We headed to Unihealth Southwoods and I was admitted at around 12pm. Before we got to the hospital, I made sure I had my make -up on! I looked so wasted with my firstborn I couldn’t even post pictures on Facebook. Haha. But then before I was brought to the Labor Room, the nurse asked me to remove them. I just removed my lippy but the nurse said, “Ma’am pati po kilay.” Grrrrr. So there I was in all my pictures, pale and kilay-less.

It was a boring 2 hours at the Labor Room waiting for me to dilate. But nothing seemed to be happening so I was induced at 2pm. The nurse left for a while and she saw me in tears when she came back. She thought I was starting to hurt but I told her I was just watching something touching on TV and that contraction hasn’t started. Haha…

I did progress to 5cm after about 2 more hours. My OB and the anesthesiologist came in at that time. Active labor has started and it begins to hurt! Dr Paul (I think was his name) administered the Epidural. He told me he only gave me a test shot and to tell him if it hurt so he could add more dose. He had to add a few more times because I kept complaining. He would ask me how much it hurt from 1 to 10, 10 being the highest. And when I would reply with a 5 or 6, he wouldn’t add a dose. So I’d say it was an 11. But of course he wouldn’t believe me because I could still smile and joke around.

Hours passed and there I was still 5cm at 7pm. They also noticed baby’s heart rate was going down every time I contract so there might be something happening inside. My OB then decided to call my husband and explained the situation. We all agreed it was time for an Emergency CS.

Emergency CS, ladies and gentlemen.

My heart sank. Why??? We weren’t ready for this. but we had no choice. We couldn’t wait any longer.

At 7:44pm, my Little Boy finally said hello to the world!

Apparently, his cord was strangled on his leg so there was no way he’d go out vaginally. Unless some miracles happen and he miraculously freed himself from it. But time was of essence. My water bag broke at 6am and he had to be delivered within at least 12 to 16 hours. We waited enough but he couldn’t seem to escape the cord coil.

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Back at the Delivery Room, I awoke from a deep slumber at about 9:30 and heard my son cry. I wanted to jump, shout and dance (seriously!) but I was too weak to even open my eyes! I barely remembered what happened during that short moment.

I just remembered them bringing me to the Recovery Room and for the 2nd time, I saw my Macho Gwapito once more. I breastfed him for a good 30 minutes. It was such a great feeling it still makes me smile now.

Finally at about 12am, I was back to my room (with my Baby) and was reunited with my husband.

It was a painful first night and the nights after that. Caesarean recovery is no easy! More so, it was the start of our sleepless nights.

Today after more than a week, my heart is still full. I cannot fathom why God gave me another beautiful blessing that I certainly don’t deserve. I hope like any mom, that I would be able to be the best that I could be to him and his Ate.

How about you? What is your birthing story?