Surprise! Surprise!

Things happen when you least expect them…

soon..

 

My Birthing Story- Induction of Labor at 38th Weeks

January 28, 2013; Monday

Everything was ready. I have my two bags of belongings with me. All I needed was a phone call from the hospital telling I could come for the night. I know I was ready. My family was ready as well. Ate Aiza was here too. Anytime, I will see my little Gabriel. Oh I am very excited..

We arrived at the hospital around eight o’clock at night. Dr. Kuppuswami was there and discussed to me what will happen and what to be expected. My cervix was still close. My tummy was still up in the air. My baby was still snugged. I think he really didn’t want to come out.

I was started with a Cervidil. Cervidil is a vaginal insert used to start the ripening of the cervix. For some reason, it was burning. I told the nurse that I was having a burning sensation and it was very uncomfortable. She told me it was really uncomfortable at first and shrugged off my idea of burning. I know I was not being a difficult patient. There was something wrong. The night seemed so long I didn’t get any sleep. They told me they would remove the insert at 5am and I was very glad when 5am came.

January 29, 2013; Tuesday

The doctor came around seven and asked how I was doing. She did an internal examination (IE) and told me I was at the same position I was when I came. The cervidil didn’t touch me. She wanted to try another one but I refused. I told her the burning sensation and she told me it was not supposed to be like that. I knew there was something wrong.

We then proceeded to low-dose Oxytocin drip for the day. It was a long day. I didn’t do anything except talk to my husband over the phone and update him of what was going on. When the doctor came in the afternoon, she told me I was at 2cm dilated. I need to be at 10cm dilation and 100% effaced. We stopped the drip at 5pm and doctor told me to rest, wash myself if I would like and we would resume at 10pm.

I never thought it would take this long. I was not sure how many times I asked Gabriel to go down and how many saints have I called to help me with this journey. I thought that it would be quick and easy.

At ten pm, we resumed the drip, increasing additional 5cc to fasten the process. I tried to sleep as much as I could. My contractions are getting regular but not painful enough for my screams.

January 30, 2013; Wednesday 

Dr. Kuppuswami came around in the morning and IE’d me. The baby was still high but my risk are getting riskier as I stay getting induced. I need to give birth. She decided to break my bag of water to help with the process. And oh, there was a gush of water. I felt like I have a fountain in me. We had to change pads many times. I remember them putting a foley catheter in me. I didn’t want to but I guess I have no choice. The doctor said I have polyhydramnios. Another diagnosis added to the list. Polyhydramnios- too much amniotic fluid. I now have risk of getting diabetes. Oh well. I love sweets. The doctor encouraged me to have my epidural at this time instead of waiting for the 7cm. She even said “it’s not worth it”. And I was glad I listened to her.

Another Indian doctor came, Dr. Patel and did my epidural around 11o’clock. I felt my lower legs getting numb. They told me to just rest so I just slept my afternoon through. I woke up feeling my contractions at four. The nurse came in and encouraged me to give myself another shot of the epidural as she thought it wouldn’t be anytime soon yet. So I gave a shot, then the doctor came. After my IE, she told me start pushing. I was going to give birth.

Epidural injection is a really nice invention to reduce pain. I didn’t experience the uncomfortable positions, nor the pain that you had to walk through. I probably would be very tired if I was having those pains already and yet no baby was coming out. But when it’s time to push, I say, I don’t want any epidural. It’s so hard to push when you’re on the peak of contractions. My mom and sister were both holding y legs. They didn’t encourage the use of stirrups. We were looking at the monitor and checking if it’s time for me to push as I don’t feel anything on my tummy. So push, push and push!

Dear good Karen came to rescue. Two hours of pushing and nothing. It was already 730pm. Nanay said she can see the baby hair already but baby doesn’t want to come out. Doctor K came again and checked baby’s position. My epidural was wearing out as well. She said no more shots. She said as well baby was on his back that’s why he was not coming out. Oh my Gabriel! What have you been doing? She asked me to turn on my left side so the baby would make his turn as well. Nanay was very scared already that I might end up having a caesarean section because of this. I was very glad that my doctors have been pro-normal delivery and we have talked about trying our best to stay and have a normal vaginal delivery. Dr. K said she would manually rotate the baby if in case he doesn’t turn on his own. I believe on her. I trust her with all my life and I know she will never do anything to harm me. Thirty minutes.

And it passed. And thank God he turned. I had to start pushing again. Push harder and stronger. Doctor K told me she would have to do a vacuum delivery, telling me I was very tired already of pushing. I really don’t have anymore energy. I have been pushing for the last three hours already. I just want him out. I was very tired. When the baby was almost out, Doctor K told me she needed to do an episiotomy. She called Dr. Patel again to do another local injection. Dr. K said she needed to do a vacuum delivery as the baby’s shoulders are too big. And yes my mind was still intact despite the pain. I knew I had to decide on what to be done so I had a little less than a foot of episiotomy and a vacuum vaginal delivery. A little bit more and I heard my baby gave his first cry. So on January 30, 2013 at 0823pm, my baby Gabriel was born. And according to his dad, I had 823pushes…

 

 

My Birthing Story- 37th Weeks of Pregnancy

The 37th weeks of pregnancy came very quickly. The last week was spent at home checking blood pressure almost all day. I went back to the doctor again with the list of my blood pressure readings. Of course, these numbers were just confirmation of the problem. I was diagnosed as a high risk pregnant woman at age 28 because of this eclampsia.

My doctor told me they couldn’t wait any longer for me to give birth. Waiting is just very risky and aside from that, I am doing nothing anyways so why wait for the baby to decide to pop out. My tummy was still high. I have no signs that my baby was planning to go out of this world yet. I would have those mild contractions every so often but they were not enough to be called as true contractions.

I requested the doctor to give me another week to fix everything, to have my family ready for this unexpected turn of events. I know my mom would be so anxious and very scared because of this “complication”on my pregnancy. I needed someone to support her better than to support me. I wished my husband was here but I couldn’t dwell on wishing for my husband to be by my side as it was not possible. I called my good friends to be with my mom just in case it was my turn to be induced already. I called my sister from Virginia to come over and help us for some time. Im very glad she said yes.

Im very glad my doctor gave me until the 38th week. She wanted me to come on a weekend. I was very glad that I was pushed to a Monday as the hospital was too busy during the weekend because of the full moon.

My Birthing Story- 36th weeks of Pregnancy

Another day at the doctor’s office. I went early in the morning so I won’t be with other preggo mommies who’s trying to catch up with the doctor. and also I still have to work after this.
Oh I tell you. Walking from the parking lot to the second floor of the hospital is no fun. I used the elevator by the way and still, I am short of breathe.

I spent a good 5-10minutes maybe before they called me in. The nurse started doing my vital signs, checking my blood pressure and heart rate. Poor nurse. She should have just used an electric monitor on me. She gave me a pressure of 110/80. I know it was wrong because I was looking at the manual monitor and big hand clicked on the 140’s. As soon as she left, I grabbed the cuff myself and checked my own blood pressure. And the doctor came in as I was putting the cuff back.

Oh I love you Dr. Kuppuswami. You are the best doctor I have ever met.
I didn’t think she would mind what I did but she asked me if I was thinking if there was a problem with my pressure. And I said. It seems like. I thought I was just tired from walking. She said the pressure was okay when the nurse checked it but she grabbed the cuff again and checked me on my right arm. The look on her face wasn’t very good so she did it again on the left arm. And she said it was elevated. She immediately lift my pants up checking for the swelling on my legs. And I never thought I had 3+ edema. She asked how long the swelling had been and i couldn’t tell. I really didn’t pay attention about the swelling on the leg as everyone says it is normal. Well, it is NOT normal.

She told me I cannot go back to work anymore. That I have to be admitted to be monitored AGAIN! And YES. I do have Pre- Eclampsia. A little me have pre-eclampsia. a high blood pressure. I just couldn’t believe it.

They collected 24hr urine on me to make sure that I do have proteinuria. Of course, it turned out positive as well. They also consulted Dr. McKenna, the oncologist because my hemoglobin is too low and my other lab results are off the hook. I’ve realized my mistake of not following the doctor when she told me to take all my pregnancy vitamins. I was wrong that I believed everything will be alright because in the olden days, there were no vitamins, and our folks survived by eating a decent meal.

I got discharged the next day but I was in bedrest at home. I did Vitamin B12 shots everyday as I need to build up some red blood cells. I took three doses of iron a day and Oh boy, I am constipated. Everything was not easy. I feel more the shortness of breathe. I walk from my bed to the bathroom, which is by the way contraindicated, and I was tired after just peeing. It took me hours to get dress. Everything was a job. From waking up in the morning, getting ready for breakfast, eating, and going back to bed. I sleep with pillows on top of pillows. There were no comfortable spot. And I have to continually check my blood pressure. And no matter what I do, they never go down below systolic of 120.

I prayed hard that my baby would keep himself inside of me. He needs to go to term. I am not ready yet. He needs to be at least on his 38th weeks.

My Birthing Story- 35th Weeks of Pregnancy

I dedicate this post to all my friends who are giving birth very soon. I will pray for your safe and normal delivery, to Doc Ema, to Anna and most especially to Krystle and those I have not mentioned. I hope I would serve as an inspiration to all of you that despite the pain, the fruit of all the hard labor, is all worth it.

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It was my 35th week of pregnancy and I can still vividly remember walking outside my patient’s apartment with my computer, a big bag of medical equipment and my snowy boots. Dang! This really take so much out of me. I wish there will be no more snow. I wish I didn’t have to carry this big bag. I remember stopping so many times between the apartment door and my car. I am so short of breathe. My legs are pretty swollen. My stomach is hardening so many times. (I guess they call it contractions, how would I know?) Baby is not term yet. I’m not ready. And yet I am so ready to give birth.

That same week on a Saturday, I dragged my mom to a birthing class because my doctor wanted me to attend a birthing class. Everyone had their husbands assisting them. and the rest of the day, we watched how woman of age gave birth. I am not really sure if it helped me or not. I know I was there because my doctor said so. Otherwise, I will be home sleeping because I still have to work a 12hr shift that night.

It was a busy night. I was very tired already and very sleepy. I had my feet up. I was very lazy. I was very lucky to have very understanding co-workers. I won’t be able to make it through the night if they didn’t allow me to just sit, try to relax while the lights kept going on. And I was having a headache. I know I badly needed some sleep. And then my good co-worker said, “maybe your blood pressure is high. maybe you are having pre-eclampsia. Did you check your pressure already?” And my honest, stupid answer was “No. I don’t have one. I just need to sleep”. When I got home, I went straight to bed and spent the rest of the afternoon sleeping.

I was still tired and was still having a headache. And y stomach just keeps having contractions. Not as bad as earlier this week but still. Around 9-10 o’clock, my headache still lingering in me and I have thought about the pre-eclampsia. Maybe I have one? I immediately checked my blood pressure and it was indeed high for me. I called the doctor but the numbers I gave her doesn’t meet the parameters of eclampsia. Because I was too pushy that there was something wrong, she told me to go to the hospital and get checked.

We spent two hours of monitoring in the hospital with no bad results so they sent me home and told me to follow up with my doctor as  scheduled.

 

Happy 2nd Anniversary Daddy

Happy 2nd Anniversary Daddy!

I am the happiest because for the second time around, we are given a chance to be together. And today will be the start of our many days celebrating together as husband and wife.

Life has been tough. Life brought us to so many unexpected turns. Life was not easy. It was not the life that we dream of before. Right now, it is yet a little too far from what we are hoping for.

I know we can make it. If we are able to make it some seven years ago that we are apart, I know in my heart,  we will make it through together.

I probably would still be your nagging wife. I probably would still be your greatest inquisitor. You may never like the food I make for you. I probably would still be as lazy as I can be. And I would probably have endless errands for you to do but remember, and please always do not forget, I will love you and love you so.

I thank you for being with me today. I thank you again for choosing me as your wife. I thank you for the love you always give to me. Thank you for the patience. Thank you for your kindness.

I pray that today and forever we will always love and understand each other. I pray that we will always be guided to being true to each other. I pray that we will always have each other’s happiness. I pray I could make you smile despite and in spite of. I pray that you may never lose patience on me and I will never get tired of you. I pray that we would always find each other on days that we lose each other. I pray that we hold each other’s hand as we rest through the night. I pray that we always find smiles on each day we wake up.

I pray to be good parents to our little Gabriel. May we be able to guide him through the right path. May we be able to provide the needs of his young and innocent life. May we be able to provide him a future that would take him to many places. May we be able to teach him how to learn from the uncertainties of life. May we make him a young, fine, respectful and loving little child. May we shower him with so much love.

Today is one of the happiest day of my life. I am the happiest woman on earth because I celebrate this day with you. I would never change this for the world. I love you dearly. Happy second anniversary…

I love you always.

Love,

Laey

First time (again!)

“One day I will find the right words, and they will be simple.” – Jack Kerouac, The Dharma Bums

I haven’t written anything for the longest time.

I blame it to life. Life has been busy I didn’t have time for anything.

What happened to me?

I think I have lost myself along the way. I have forgotten the thing I loved the most. I couldn’t find time on things that made me happy before. Or maybe I just found another type of happiness that I have disregarded my first love.

I am back. and I wanted to stay longer this time. I know this will be a little difficult but I know I can do it. I have to do it. And i know I can…

So I guess I will be seeing you more again…