Rooming In -Tale of a new mom 5

After a few hours of giving birth I came to as the nurses were wheeling me (or about to) to my room. They told me that they’re gonna bring me to my room now. I just nodded feeling quite dizzy still.

My mama was waiting inside the room when I was brought back. With her was my aunt helen. I was asked to lift my bottoms again so they can transfer me to the bed. How can they ask me to do that! After all that pushing I did, can’t they just lift me up and transfer me? haaay…

I knew it was still before 8:30, the tv showed it was still the morning show of ABS-CBN. So it wasn’t that long after I gave birth yet.

All of a sudden there were nurses around me. I have a student nurse, again. Some instructions were given and then I am left alone. Mind you, vital signs were taken every 15 minutes. And when you are super tired, it felt like they were so annoying… But I had to be patient… My sister is doing something like this…I don’t want her to suffer if I give the student nurse a hard time…

I must have dozed off, the next time I opened my eyes, they were wheeling in my baby. All cleaned up and dressed up like a babe! I haven’t seen a more adorable baby than my Andie… She looked so sweet. So innocent, with her very very black hair (and lots of it!), red lips, and very pink complexion! She looks like her father! In fact, she is the very image of her father, just a feminine version…

Delivery Room - Tale of a new mom 5

At 5:30AM when the PGI announced that I am ready to give birth I practically exhaled a sigh of relief. Said a short prayer and here goes everything.

Funny, when I was about to deliver I still have to climb down the bed (with the help of the midwife) and ride the wheelchair… wheel out of the labor room and into the delivery room. They called my attending physician, Dra. Darleen Estuart and prepared me on the table. It was not a very easy task climbing onto the delivery table I tell you! Especially when you are so ready to let out the baby in one go!

There I was on the delivery table, people around me seemed very busy all of a sudden. They were telling me not to push just yet… Dr. Darleen is on her way just yet… and they are still preparing everything… whatever it is that they are preparing! [giggle]. I was asked to move up and down of the table in preparation… amidst all the pain, I was asked to raise my bottom and move up and down the darned table. Can’t they just carry me and position me properly?

At the right side of the room was a wall clock. It’s now almost 6AM. I am ready to push. Doctor gave me instructions on what to do, and then it began… Real labor. The real act of getting the baby out into the world. They told me to push, not to shout when pushing and that I push together as they count. First push, I shouted. Dr. Darleen scolded me, as well as all the other people there. They told me to be quiet when pushing. I pushed and pushed to no avail… Dr Darleen asked the people to change my position (the leg was raised) and then so many push. But still nothing… It’s past 6 now. This time, one of the midwife (i think) helped me push Andie out.

One, two, three… and then I felt it. She’s out. Heard the loveliest cry I have heard my whole life. And then I saw the baby, very pink and lotsa hair! Lotsa curly hair! They cleaned the baby and then let her suck on to my nipple for a short time and then let me kiss her.

Andrea Felice is born July 27,2007 @ 6:36AM… I passed out.

Active Labor - Tale of a new mom 4

It’s past 10 and I am not allowed to stand up from my hospital bed. My water is already leaking, or so they say. And this means I am totally not allowed to leave the bed, not even to pee. Imagine, after about 25 years of going to the bowl to pee, I now have to pee using a bed pan, what?! Yeah, s#*t happens! hahahah…

Mind you, I pleaded my case. I told the nurses that I can still carry myself, pains are still far apart (yeah right!). But it was a futile exercise. I was not allowed to leave my bed, that’s my OB’s orders nurse says. So there I was, in bed, almost 11pm, they gave me an IV so the water won’t dry out until I am fully dilated. The nurse there also gave me a sedative for me to sleep, I will be needing the strength she tells me so I have to sleep and save it.

I awoke to a very very painful back. I looked at the watch inside the room and it says 2AM. Geesh, I slept for about two hours and now I am fully awake because of this agonizing pain. I tell you, it is painful. Very very painful.

It was sharp and it’s from my back. I can’t begin to describe how it really feels actually. It is just that… painful. So painful I could begin swearing. But Thea’s reminder kept ringing to my ears, “Dom maski unsa mahitabo, poise! As in, poise in the middle of the pain, poise sa pag ire, basta poise. Remember dili ka tabangan sa mga nurse ug mga tao didto ug magsige ka arte.” So even if I was really thrusting my butt forward (because of pain), I was like… hmmm… and biting my lips to contain the pain. At about 3am I asked my student nurse to go find a doctor so I can be checked. The pain has doubled, tripled or quadrupled and I think I cannot hold back my baby from pushing it forward.

A few minutes after, I saw the resident put on her gloves and now positioning herself to check me. Then she said, 6cms. I was like, what?! That resident reminded me not to push since I still have 4 cms to wait on to and that whatever pain that I may feel I should just breathe and try not to push, hold it in. Haaaaaaaa…. I was now crying out to God, it is so painful. Super painful and I don’t think I can endure it a minute, let alone hours more.

About an hour and a half after I was really in pain, I asked the students to go call a nurse so I can ask for additional sedative or anything that can at least help me with the pain… I cannot forget my line that instant, “Nurse, please do something about the pain…” hahahah… In active labor and I can coherently ask my nurse to do something about my labor pains! She just told me, “Only epidural can be given to you since we already gave you a sedative last night, it will be very bad for the baby…” Oh… epidural.. how much is that?, I asked. 7-10K. I was reeling… I cannot afford it.. I will be needing every peso saved. So I was like, please, rub my back! wahahaha!

At about 4:30AM, the pain has escalated. And this time, I really think holding back the andie is already impossible. I can feel that it is really time to push her out. Otherwise, Andie will push herself out of my tummy! One of the PGI (Post Graduate Intern) was awake, I asked him to check if it is possible for me to deliver the baby now. Yes, you read it correctly, the PGI is male. At this point, I really do not care as long as I get the baby out, male or not, just check me! That PGI was like, are you sure? “The other lady doctors are asleep…” I just told him, please… check! Okay, he was getting ready, he wore his gloves and when he was about to have me ready, a lady doctor came in. (And by God, he was like, thank goodness!) hahaha…

Okay here goes… pain has escalated since last night. I am ready to push… And… The lady doc (I really don’t know her name… sorry!) announced, 10cms, ready na ito! I was, thank you Lord!

In Labor - Tale of a New mom Part 3

I was asked to stay in bed until after the Internal exam to see whether my bag of water is still in tact (or not). And to really check my current condition.

After about an hour I was told that I can still walk around but cannot go out of the lobby. So there I was, in my funny gown, which I tell you always gets opened, all 39 weeks pregnant and in labor walking around the delivery room.

While I’m walking around I hear another woman in labor (she’s there since morning says the other pregnant woman in labor) crying out in pain. Honestly, even if I was all cool and calm, nervousness started creeping in. Will I be wailing in pain as that young girl? She’s 18 years old by the way. Petite, pretty, but in pain. In so much pain..

So, back to me. I can go out of the Delivery room into a short lobby (but still inside a hallway towards another operating room). I can walk around the area. Talk to my mama if she goes there or whoever goes there to see me.

People who saw me: Of course my Mama, aunt Helen, uncle Jun, aunt Marichu, cousin Ching and friend Wilmer–who has an operation in the other room.

They were like are you feeling fine? How long will you be there? Are you hungry? duh! I was like, I am okay… I feel fine. Contractions are far apart.

At about 5pm, Dr Darleen went inside the Delivery room to deliver one woman’s baby (the youngster). She talked to my mom for a short while while we were outside… She told my mom I was getting nervous. ha!

At around 7pm, Doc had me checked for another Internal Exam, I am still 4-5cms. After many hours of walking and the baby is still floating. geeesh! she tells me, it may progress fast or it may take many many more hours. Okay, at least I can still walk. But I am getting hungry.

At almost 10pm and many checks by the midwives, nurses and student nurse Doc Darleen did another check. I peed first and then went to walk towards the Internal Exam room. This time it was weird. The moment doc put in her fingers to check, some water leaked out. She asked if I peed or was I feeling the urge to pee. I said no, I just peed. Oh, your water might be leaking, she tells me. She inserted another apparatus to verify and indeed my water is leaking and I am not allowed at this point to walk around, to stand up. From there I am already to be wheeled back to my bed.

Hospital - Tale of a new mom (Part 2)

It’s my first time to be admitted to the hospital. I do not know how it goes when you go inside the emergency room (ER). I do not know what to expect.

Tito Jong, Mama and Love were the ones there when I was admitted. Tito had to ask one of the hospital people (a nurse maybe) to get me a wheelchair… geesh! They had to rush and look for one. I guess it (was) one of those days when a lot of patients came in to get hospital care. Anyway, on I go. I saw a familiar face, a friend from way back. She didn’t see me though.

When I was seated on the wheelchair one student nurse got information from me while my mother was “booking” me a room. I am supposed to get a bed in the ward. I was psyched to get a ward room in order to save the money we have. I really don’t know how much the delivery will cost me (us) so I have to be the frugal self. Just in case. But, OB ward is already full and I have to choose between a private room semi-private room. So, semi private it is.

After all was settled I was wheeled to the Delivery Room at the 2nd floor of the Brokenshire Hospital. My mother tells me that she also traveled the same route (to the 2nd floor) when she gave birth to me. The orderly wheeled me there and a nurse helped me don the gown. I wore a gown without anything underneath. No kidding… it’s SOP.

While mama went to the room to “settle” I was wheeled to the “inner” delivery room area where I was to be checked. I had an internal exam (yeeee!!!), and then a lot of people came to talk/ interview me. A nurse, a Doctor (they call it a PGI), a midwife, who also checked me often for contractions, and lastly a student nurse. It’s already past 2 and I haven’t had any lunch. The nurse in the delivery room told me that I was past the luncheon delivery of the hospital so I have to settle for biscuits and juice.

After everything was checked and rechecked, I was allowed to walk. By this time I was 4cms open (my cervix) and the water bag is still in tact. Contractions are about 5-6 mins apart and not that painful (considering the other patients inside the labor room). I was allowed to walk around the delivery room area as well as on the outer area but not beyond there. So I walked, and walked and walked.

Tale of a new mom

Tale of a new mom…

July 25, 2007 - Went to my OB-Gyn at around 2pm. The usual stuff happened. She checked my blood pressure, asked me of my discharges… I am already 39 weeks pregnant. She tells me that I can actually give birth anytime now. And I should give birth soon! She’s leaving on Aug 4 so I might as well tell my baby to come out soon now. Then back to work.

Slept at about 10PM. Feel tired tonight. Actually thinking of giving birth tomorrow. I just might.

July 26, 2007 - Woke up at about 5:30AM as usual.. I ate my breakfast
with mama, a li’l chit chat… then went in to take a bath. Inside the Bathroom, saw some pink stain on my underwear. I called my mama and showed it to her, even showed it to my sister (who’s a nursing student). THey asked me if I have contractions, I said I do have them but it still about 30-1 hour apart… and it was not as intense as they are telling me. So I took my bath and got ready to go to work.

At the office, OPS peeps keeps asking my why I am still at work, aren’t I gonna give birth soon.. Just told them, I just might today! When I went to the CR though it became apparent that I am on my way to give birth, when I peed, some blood went with it. There was no pain though… really. When I went back to our office, to my table and told the guys about the blood, they were like, what?! Punta ka na sa hospital… Hahahha! I was so cool and they are really getting very nervous. My YM status was –> Baby on the way! A lot asked me where I was and that I should have myself admitted to the hospital. hahaha! About 9:40AM, I called my mama who just came in her office and told her about the blood and that our company nurse advised me to go to the hospital lest I give birth in the office!

Before going back home, yes, I went back home (pa!), I was able to send some emails at work then I called my hun, and tol him I might give birth today or tomorrow. and that I won’t be able to be online for some time. and he has to call me.

At around 11am, mama called me and asked me where I am, and when she learned that I am still in the office, she told me to hurry up and go home. Everyone’s getting nervous!

Jay carried my things down and let me get a taxi for me to go home. THanks jay!

At home, Mama and Love are ready to go to hospital… I was like dilly-dallying. My contractions were still far apart. I thought, why hurry?

Tito Jong (papa’s youngest bro) is at home, his gf Ivy is also at his house, good thing! Tito jong can drive me to the hospital… I just let him buy food for ivy and gas for the car. (Thanks for the ride ivy!)

Active Labor

Sorry for the delay...

Here's the 4th part of the whole labor story... :)

My water already leaked and I am not allowed to stand up... can you imagine... here goes the almost 4 hour ordeal. click here!

Beginning of Labor Day!

I'd say it was fun during the first half. I was even allowed to walk around... talk to the people there and receive visitors when I am able to walk at the Delivery room entrance.

Going through the whole labor without any medication is something... :)

Enjoy reading my 3rd part. In Labor

Hospital - my first admission

It is not easy to be admitted in the hospital, especially if it's you who's gonna be admitted.

But I guess it's part of the process when you give birth. Part 2 of my story.

Enjoy!

Tales of a new mom (part 1)

As I am trying to recall every minute that went into the 16 hour labor I am writing everything on a per segment basis. ;)

check out: Tale of a new mom for part 1.

Enjoy and leave a comment! :)