The long wait is over. I've waited 40 weeks and 1 day to finally see my baby boy! My Joaquin Inigo or Quino for short. Yes, I gave birth via NSD to a 6-pound baby boy last June 17, 2011 at 8:18 am.
To say that giving birth is painful and hard is an understatement, because it is! I started feeling the "real" contractions at about 11 PM on June 16 (my Estimated Delivery Date) and had the "this is it" feeling that I'll soon deliver my baby. My cervix was already 2 cm dilated for the last 2 weeks. We went to the hospital at 1 AM and they were able to confirm my contractions. At that time, I was already 4 cm dilated.
I fell asleep while in the labor room and the contractions were still pretty much tolerable. At about 6AM, with a 5 cm dilated cervix, my water bag broke. I was asked if I would like to get the epidural already, I said yes even if I can still take the pain. My OB said she normally advise her patients to get the epidural at the start of the active labor stage that's why I agreed. After an hour, the anesthesiologist still had not showed up. I was already crying since I can no longer bear the pain with a 7 cm dilated cervix. Maybe it's also because I was also having stomach pains due to hyperacidity. You see, my last meal was taken at 8 PM and I was already hungry.
To say that giving birth is painful and hard is an understatement, because it is! I started feeling the "real" contractions at about 11 PM on June 16 (my Estimated Delivery Date) and had the "this is it" feeling that I'll soon deliver my baby. My cervix was already 2 cm dilated for the last 2 weeks. We went to the hospital at 1 AM and they were able to confirm my contractions. At that time, I was already 4 cm dilated.
I fell asleep while in the labor room and the contractions were still pretty much tolerable. At about 6AM, with a 5 cm dilated cervix, my water bag broke. I was asked if I would like to get the epidural already, I said yes even if I can still take the pain. My OB said she normally advise her patients to get the epidural at the start of the active labor stage that's why I agreed. After an hour, the anesthesiologist still had not showed up. I was already crying since I can no longer bear the pain with a 7 cm dilated cervix. Maybe it's also because I was also having stomach pains due to hyperacidity. You see, my last meal was taken at 8 PM and I was already hungry.
Epidural finally was administered and I immediately fell asleep. I felt so sleepy and groggy. I just remembered that I was awaken by my OB instructing me on how to push the baby. I pushed four times and the baby was out. I remember thinking that I want to ask about the gender of the baby but I was too groggy and tired to do so. Good thing I heard that I had a baby boy and I thought that my instinct were correct. As they gave my son to me, I heard them say that it was the "unang yakap" and that I should kiss the baby. They didn't have to tell me that since I was already kissing and hugging my baby at the same time. It was pure bliss!
They are right, the pregnancy and labor pains will all be worth the joy of seeing your baby. I'm already teary eyed as I type the last sentence. I was suddenly overwhelmed with emotions as I look at my husband holding our baby boy in his arms. I now believe in love at first sight.
