Sunday June 14, 2009 Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ and Mama's Birthday
6:00am We woke up both alarmed when Mama had her first bloody show. Since we’ve been doing a lot of reading and attended birthing classes, we weren’t too alarmed. It was a little over 39 weeks (full term is 40 weeks) and we were expecting our baby anytime. From our home we went to Wowo's house for the usual Sunday lunch with the family.
All 9 grandchildren were present, as usual, and number 10 was still inside Mama's womb.
3:00pm another bloody show now with more blood! Sinabayan talaga yung Feast of the Body and BLOOD!
4:00pm Mama and Papa took a nap in Alabang. Mama decided not to go to the bazaar by the Parish anymore much to Papa’s relief.
6:00pm Mama woke up and felt some contractions but then she wasn’t sure because she was warned it would be very painful. Both Mama and Papa decided to stay in Alabang since it was nearer Asian Hospital. Good thing we were already packed and and our things were loaded in the car. Contractions came until 8:00pm but Mama was able to have a complete dinner.
By 8:00pm Mama felt nothing so she fiddled around the house while Papa went back to BF to get a few more items we might need … just in case. Mama was trying to finish her home made mobile for her baby – another baby project which you will see soon on her multiply site.
10:30pm No contractions yet – it seemed that way. We politely asked our baby if she wanted the same birthday as her mommy. And if she did, mommy would always get to choose how to celebrate. Maybe she wanted her own separate party too so she waited.
June 15, 2009
12:00 midnight contractions began. Mama and Papa tried to get some sleep earlier but by 12:30am, Mama opted to be seated on the bed. She leaned on the back of a chair and held Papa's hand through every contraction. It wasn’t painful, but bothersome because Mama just wanted to get some sleep. For every contraction, Papa wrote down the time on his handy palm pilot. Tita Suey (our Ob-Gyne) and Tita Agatha (our Pedia) already knew about the bloody show but both insisted that Mama had to have contractions. Both thought Mama would give birth on her due date June 19.
1:00am Contractions were closer together but Mama was still expecting something more painful. Papa and Mama decided not to wake Tita Suey or Tita Agatha since it might be a false alarm
2:00am Contractions were getting stronger but Mama was still able to go to and from her bathroom (she was drinking plenty of water the whole time). Should we call Tita Suey and Tita Agatha? Maybe we wait another hour.
2:30am Nope, Mama can’t wait. Maybe we should go now. Mama was already trembling uncontrollably, although she was still standing around.
2:45am Ok let’s call Tita Suey. Maybe we call Tita Agatha when we are at the hospital.
3:00am We’re getting ready to go to the hospital. Mama trembles every 6 minutes. Do we have time to pass by McDonalds Zapote for coffee? Nah, maybe the hospital has coffee vendo machines or we can wait until the cafeteria opens.
3:15am Asian Hospital’s main entrance is closed and we are asked to park at the outside parking at the back. Mama refused to be dropped off at the Emergency entrance alone and joins Papa in the parking lot at the very very back of the hospital, walks along the rod all the way to the Emergency entrance, refuses a wheelchair, walks all the way to Genesis – pausing only every 20 meters whenever she trembles.
3:30am At Genesis, nurses politely ask Mama to go to a room where her height and weight are taken. Then she walks to the labor room, lays down and the baby monitor is attached to her belly.
Nurse: “Ma’am, on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest, what would you say your pain level is right now.”
Krissy: “ohhh…. (while trembling and still smiling at the nurse)… maybe 6.5.”
Resident Ob-Gyne: “Alright ma’am, I’ll just do an I.E. now (Internal Exam to see how dilated). Just relax and try to stay still.
Krissy: “Okay doc, I’m sorry but I can’t help trembling… Papa, if I’m still at 2cm I’ll be really upset and I’ll want to go home okay. I’m sleepy.”
Resident Ob-Gyne: (very calmly whispered to herself) “Ang bilis.” Turns to the nurse and then to Mama, “Ma’am, you’re already at 8cm.” (10cm is when baby comes out)
Papa and Mama: “WHAAAAAAT!?”
Very quickly, Papa was asked to go to the lobby to admit Mama into the hospital. Everyone left the room for a split second and suddenly 5 nurses came out from nowhere. Mama was given an i.v. and all sorts of things attached to her, wheeled into the birthing room and assured there was still time for an epidural.
Mama on the cellphone whispering very calmly: “Hi Tita Suey, sorry to wake you… I’m already here in Asian and I’m 8cm na.”
4:00am Mama was in the birthing room. Mama was introduced to the Anesthesiologist by a nurse while all the other nurses kept running about.
Mama trembling but still smiling: “Hi doc, do I have time for the epidural? I like your scrub suit.”
Doc Richard: “Thank you, Iha, I will give you a stronger medication since you’re already at 8cm.”
Mama trembling but still smiling: “Okay thank you doc. I’ve never seen Monopoly design on scrub suits.”
Doc Richard: (Mama guesses he smiles behind the face mask). Okay you have to turn on your side.
Papa still hadn’t returned and it wasn’t until 4:15am when the epidural was finally given. Right after the epidural, Mama had another internal exam and she was already at 9cm.
Mama: “I’m still trembling and I can feel everything.”
Doc Richard: “The epidural will work in a while.”
Mama: “Okay, thank you doc.”
By this time, Papa came back in the room. The epidural was slowly taking effect and Mama could feel a numbing sensation. Tita Agatha already arrived and soon after, Tita Suey.
4:50am Push push push… around 5 contractions later and with the help of Tita Suey’s all powerful and effective fundal pressure (pushing Mama’s tummy from the top)...
5:14am…. The baby finally popped out! As in POPPED out! 6 pounds, 2 ounces and 47 cm long. Ate sees the world outside the womb for the first time. Not without accessories since she wore her umbilical cord as a necklace, or rather choker. Because of this, she had swallowed some amniotic fluid and Tita Agatha quickly did her work on clearing Ate’s lungs. Out came a loud cry. Cleaned, swaddled and brought to her mom, Ate’s eyes were wide open and curious to the strange cold place outside her mommy’s womb.
We’ve forgotten what an 8 hour or even 5 hour sleep feels like, how an unhurried meal can be enjoyable, how working with 2 hands is a luxury (one hand carrying Ate). Gone are the days of clean sheets and long hot showers. But we’re not too tired anymore, we’re not fumbling with our hands or bothered by the baby screams. We’re just… unbelievably loving every screaming moment.
