my story of giving birth

My first entry for the Pinoy Parenting Blog Carnival

I have seen videos of actual women giving birth and I have heard different stories about it, and I have never thought that I would be telling my own story of what I think is one of the most joyous experiences of being a woman.

I was scheduled for my OB checkup that day and she did an IE. I was only 1 cm dilated and she told me that it would not be too long before "the D day" arrives. On the morning of next day, I saw some blood stain on my underwear and was a bit alarmed. My husband and I decided that we go to my OB's clinic and there she did an IE. I was already 2 cm dilated and she told me to go to the hospital and have myself admitted.

At the hospital, my husband was not allowed inside their labor room. I was alone from 12 noon to 6 p.m. while they were monitoring my contractions. They were also watching my blood pressure as it was getting a little bit high. My OB came in at 6 p.m. and did an induction. The contractions became more painful, but I was able to tolerate it well. They then brought me to the delivery room. I tried pushing without anesthesia but my attempts were futile and I decided to have an epidural anesthesia. My OB said that after 1-1/2 hours, the effect of the anesthesia would wear off and that I should deliver my baby during that period. So I pushed and pushed, but my baby would not come out. A nurse would help push my tummy, but it was of no help. At that time, I wanted to punch the nurse who was pushing my tummy because it was so painful. My OB was seeing my baby's head, but he would not push through. After 1-1/2 hours of pushing, I was really, really tired and I know that my baby is also tired. It was then that my OB decided to do a Cesarean section and I consented. I was transferred to the operating room and was prepped and given spinal anesthesia. I was really, really scared of the spinal anesthesia and I had to curl up as best as I could so that the anesthesiologist could palpate the right vertebral space. All this time, I was holding a rosary and praying that all goes well. After some time, I felt numb from the neck down. I was awake and there was music playing inside the operating room, which helped me relax.

I think it was only after 5 or 10 minutes until I heard my baby's first cry. I was so relieved that I said, "Hay salamat, lumabas ka rin." This got everyone in the operating room laughing. They brought him to me and I kissed him so sweetly. I prayed and was so thankful that I got through okay and we had our bundle of joy. All the pain was well worth it.