Unforgettable Delivery to My First Baby

Every mother has a unique story to share regarding her pregnancy and delivery. Mine is not an exemption.

I am not as lucky as my oldest sister Rosalie who just need 2-3 pushes in order for the baby to come out. Neither as good as my elder sister Mary Ann who still managed to give birth through normal delivery despite suffering a 12-hour labor. Moreover, I am not as strong as my sister-in-law Marne who takes only less than 30 minutes to give birth to her 4.3-kilo baby girl named Jianna.

My pregnancy and delivery with my first born child is very different. My obgyne predicted that my expected date of delivery (EDD) is January 28, 2013 (based on my last menstrual period). But from my two ultrasound results, the due date is February 11, 2013. The latter prediction seems to be too late from the expected date of delivery. Normally, expectant moms who fail to give birth on the expected date of delivery often deliver their babies either a week before or a week late of the EDD. To prevent possible complications, my obgyne decided to just wait for another week (that is up to February 4) and if ever I still don’t see or feel any signs or symptoms of impending labor, she will induce me.

February 5 came and I still haven’t see or feel any signs or symptoms of labor even if I already take capsules to stimulate my cervix. And to make sure that my baby is still in good condition, she recommended me for a biophysical exam to accurately determine the maturity of my baby as well as her placenta. Based from the biophysical exam result, my baby already weighs 3.4 and the expected date of delivery is February 8. Concerned that my baby will still gain weight and I might have some difficulties in delivering her, my obgyne decided to induce me the next morning and that is February 6.

My original plan for admission was in the afternoon of February 6, 2013. But since I already have a brownish discharge as early as 6 am, I decided not to wait for 1 pm. Around 8:40 am of February 6, 2013 when I was admitted at SMMHGS. The nurses assigned in the emergency unit immediately get my personal information, vital signs and bring me to the laboratory for blood sample. After which, they headed me to the labor room for internal examination. At that time my cervix was already open at 1 cm. Oxytocin was then administered to me using IV  fluid and they take me to my room.

February 7 came. I was given another liter of IV fluid with oxytocin in the mid morning. But unfortunately it seems there is no big progress because my cervix dilated for upto 2 cm. to which they have expected to be opened at least 5 cm. Nurses adviced me to keep on walking and I did. But hours passed and I don’t still feel any unusual signs or symptoms except for the occasional kicks and punches here and there. It’s already 9pm and I a still keep on walking hoping that my baby will go down but it didn’t. My mom advised me to take a rest and sleep so that if ever I’m on the climax of labor I have an energy. I  followed her suggestion but I noticed that each time I lie down on bed, the pain becomes intense. She called my nurse and informed about my situation. 

The nurse brought me to the labor room at around 10 pm for IE. My cervix opens at 3cm... 5cm.. then 6cm. The nurse assigned in the labor room predicted that at most 3 am of February 8, my baby will come out. Unfortunately, she fails in her prediction. The sun already rises on February 8 but my cervix stops dilating at 6 cm. My obgyne immediately proceed to the hospital and ruled out for a Cesarean section. 

Inside the operating room
I had a miscarriage on my first pregnancy so being in the operating room is no longer new to me. But I will admit that I still felt nervous while inside. I am nervous for the long needle to be used for administering anaesthesia and for the entire C-section process. 

8 am when I was admitted in the operating room. I requested the team in the OR to tell me ahead whatever procedure they will be performing especially when administering the anaesthesia in order to overcome my nervousness. My anaesthesiologist told me he will be giving spinal anaesthesia therefore, I might be awake during the procedure. But since its been about 24 hours that I don’t have enough sleep, I still fall asleep after my obgyne done with the 4 incisions. I was not able to see my baby after she was immediately extracted from my uterus at 8:40 am.   

The next time I opened my eyes; I was already in the recovery room. My baby is starting to get the colostrum and minutes later, we we’re brought to our room.

note: by the time i am sharing this unforgettable experience of mine, my baby girl named audrei will be 5 months old on july 8.

It's a Baby Girl!

Finally, I had my second ultrasound. This means that I already have an idea what’s the gender of the little creature that is temporarily residing in my womb. My first ultrasound was done when I was 10 weeks pregnant. By that time, the gender is still undetermined.

A flashback:

Whenever someone asked me what gender I would prefer for my first born child, I would loudly say, a boy. And if they asked why, I simply utter “I want someone who will continue my hubby’s ancestry.”

My husband has 2 siblings (a brother and a sister). Obviously his three nephews from his sister are already using their father’s surname instead of Jesoro. His older brother has also three children and they are all girls. These 3 nieces of him (though they are all jesoro at this time) will marry and soon adopt the surname of their husband.

They predicted.

A lot of people predicted that the child I am bearing seems to be a boy. Only two or three said that it is a girl.

I hate surprises.

I am always excited about my baby’s gender. And because I hate surprises, I immediately went to my obgyne’s clinic as soon as I was informed that her sonographer is already available. I was expecting that the ultrasound result will just confirmed the prediction of most people I know is right. But unfortunately, those two or three people who predicted that it is a girl are the ones who won.

A bit sad but thankful still.

Honestly, I felt a little sad when I heard the sonographer telling it’s a girl. However, my sadness was immediately overcome when I realized that it’s not actually the gender that matters most. What is more important is to have a baby that is healthy and normal. So I am crossing my fingers that once the big comes, I hope I am able to safely and successfully delivery a healthy and normal baby girl.

My Baby @ 32 Weeks

This will be the second time that I am giving some updates about my baby’s development. My first update was when I had my 2^nd prenatal checkup.

Curious as to how the little creature inside my womb looks and is developing right now (at 32 weeks), I decided to browse online some 3D videos or images of a baby at 32 weeks. And here’s an image I  found at BabyCenter website. 

Based from the above image, my baby would have either a full head of hair at this moment or peached fuzz. The toenails and fingernails have grown in. And bearing a baby with an average length of 16.7 inches, there is also a significant change in my uterus. According to the image, my uterus is pushing up near the diaphragm and it is creating pressure on the abdomen, which results to either heartburn or shortness of breath. In my case, I often experience shortness of breath.

Why Pregnant Women Often Suffer from Pelvic Pain and Pressure

With my busy schedule in the past few weeks, this post has been long overdue. But then, I still decided to share this article to you.

I can simply describe my 25^th week of pregnancy as a horrible week. It has been a constant complain of mine to my hubby the recurring pain along my pelvic area. I am not sure if it is caused by prolong sitting while at work or the stress brought by regularly traveling from home to the office (and that is about 60 kilometers away).

When I consulted it to my obgyne about the said discomfort, she simply uttered that it is just normal and provided me two reasons why pregnant women often suffer from pelvic pain and pressure.

First reason, according to her, is the uterus expands during pregnancy. Since it is expanding, the pelvis is being pressed resulting to pain and pressure on that area.

Second reason could be due to thinning and stretching of ligaments. According to my obgyne, the uterus has its own ligaments that support it. During pregnancy, these ligaments have a tendency to thin and stretch as the uterus expands. And because of these changes, it brings pain on the side of the pelvis and might extend down through the thigh.

Aside from the ligaments that support the uterus, the sciatic nerve might be crowded too resulting to discomfort or numb feeling on said areas.

Guess what I did to stop or at least lessen the discomfort I am feeling on my pelvic area. The secret is simply to have a massage wellness (hilot) from an expert. It is just normal in our family for pregnant women to have a massage wellness (hilot) especially when she is already in the third trimester. This does not only help lessen the discomfort that pregnant women feel within the pelvic area. It also put the baby in head-first, face-down position to ensure normal delivery.

When to Have Tetanus Toxoid Vaccine for Pregnant Women

I just had my monthly prenatal checkup yesterday. It was also the same day when I received my first shot for tetanus toxoid. And for this post, I have nothing better to share than giving you some insights about this immunization against tetanus that every pregnant women must have.

What is tetanus toxoid? Well, according to Baby Center, it is a vaccine that protects pregnant woman as well as the developing fetus against a life-threatening disease caused by the toxin of Clostridium tetani or simply called as tetanus.

This bacterium, which enters the body through an open wound, could damage the nervous system. And when left untreated, it could lead to death. But through immunization, such circumstances could be prevented. Another good reason why tetanus toxoid vaccine is very important because it helps in preventing premature delivery.

Probably you would like to know when to receive this TT vaccine shots.

First dose is given in the first trimester as soon as the pregnancy test yielded a positive result. This will provide around 80% protection to the mother against tetanus for the first delivery.  For the second dose, an interval of 4-8 weeks after the first dose is required before it will be given. Some experts suggest that it would be  best if the second shot will be given 4 weeks before the expected delivery date. With TT2, the mother can ensure of a 3-year protection against tetanus and the infant born to the mother is safeguarded against neonatal tetanus. And the percentage of protection guaranteed is about 80%.

In my case, since I have a history of miscarriage, my obgyne decided to give me the first dose of tetanus toxoid on my 6th month of pregnancy and that already falls on my second trimester. For my second dose, it is scheduled next month, which is my 7th month of pregnancy.

The third dose of tetanus toxoid vaccine is given at least 6 months after. The infants born to the mother can expect for as high a 95% protection against neonatal tetanus. Meanwhile, for the mother, she can guarantee for a 5-year protection.

The fourth dose is given at least 1 year later and the mother can expect for a 10-year protection against tetanus while the infants born can guarantee of a 99% protection against neonatal tetanus.

Meanwhile, for the last dose of tetanus toxoid vaccine, it is given at least after 1 year and all infants born to that mother can expect for a 99% protection against neonatal tetanus. In the part of the mother, TT5 assures her of a lifetime protection.

*TT ImmunizationSchedule Source: Wikipedia