Cha-Cha's Arrival

I was worried that it's not going to happen. That I might not be able to distinguish the real contractions from the Braxton-Hicks ones.

Tuesday. January 20.

I took Ate Bubu to Kumon as it was her Center Day. I spent an hour in Starbucks enjoying a cup of decaf Cafe Mocha. And then had some short walks and strolls to Ever Gotesco afterwards.

I couldnt sleep that night because I was reading a lot of articles online about Pelvic Floor Exercises, Labor at 39wks, etc. I was searching on ways to deliver easily, the Lamaze breathing techniques, and possibly everything that I need to know to safely and easily give birth.

Wednesday. January 21. 8AM

We woke up early (at least, for us it was early) to buy some Tinapa, eggs and tomatoes from the market. I've been craving for this breakfast for like a week already. Upon waking up, I already felt like Im having menstrual cramps. I thought, I'm getting there. And that Cha-Cha's coming in the next day or so.

After breakfast, I swear, I could no longer bear the pain!

Some side story. During my labor with Ate Bubu, I was in the hospital at 8:30PM on Nov. 14, 2010 and I gave birth at 9:55PM that same night. And all I wanted for this 2nd delivery is not to stay in the labor room for 12hrs!

And since the pain has gone strong since 8AM, I decided to have a warm bath. I have read in other forums that those that are having menstrual cramps-like pain should take a warm bath to ease, well, the pain.

But taking a bath didnt help. The pain was strong and continuous. I don't even know if Im having contractions. All I know is that in every 5 minutes, there are stronger pains which will subside and come back again shortly.

I texted Dr. Cayabyab about the cramps that I was having. Her reply was to visit her at VMMC that morning.

It was a relief to know that she's already in the hospital.

In less than 10mins, we got a cab speeding more than 60kph in Commonwealth Ave.

11AM.

We were already in VMMC by 11 or so. I was wheelchaired to the Admitting Room for some IE. I was certain I am not going to be sent back home. She's really almost there!

After some minutes, Dr. Cayabyab arrived. She IEd me and she was surprised that Im already 6CM dilated!

Fast forward to the Labor Room.

There are a lot of people introducing themselves as the Pediatrician, Nurse, Anesthesiologist, Midwives asking me to sign papers, telling me things about breastfeeding and instructing me to breath through the nose while on Labor.


I was then injected with some anesthesia and attached to my swero.

1PM.

After 2 more internal exams, I was declared 9CM plus 2. Or something like that.

I was brought to the Delivery Room and I everything was a blur. I was told to move from the stretcher to the table. They were asking me if I could transfer, I said I could.

Once on the table, they were trying to inject a 10cc needle on my spine for the Spinal anesthesia. I was asked to bend, I could only do half bend because Cha-Cha's coming out.

The spinal needles all broke. I was feeling Cha-Cha coming out and the needle on my spinal. I was crying, "lalabas na sya". So the needles had to give up and I was given epidural instead.

In a minute, I was already told to push. After a strong one, her head was out. Dr. Cayabyab instructed me to do another big push after the contraction. I think a midwife was trying to feel the contraction on my tummy - she need not do it though because when she counted 3-2-1, I knew I had to push.

And there. Cha-cha's out. Dr. Cayabyab was praising me with "ang galing mong umire, Laarnie".

I feel asleep.

4PM. Labor Room.

"Nanganak na po ba ako?" It was so painful, I didnt want to go through it again so I was making sure it wasnt a dream.

They gave me Cha-Cha. Then Arven, her mother and Arra came to visit me.

Everything was still a blur.

Looking back to that painful day, I swear, I don't wanna give birth again. But looking at my daughter, our new bundle of joy, my Cha-Cha, I can say that it was all worth it - that God loves me so much that He gives me more than what I could ask for.