Friday, February 24, 2012

The Birth Story

Every mom has her own birth story. This is mine and mostly just an account for myself.

Baby K was due on Superbowl XLVI Sunday. We knew he won't be coming that day based on conception day calculation, but we couldn't help to try to bring him out closer to due date. A "shot" of prostaglandin that Saturday apparently works. LoL.

My hospital only performs pre-natal check ups every two weeks from 36 to 40 weeks of pregnancy. On the 38 weeks check up, I was 3 cm dilated and 70% effaced. On 40 weeks check up, the Monday after his due date, I was 4 cm dilated and 90% effaced. What was alarming on that check up was my high blood pressure 150s/105s. I had normal blood pressure through out the course of my pregnancy. Urine dip showed no protein. The doctor made a decision to admit me to labor and delivery. At first, it was just a) to perform a Non Stress Test on the baby, b) to check if I am not further dilated, and c) to check my blood work. The situation changed fast and they decided to induce even before my blood work came back. It turned out I wasn't having pre-eclampsia but instead gestational hypertension.

I had a bloody show while I was waiting to be admitted to labor & delivery. They strapped me to IV and monitored my blood pressure and the baby's heart beat. Hubbostrich rushed back from work and grabbed my hospital bags at home. My brother came and accompany my mom. I requested to have a last meal anticipating a long labor. My brother & mom brought us Hawaiian barbeque. He also brought this lovely rose arrangement.





Finally at 8:30 PM that night, I was hooked to pitocin drip. It was a slow progress of dilation if any at all. It was working to my advantage because I had a chance to rest and move around (mostly to the bathroom to empty my bladder) with my IV and pitocin drip running on battery. My blood pressure in the mean time was back to normal.

On Tuesday at 5:00 AM, one of the attending doctors swipped my membrane. At 6:30 AM, I heard two internal pops and I felt my water break. I yelled at Hubbostrich to alarm the doctor about my progress. As soon as the water break, the pain escalated. I requested epidural right away, so much for natural, no pain medication labor. By this time, I was already at 7 cm. The annesthiologist came and did his procedure on me. I was pain free in less than 20 minutes.

At 10:30 AM, I was ready to push but I couldn't feel the pressure due to the high dose of epidural. They decided to tone down the epidural and wait another hour so that I can feel the contraction pressure not pain.

At 11:30 AM, the nurse asked me to push rythmically in a group of 3. I had confidence on her as she seemed to know what she was doing. I found that she is a proponent of natural birth and minimum medical intervention. I shared my fear about c-section and she assured me we are far from that.

Hubbostrich was in charge of pushing my other leg. At first, I had no idea how this pushing business works. They kept encouraging me that I did a good work. The nurse even offered a mirror to see my progress which I totally refused. They gave me a couple of minutes rest. After about 10 times pushing (the doctor took over to coach me on the last 3 of the pushing), at 12:44 PM, Baby K was born. All 9 lbs and 2 oz of him. He has a set of thick black hair and was the cutest thing ever. I felt a sharp burning sensation down there.

No one ever suspected that the baby was going to be that big. Here is me on 34 weeks and 38 weeks. Overall, I gain about 35 lbs, which in my opinion is a too much weight gain for my frame.





Baby K was immediately put on my breast for skin-to-skin contact. The doctors and nurse did a good job to follow my birth plan. We were waiting for the delivery of my placenta. The pitocin did its job again. However, I had quite a tear and was losing about 1 liter of blood. They stiched me up even considering blood transfusion. I, on the other hand, was feeling just fine.

The epidural slowly phased out and I started feeling some pain in my stomach. It feels like when you have an empty stomach because you are too hungry. But they couldn't give me food just yet just in case they need to do some more procedures. After 30 minutes all was cleared up and I was okayed on food. The pain however wasn't going away. Apparently, it was the side effect of one of the medications. The doctor gave some other medication for this stomach pain.

Within one hour, the baby and I were transferred to Mother & Baby room where we boarded for the next two days. I gained my healthy appetite soon. My mom stayed with us during the day and came home at night. She is an expert burper. Also nice to know that my colostrum production was fine.





Finally, the three of us were discharged on Thursday. Baby K was already circumsized and underwent a lot of required newborn tests by this time. Here's a shot of the happy family.

Friday, February 03, 2012

Can't wait to meet you

Dear Baby,
Mommy and Daddy can't wait to meet you. Don't you feel the same way too?
February 5 is your estimated due date. Is it too soon, Baby?