It was 5AM on the 26th of April, I felt like I was having menstrual cramps and I can't be having my period since I'm in my 38th week. I took my maternity leave a week ago and I've been waiting for this day to come. I look and feel like a whale already so I am more than ready to give birth. I was only supposed to stay at home but we live an hour away from my hospital so just to be sure, (and avoid that scene from the movies wherein a pregnant lady gets stuck in the traffic), I asked Bryan to take me to the hospital.
I've been getting ready for this day for a few months already. I've done my homework (everything I need to know about labor and delivery), I've asked friends and relatives who have been down that road a lot of times and of course, I stayed fit through out my pregnancy journey.
6:30AM I asked B to have breakfast with me at KFC Fuente before I go to Cebu Doctors. I intentionally indulged on a fully-loaded meal because a friend told me that I'm not allowed to eat and drink when I'm already in the delivery room
7:00AM: B dropped me off at Cebu Doctors' Hospital and I was just hanging out at the Blood Bank area, timing how long my contractions are and it's intervals. I was pretty calm about the whole process actually (still am after giving birth btw) and yes, I remembered taking a selfie before going to the delivery room since my eyebrows were on fleek.
When I was inside the labor room, they made me wear hospital-appropriate clothes and they asked me if I came in with someone else so that they can give my clothes to them. I told them that my husband is at work and I prefer to have my husband know EVERYTHING when I've already delivered the baby. He has severe anxiety disorder and I just really wanna spare him from all the waiting. The midwife told me that it's mandatory for the husband to be informed as he might be needed to process my papers for admitting. I wasn't allowed to go out anymore since I'm already dilated by 5CM and I was glad I didn't feel anything. During that time I felt like giving birth was just a touch and go thing. I was confident. I was ready
I was wrong.
8:00AM inside the delivery room and they informed me that I was already 8CM. I thought to myself that all my exercising has paid off since it took an 8CM dilation to let me feel the paain. Yes, the cramps were getting worse and I felt like my poo wants to get out of my vagina. They were monitoring my heartbeat and Nate's. They all thought I would give birth within the hour or so. 4 doctors were monitoring the 4 of us in there and I was progressing fast.
They were wrong
10:00AM AND still at 8CM, I was contracting at one minute every 2-3 minutes. Nate's heartbeat slows down every time I contract. The pain is starting to get really worse and I've been gripping the bed railings tight every time I contract.
12NN and still at 8CM, they decided to break my water and hope that the contractions will be more intense so that I can progress by 9 or even 10. I was already in an unbearable pain but I was still adamant to wait til 10CM. Frankly I don't remember being given epidural but we were charged for it though.
2PM and STILL at 8CM. My soul is strong but my flesh is weak. Nate's heartbeat still slows down during contraction and since I was starting to be incoherent, they decided to inform B about my current situation and informed him that I have to undergo a Cesarian operation
WHAT? Cesarian operation? To me? The first thing I felt was indignation. Primarily because I spent most of my weekday mornings doing my pregnancy exercise to prevent this from happening and it still did. But then, the operation is not just all about me now. Nate's heartbeat is erratic and they have to do everything necessary to save the both of us.
I didn't feel any fear, everything was just a process to me that needs to be done. I clearly recall looking at Bryan as I was being transferred from Delivery to the Operating room and thinking, "fcek it, we haven't really talked about my insurance and I haven't updated my status yet just in case I die"
2:20 I was on the stretcher and honestly, not feeling like breathing. I'm tired and spent. The doctors knew I was at 8CM since 8AM and these were the same doctors that kept track of my dilation. One of the worst moment was the first few minutes during the actual Cesarean operation when the anaesthesiologist explained what he was about to do before, during and after the operation. I understand that it was protocol but I just really want everything to be over. I am unable to stand and transfer to the operating table myself so he injected the epidural on my spine but WAIT! he made me do a fetal position so that he can find the right spot. Imagine that. I was in agony and they want me to actually fold my baby bump.
I felt numb from neck down and they covered my body with a cloth so that I can't see what they're doing. I remember turning my head from left to right looking for a reflection but they covered it well. I concentrated on what the surgeons and other doctors were talking about and then someone exclaimed, "Baby out, hala nuchal cord" and damn it, I knew Nate is going to be a handful. They let me see and kiss Nate before the anaesthesiologist injected me with a sedative. The operation was over in 20 minutes.
I woke up at 4AM in the recovery room not feeling anything..but seriously, I'm so hungry right now so I'm just going to post a separate entry about my CS recovery some time..whenever.
