I just finished feeding my baby girl with 3 ounce breast milk which she did not finished because she was too sleepy (due to lack of sleep yesterday).
Im sneaked out to write this blogged that I might never ever begin in the near future if I wont do it now because you know moms, we are busy with our clingy baby all the time. By the way Franchesca is almost 2 months now she'll be turning 2 months this July 29 and Im wodesring which cake hould we buy this time. When she was 1 month, we bough Tous Les jours white chiffon cake with french macaroons only to dinf out it's a raibow cake that really doesnt taste good for me since it's too blant. Going back this blog is about my personal journey of Eloise's birth cause I dont want to forget it and some of the experiences I had along the way (before and after birth).
It was Friday noon when I was about to finish work. I am working from home like the rest of the world, yeah it's covid times and we are suppose to work from home to be safe. Even before that day, a bout the entire week I had this feeling that I am about to give birth since I already have inconsistent contractions. I was always talking to my daughter in the womb to stay put until my "sweldo" comes in so that we need not to worry to pay for the bills since I only saved up for normal delivery. And really even normal delivery cost fortune since it's pandemic times I have to pay for extras in the hospitals like the PPE that the doctors and nurses who are attending are going to wear, the covid swab test and all other precautions not to mention the car that we borrow (Kuya Qoaquin ate Mildred's wife who drove us back and forth - whom we are lucky enough to burrow since this pandemic had made them stopped working in GRAB) Going back, I was talking to my child to postpone it until the 30h and good enough my labor really pushed thru on the 29th which is Friday and as we all know if the sahod falls on Weekend and Monday they are going to be paid advance. So I was really so thankful to God and my baby for listening really. So I send the final email to my team mates that I think it's really is time to go to hospital and please pray for me since thats already 5PM (past 3Pm when they normally logged off, it just so happens that I need to do a lot of stuff other than work like admin papers for my maternity leave). On the side note I was really thankful to God and my HR ms Rom because in my company they will advance the 70k PHP from SSS (which will be credited when I passed the requirements with my child's birth certificate, which means I have to give birth first befire I can acquire the money but Fujixerox advanced it so I can use it in Hospital bils - My husband and his brother went to mcKinley to pickup the check prior that week making us at peace again that we have additional money for the hospital bills. Cause really that time we do not know how my birthing is going to end and so I really thought we need to be prepared for the worse.)
So after I sent the email, it was truly a painful labor that comes gradually like every 15 mins I guess. and prioer to that like thurs I already lost my mucus plug which means anytime that week I might give birth). Dra Dado, my OB replied to get myself in the hospital and we'll meet there. So I took a shower and woke up my sleeping husband told him that we need to go. Things are already prepared, we had our luggaed for an approximately 4-5 days stay in the hospital and we have our IDs ready. Kuya Qoaquin came just in time and we arrived at the hospital like 30 mins that was 5:30 to 6PM if I may recall. So we told kuya to wait if we have to go back home he is just there but if I am about to deliver then he can go home and just wait for our call for the next couple of days to fetch us. So my husband and I went straight to ER ( prior to that in entrance the triage gave us papers checking if we dont have fever, cough etc and also tested our body temperature thats just the way it is now in all establishments starting this pandemic) in ER I saw a father with his new born they were checking the bay while me and my husband were waiting to be accomodated - we sat on the bendh beside the nurse's station in ER. I asked if we need to tell them that I have HMO said no need since they arent going to do anything to me. So I just waited for the nurse to carry me thru wheel chair going to labor room. In labor room I was adviced to chnage to lab gown which was funny because Im too fat to fit my but crack open for the world to see. I was too afraid i might need to walk outside I told them I am going to remove my panty because guess what the Charmee that i bout in Lazda which I already knew wouldnt fit me couse it's size Large (I need XXL) broke it's side sticker. The nurse said it's alright to remove the undies. At first I felt uncomfortable because the niuse was like pushy but later on I felt comfortable with them. I was told to lie down in a room within labor room, they need to do cervical exam to know how much my cervix is dilated, they measured the CM and apparently Im already ikn active labor with 5CM opening. Blood flooded on the bed, nurse said my pain tolerance is strong since I am not reacting when she is inserting her finger. What I thought of that time is let's get it done I want to see my baby! Honestly it's nothing to fuss about I am not hurt or anything I spread like eagle and just want them to make it done. So I was told to lie in bed jut across that room. There where many nurse in the labor room, they handed my stuff to my husband - earings, clothes I was wearing a huge dress we bought in H&M Gateway and my Rosary. I would like my rosary to stay with me during the labor but it has metal on it and we are not allowed to carry anything with metal.
Told my husband that its okay to tell kuya Qoaquin to go home for now because I will deliver the baby today. My husband is a little bit tender that day, he's really tough on me but that day you can really tell from his voice that he is somewhat soft now sure how to to explain but maybe he is worried for our safety - thats on top of contracting COVID in hospital.
So then I was asked to lie down on delivery bed, across me was a woman also laboring I can tell it from the pain in her face. Mine, I survived basically by proper inhale exhale taught tome by my previous OB and ofcourse from youtubing (other moms advices in Vlogs). I saw tht clock it was 7PM and the nurse said they need to measure again that time Im already 7 CM, By 9PM Im already 10 CM. Ready for "normal delivery" well that was the initial plan.
When I was in bend during my 7CM, an aneasthesiologist sat beside me I was so realieved that she caress my shoulder and legs she knew I was in pain. she told me about the options like epidural for painless delivery. If I am not mistaken she said thera re types of epidurals, one is injected during labor when the babys head is already seen - eventually the labor pain will help me push the baby since she can see y pain tolerance is high, the other is epidurals will be given to me by shots but I wont feel much of the pain I can relax but the consequence is I might not feel the urge to push and the last one is they will inject the one that will make me as leep - that option I dont like but I did not know I will end up like that haha! So the time has come, my OB is in the house! They asked me if I already had my lunch or dinner told them not - they were ofering me the chicharon and we all luagh because the labor might take long and Im no longer allowed to drink and eat. Lucky enough my contractions are good, OB already gave me shots to have constant contractions. Around 9PM - I saw in clock I was brought to Labor room. Prior to that they injected me the epidurals as ordered by my OB - which was very difficult because I was laboring and the nurse who is strong built man carry me and made me sat in a concave postion so they can inject the epidurals in my back (spine section - but it wont be injected directly to my spine but near it as explained by the dra) a sticker in my back felt cold as it runs thru my entire back - she said it's the medicine. Its cold. After a few minutes it was able to blocke the pain and I was able to relax. I actually had a quick chat with the nurse as i couldnt feel the contractions anymore. So fast forward 9PM - my OB said we need to transfer to Delivery Room. Im already 10 cm when they measured. In Delivery room, it was like in the movie. Two nurses accompanied my delivery while the anesthesiology is on my head section. My OB is sitting on the left doing her social media, aint that cool - I was not woried infact we all laugh in delivery room cause I couldnt push enough I cant feel the urge and they said give it a push like you are having a big poop. But nothing happed, my baby wont come out. My Dra said it could be the cord and she didnt want to stress the baby. I was given an hour to make it but if not they need to ask my husband (which I was not informed that time that they already asked him that they will do a CS). So after an hour of ire ng ire, they put me in Operating Room, that made a lot of difference. They injected simthing that made me halucinate all I rememnred sayingwas " ang sarap sarap matulog, hindi ako nakakatulog buong week" only to know that all thourh out I was talking to Dra hhahahah! while she's doing the CS. anyway it took 3 hours daw to deliver the baby vi CS. And to confirm, it was infact the cords are entangled in my daughters neck, boy and legs. So the safest way out is really via CS - and I am grateful Dra made the decision and not wait for another minute to push via normal delivery cause it might affect my baby's health - I dont want to put my child in danger in any way so no matter how they want to deliver the baby as long as she is safe that is perfectly fine with me.
So when they are done, a Dr placed my beautiful baby in my chest and immediately Eloise latched! She sucked the milk in my breadt which I know I dont have pa before she was born. But low and behold they already produced milk! Also thankful that my baby knows how to latch, some babies or most of them are taught in the hospital as told by nurse. I was trying to see her face but couldnt because she was leaning down my boobs and I was quite drowsy. Oh I remebered when they moved us from Delivery room to operating room, my husband was there he was swaeting and he just said " Oh galingan mo ha, dito lang ako." was Sweet, DRA DAdo was saying o Kiss na haha Dont like!
So going back in operating room, we were moved to waiting room for some interview stuff before moving us finally in our room that's 105 I think. So my baby is still latched (knowing Eloises now she is really a milk monster, reason why she's really good at latching) There was a lap on our head which was meant to warm her, thats the time I saw her heavenly face but the spotlight is beaming, I tried to squint a couple of times to see her face it was so small good Lord! Finally after questionaing, the boy nurse pushed my bed to room whiile girl nurse was carrying my baby. That time I asked if I am going to be with my daughter, they said yes no more bursery (maybe because of new rules bright by pandemic) But it's on my advantage because I was able to nurse right after birth. I also asked my hsband to do a skin to skin, it was cold in our room but told him to removei stshirt and cary his daughter and it was everything. Going back they knocked in dark room, my husband was dozing off I guess, it's already2 AM in the morning. They said I delivered 11PM on May 29. So that was the first time I though my husband saw our baby, did not know again that he was called by Dra Dado to take a look at the baby right after it was removed from my womb. Dra is really a good dcotor, even my husband couldnt be there in delivery she made sure to take photos and accomodate my husband in showing our child.
With Dra Dado
Baby Franchesca Eloise and mama
So his face is beaming with light he was all smiles but you could tell from his face he also tired. I am thankful for Jose that he is who he is, I had no problems in the hospital he was the one doing everything even helping me with earing my panties and cleaning the baby's poop.
So from time to time a nurse knocks on our door to inject, give medicine, food, check for our temperature and such. It felt e were really attended properly and taken care of I love the service - I would cherish those moments for the rest of mylife it was surreal.
Going back I am now carrying my baby and I could see her face in full force, she's a beauty looks like her papa. Atleast that was I saw that time. We ordered mcDo large drinks, fries, spaghetti, burger and nuggets - this was like 9AM (because everything opens late due to COVID). We are not sure about the time cause we cant se the sunshine from our room we just depend on clock. So Iwas ahppy to annpunce my baby to family, I immediately send pictures to ma and sisters and pa while baby and her papa is sleeping in the couch ( me carrying the baby). It was dark, my husband turn the ligths off.
ll I remember was constant visites of nurses. We also ordered tagalog food all Grab by the way, my husband just gets the food from entrace of the hospital.anyway, It was difficult to get the liquid in my IV injected in my hand it was painful, but it's alrigth I guess it blocks the pain. I was happy that every 2 hours my baby wakes up and feed. it's automatic. My husband also carries her from time to time so so sweet moment and bonding. It was the time were I felt I am so much blessed. Even in pandemic, rather than worrying I embraced the moment of happiness and it's priceless. Also on the next morningwe were visited by doctors, Dr who latched my baby (guy who I only met after giving birth), OB and Pedia. We were adviced by Dra to go home on the 2nd day ( we spent 3 nights in total).
The total of the bill is 130K PHP but most of it were shouldred by HMO and Philheatlh. We only paid like 40K php cash. So maybe I'll insert pics here for your reference. But I really need to get sleep my baby might wake up na!
Thank you Lord for the gift of Family, my husband and my daughter. Thank you for saving us in COVID and keeping us sane and protecting us from worries and anxiety.
Thank you for embracing us with your unending love this I know for sure, we are safe in your arms. We lift to you Oh Lord our pains and worries. Thank you Lord for my beloved daughter, Eloise. She is the love of our lives (me and Jose) - we kep on saying upto know that she is the very good thing that ever happed to us (Ikaw and pinaka magandang nag yari sa buhay namin).
SALAMAT LORD.
MAHAL KA NAMIN.
