Not For The Faint-Hearted

It was almost 10am when we arrived at our hospital's Labor and Delivery nurses station. After taking our names, giving Tom and I ID bracelets without much ado we were led to the same L and D room that was shown to us in our lamaze class. Tom and I settled in for the long haul. I changed into the hospital gown, got into bed, was strapped to a NST monitor (for fetal heartbeat and contractions) and had an IV inserted (in the Philippines we call it dextrose) just in case I will need pitocin (for induction).

Our first nurse was Sandy, she was very friendly and compassionate and even held my hand a couple of times when some of the more painful contractions kicked in. My only quibble was that she was too talky - she kept repeating questions and would give me a rundown on what to me were unnecessary things (e.g. like how she needed to get something from the closet. evil me: you can take everything for all I care).

There was also this Asian medical student named James who came in the room like thrice to ask me questions about my condition. Cripes, when you are in that kind of pain you don't want to deal with this kind of standard inquiries. Read the chart for crying out loud.

With my contractions now being just 5 minutes apart we were told that the doctor was on her way. Still it was about an hour before she arrived at 11am. What do you know, it was Dr. S - my very first OB. I only met her once, although friendly I found her too impersonal with her standard spiels. So I switched OBs who unfortunately that day was on a vacation.

Although I was initially checked to be 3cm dilated when I first came in, Dr. S said it was more like a 3 minus to her (meaning, not quite there). So they decided to break my water in the hope that this would speed up my dilation. When the procedure was done, she informed me the water has a yellowish tinge, apparently a sign the baby had made bowel movement. I was told to expect that as soon as the baby was delivered he will be immediately handed to a team of doctors who will suction him for meconium. This was not a cause for worry.

I am not fond of taking drugs. For fever, cough, colds and headaches I subscribe to water therapy (just drink lots of water as my medicine). However, shown above are my newfound "friends" after the delivery (with the exception of that box of gauze and petroleum jelly tubes - it's for Evan's circumcised penis.) All these was part of the hospital "package".

At around 1:30, I was checked. 4 cm. Dr. S came and told me with how things were going she thinks that what I might have won't be a fast labor. I was disappointed. I just want everything to be done with. I was asked (again) if I wanted anything for the pain. Nope, no epidural I bravely told them.  

Not after an hour I had to eat my words. At 5 cm the powerful contractions came in like a brick pounding on my pelvic floor. Deep breathing didn't help. I broke a promise I made to myself of having a "dignified" and quiet labor like what my sister had. To hell with it and  screamed like a banshee (although the nurse politely puts it as "grunting" ) for each contraction. Still I tried to endure it as long as I could. However when the nurse came and asked if I wanted anything for the pain, I've already made up my mind 3 contractions ago - yes, I want that damn epidural.

So the fun begins.

to be continued...

Parenting Blues Of The Day

The other night at 2am in the morning I made an emergency call to my mom asking her for a tip on how to cure an infant's loud hiccup. I long knew there was none but I was desperate, something of a filipino ritual perhaps? Couldn't stand to see my baby so uncomfortable - plus I wanted to get some sleep too.

The lola (grandma) was delighted to hear her apo's sid-ok (grandson's hiccup) from 8,000 miles over the phone. She got to hear him cry too as a bonus.

The following morning I told Tom about the call and as if on cue, Evan started hiccupping again. The concerned father wanted me to call the doctor. Took some convincing him that it wasn't neccessary. 

Currently listening to: Mozart's Sonatas CD
Currently reading: The Nursing Mother's Companion
Currently watching: Access Hollywood