It's a boy! Hehehe!!! He came earlier, our little miracle, than expected! A bouncing premie at 5lbs and 8oz, and about 17.75 inches long. Passed all the tests and did not need NICU, praise God! He is such a sweetie... but of course =)
After two trips to the hospital due to premature contractions, the third one was the charm (as they say!). On my 35th week, my frequent contractions were rather painful menstrual like cramps despite the medication. I had myself checked at the birth place again to be sure. As usual, they tried to stop it and gave me two shots of terbutaline and asked me to stay overnight. I managed to sleep thru despite the pain with sleeping pills. Oh well, I think they're a delight! Hehehe!
The following morning, I was told that I'd be given a nice big breakfast and would be sent home. No such luck as my water broke and that big breakfast became all but wishful thinking! Ah food! Wah! My labor story started on Feb 27th, Saturday...
I was still at 1-2cm dilated, 50% effaced, and was given antibiotics to prevent any infection whatsoever since my water broke already. Contractions were very strong and close to each other, I was progressing well! A beautiful labor, or so I thought. However, when I was given fluids thru IV everything stalled.
I had to beg my nurse to allow me to at least take a shower before all the hulabaloo... I savored it and imagined I'd be really fresh and pretty when I push. My husband and I were optimistic that I will be able to give birth that very night. Late in the afternoon, I was given pitocin to induce the labor further. I managed the pain with breathing exercises until I progressed to 4cm... again, hopeful!
No medications until I'm 5cm, was my plan. I don't want to get stuck ever again just as I was with the first one. But at three or four in the morning, I didn't welcome the pain anymore. I was tired and obviously needed much rest before the big day. I asked for the epidural and the sleeping pill... only to wake up still at 4cm with fever!
I didn't progress, I had the risk of infecting my premature baby, so the best option was C-section. Things went by so fast just like in the tv shows. I was wheeled in the operating room, groggy, in and out of my consciousness, tired and sick. I was scared to death because my husband may not be with me during the operation since he just picked up the little one from home. We were still waiting for our friend to babysit him.
That must have been the most scary point in my life! Unexpected surgery, I could die, baby could get very sick, etc and etc and above all I was alone. I couldn't finish my Hail Marys because really my mind was going bonkers with the medications.
My lovely OB arranged for the nurses to watch the little one since the operation was only going to take less than half an hour. At the nick of time, while I was being rushed to the ER I heard them saying "your sister is here! your son will be with her..."
They sliced me open, still no sign of my husband. I sort of given up. Until they said "call Dad now" and so he witnessed Miro coming out from my belly and he was able to cut the cord. As soon as I heard the munchkin's loud cry I couldn't help but shed my own tears of joy. He had a very high APGAR score! A 9 for a premie, yahoo!!!
I must say I can feel the pain as they stitched through my stomach! I had a hard time relaxing but my anesthesiologist was amazing, he must have seen my face and added another dose. I simply slipped off and relaxed. Then they showed me my Miro, which reminded me so much of our eldest little boy! My husband had to accompany him to the NICU and I was alone again as they stitched me back up. It felt like forever.
In the post operating/recovery room, there were my friends waiting for me. I managed to talk through the pain with morphine, happy that they were there for me. God has blessed me with wonderful people here who are like family already to us! (This merits another story)
