mentioned that he has a flight out at 4:00 AM and that the next doctor will be there to check on me in case I have not delivered by then. I was thinking I better get this baby out soon! I don't want to get transitioned to another doctor.

It was maybe past 1:00 AM when Dr. Mercado checked up on me again and said that I was 10-cm and 100% effaced. I remember his exact words:
Dr. Mercado: "You're 100% 100%, you are ready to push!"
Me: "I AM???"

I was prepped up for the pushing position (they put a reversed U-shaped bar on top of the bed, where I could put both feet on and grab on to so I can push harder). Nurse Augustin said "Okay, let's practice how to push." Long and deep inhale, the push and hold for 8 counts... for three times then relaaaaax. My husband, Nurse Augustin and Nurse Mollie (another Nurse who offered to help out Augustin) was there to coach me. My husband kept on reminding me of the Lamaze Breathing that we learned from class. Hee-hee-hoo-hee-hee-hoo and all that. I was so glad my husband was so calm and organized even at that time.

Few minutes into pushing and they noticed I am already out of breath so they gave me the oxygen mask. It did help as I am now able to hold my breath for the 8 counts as practiced.

After the first set of the 'practice' push, Nurse Augustin said "Baby has lot's of hair!" I was so surprised that he was already able to see the baby's head just from the first try. He said I was a 'good pusher' and that I am doing it right. I thought 'hmm, he sees the baby's head in one push, maybe I could get the baby out in five minutes!' That's what I thought!

More than an hour into pushing and still, no baby. I was EXTREMELY TIRED!!! I told them I was so thirsty. Dr.Mercado said to give me one sip of ice water (I remember Nurse Augustin looking not very approving of the ice water), I did take a sip and a few minutes later, while in the middle of pushing, I had the urge of vomiting! And I did... twice. Good thing Nurse Augustin mentioned it earlier and repeated it to me, that it is perfectly normal, that 20% of those in labor vomit. I also remember his disapproving look when I was given a sip of ice water, he knew it will just make me vomit. Haha.

Nurse Augustin and Nurse Mollie said I was doing good but maybe if I feel some pain from the contraction, I can push harder. So we all agreed to decrease the amount of epidural. So they did. I can now feel the pain of the actual contraction... it was really painful but at that moment I was so overwhelmed with the fatigue and my rumbling hungry stomach that I really didn't mind the pain at all.

More than two hours into pushing and all I could hear is everyone (husband, and the two nurses) telling me "THAT WAS A GOOD PUSH! WE'RE ALMOST THERE!" or that "BABY'S ALMOST OUT! YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB!" or "A FEW MORE PUSHES AND WE'RE DONE!" I was already getting pissed at all of them for saying those. I wanted to shout "WHAT THE HELL?! YOU'VE BEEN TELLING ME THOSE LIES FOR TWO HOURS ALREADY! JUST TELL ME WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING DOWN THERE!" but all I could faintly say after every set of push is either "Still nothing???" or "I am so tired."

It was probably 3:00 AM and I was already on my third or fourth position (with or w/o bar, inclined or not inclined, etc.), they were trying variations on pushing positions that will fit my anatomy the best. By this time I was completely lying down, with one leg held up by my husband and another leg held by me or Nurse Mollie (the most traditional position). I pushed and all of a sudden, Nurse Augustin stood up and went outside the room. Dr. Mercado was called in, then three other nurses came in, and to my surprise the room was already full of new people! Nurse Mollie asked me:

Nurse Mollie: "Do you want to touch your baby's head?"
Me: "Uhm, no."
I know that lots of mommies were so excited they wanted to touch the baby's head while it was crowning... but not me. I thought that would be too weird and why don't we just get the baby out faster? Like now!

They said "THIS IS IT!" Everyone was just shouting at me that time "OKAY GET ANGRY GET ANGRY! PUSH PUSH PUSH! OKAY, IN THREE... 1-2-3... PUSH PUSH PUSH PUSH PUSH" Holding my breath for 10 counts each time. After the third set, I was about to relax and Dr. Mercado said "ONE MORE ONE MORE ONE MORE PUSH! One two three four five six seven eight nine ten...YOUR BABY IS HERE!"

It was 3:05 AM, Sunday, April 15, 2012.

Doc put the baby on top of my belly for a few minutes while they start to clean me up. My immediate reaction was he looked exactly like his dad! Hahaha!

My husband gave me a kiss on my forehead and said "GOOD JOB!" I touched my baby's skin for the first time, it was wet and he looked so white and pale, covered with white mushy stuff. He looked so fragile that all I could do was slightly brush my fingers on his arm. What an amazing feeling! I was speechless! There are no words to describe how that moment feels.

My husband cut the umbilical cord, just as planned. The nurses took the baby to his bassinet, still in that same room, there were three of them who were in charge of the Baby's cleaning, weighing, measuring, and all that SOPs. My husband went to watch and take pictures of baby. I was there still lying on my bed trying to get a glimpse of Baby. All the nurses were busy cleaning up. I look down and I see Dr. Mercado busy doing 'something.' I can't see it fully because a blanket was covering my still wide-open legs, then I finally get a glimpse of what is on Doc's hand... he was stitching me up! I can feel the sewing happen but could not feel any pain since the epidural was still in effect.

When all the cleaning, checking, washing and congratulating were done, Doctor and Nurses left us with our Baby Boy. After all those hours of labor, the three of us were in the room, it was a peaceful, calm, quiet, PERFECT MOMENT.

Hello Baby Boy. We are in love with you and we know we will be for the rest of our lives.

It is truly the best blessing to experience God's greatest miracle happen before your eyes.

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I will continue to post parenting-related articles in my blog and hope it could be of help to other parents out there. Just look for the Category (on the right) "Motherhood."