I huffed and I puffed and finally met DW on Nov. 30.  Fortunately, I had an uneventful delivery and I now share a bondwith mothers everywhere who have a unique story to tell about how their child came to the world. This is my story

Thursday (Nov. 27) – I felt three strong contractions. My mom, husband and I went to the Delivery Room of St. Luke’s where I was hooled to a monitor. They turned out to be false and that my cervix was still closed. The contractions actually stopped when we arrived at St. Luke’s but we decided to still continue with the check-up.

Friday (Nov. 28) -  Went to St. Luke’s again for a follow-up check-up with our OB Dra. Azada. My cervix is still closed, but it was actually described as “irritable”, Dra. said that I still have another week before I  give birth (i was on my 39th week then). The hubby and I went to Trinoma and spent the rest of the day there just walking.  For the two weeks leading to my 39th week, I was walking around malls and Makati as our baby has still not descended into his birthing position yet.

SATURDAY (Nov. 29) – I woke up at 5 am to pee and saw with my bleary eyes something which resembled a big blood clot fall into the bowl. I didn’t think too much of it (looking back now, I can’t believe I wasn’t alarmed with what I saw!). At 7 a.m, I woke up due to mild contractions. I timed then and they were perfectly 10 minutes apart! I stayed in my room, just feeling my way through the pain as this may still not be the real thing (I still had a week to go anyway).  I finally told Dan however that I think I had my ”bloody show” when I peed early in the morning. I texted my OB who told me to observe and to go to the DR (delivery room) if the pain becomes unbearable. I had a light lunch (just rice and Kare-Kare LOL!) and then asked my hubby to take me to the hospital. That  was 4 pm already. I did breathing exercises because the contractions were increasingly becoming painful.

I went to the DR where an intern told me my cervix was already dilated by 2 cms and that  I was also 90% effaced, which only meant one thing —  baby was ready to pop. My contractions quickly progressed. I was given an enema and I was wheeled into the High Risk Pregnancy Unit of St. Luke’s. I was hooked up to monitors and I was given sedatives, first a pill then an injection. I was then given Twilight.  I was also given an epidural when I was wheeled into the actual Delivery Room

My water was broken and  by 12 a.m. DW was ready to go, I was asked to push because DW was already crowning. I was wheeled into the Delivery Room after what seemed to be an eternity and by 12:45 this little guy said Hello  

For the soon to be moms, the contractions felt like very very strong menstrual cramps. Imagine the cramps surging through your body in one big wave every 4 minutes and ending in your *ehem*.  Every fiber of your body wants to get that little baby out…that was seven months before and I still can’t believe I got through that.

Although I was sedated three times and I had my anesthesia, I was half- awake all throughout the ordeal until I was wheeled into my room at 7 a.m. I was only able to sleep until the next day because I was excited and tired and scard and giddy all at the same time and my hubby and I were *high* so to speak. Visitors also came in right away so there was really no rest until the next day.

I gave birth via natural spontaneous combustion…hehe kidding, natural spontaneous delivery. I was already walking by the afternoon of Nov. 30.  I went to the nursery right away to go hold my son, the first grandchild in my side of the family and the second in my husband’s.  I almost collapsed though that afternoon when I got up right away to go to the bathroo. I felt lightheaded and almost blacked out ako but my husband caught me just I was about to fall. I gave him a pretty good scare though tsk tsk.

The whole thing was very very emotionally and physically draining but seeing DW and feeling the support and the love by our families and most especially by my mom energized me and my husband. The welcoming of a new grandchild, a son, a cousin or a playment is a moment both peaceful and chaotic at the same time. 

I look at my son now and I cannot believe that 7 months have passed. From a fragile little being he is now a bundle of energy who is learning the art of crying to get his way. I look at my husband who is now a father who loves playing with his baby. I look at our parents who dote on their grandchild and have become our steadfast partners in bringing up baby. I look at our families who are renewed and recharged by the next generation.

I look at myself and I see a mom, a mother, nanay, inay. My role surpasses that of the roles that I have since taken on. I am like any other new mom, discovering and stumbling along  the way. I am just like you and I am proud to be part of the journey of motherhood.