“You are worth every pain.” — Every time I look at my daughter, these words always echo in my mind.
My labour journey was not easy. I thought it would be, just like my mom’s, my sister-in-laws’, but it wasn’t. The morning & afternoon walks, the pineapple juice, the hiking, the primrose oil, and even the “sundo” didn’t work. The squats, and the everyday zumba exercises didn’t help.
I remember every pain I felt. From the very beginning, until the pain became unbearable – minute by minute. A painful, yet fulfilling 21 hour labour.
It was my 39th week, 2:00 AM – the pain started. I was having cramps on my lower abdomen, like a period pain. I monitored the contractions using a contraction counter app. I tried going to sleep, but the pain kept on waking my body up every 5 minutes (it was still bearable). I went to the washroom to check if there’s bleeding but there was no sign, so I thought it was just a false labour.
5:00 AM – I still haven’t gotten any proper sleep. The pain was increasing. I looked at my husband who was sleeping so soundly. I wanted to wake him up to help me with the pain, but a part of me told me to let him rest. But also a part of me wished him to feel the pain I was feeling.
Is it just me or does every woman who is in labour feel that way too? I roamed around our room, did squats, hoping it would help me deliver my baby with ease.
Time went by, it was already 11:30 AM when my instinct got me to check my undies. And there it was, the sign I was waiting for. I felt scared, yet excited.
My Ob-Gyne instructed me to go to the hospital immediately. Good thing, I already prepared our hospital bags 2 weeks before. I took a quick shower and went our way to the hospital. I still managed to put on some lipstick and sent a selfie to my family.
When we arrived at the hospital, I was asked to lie down while my baby’s heartbeat and movements were being monitored. After that, a nurse did an IE and to my surprise, I was just 2 cm dilated! The pain felt like I was already in 4-5 cm. She instructed me to go back home and try walking more to increase dilation, but the problem was our house is an hour and a half away from the hospital.
It was Saturday, and I knew if I went back home and my water suddenly breaks, our greatest obstacle would be the traffic. Due to COVID-19, the hospital was not allowed to admit a woman in labour unless she is in critical condition or is already 4 or 6 cm dilated.
We decided to go to Greenhills first, to eat some food. I was with my parents and my husband during this time. While we were on our way to GH, the pain increased more. I would rate it 6/10. I wanted to go back to the hospital so bad, but I told myself that when I go back there I should be admitted already.
So I kept walking and walking around the mall. Instead of using escalators, I’d use stairs to go up and down. Until the pain was already unbearable. My body was shaking, I was punching my husband’s thigh, pulling his clothes because of so much pain. 8/10. I can’t take it anymore.
It was 6 pm. We drove straight to the hospital, did an IE and I was 4 cm dilated. I was admitted, and spent the night inside the labour room. My doctor injected a pain reliever but there was no effect. The pain was just increasing. I wasn’t able to sleep.
I was punching the wall beside me, pulling the curtains, pulling the rails of the hospital bed, grabbing anything I can reach. An intern did an IE again and I was already 6 cm. I asked for more pain reliever but she said the next medication would be given inside the delivery room. I had no choice. I was praying, asking for God’s protection and guidance.
There were no clocks inside the labour room, or maybe just in my area. I wasn’t able to track time, but the next thing I remember was – the intern did another IE. I was 8 cm already but my water bag was still intact. She broke it by herself, I remember feeling the water gushing between my thighs. Then she asked the nurse to contact my Ob-Gyne to ask if they could bring me to the delivery room already. They were given a go signal.
When I was transferred to the delivery room, they asked me if I wanted an epidural. I immediately said yes. I couldn’t bear the pain anymore. I was very tired and full of pain. The nurses helped me to bend. After that, I fell asleep. I remember my doctor woke me up and said, “Kapag sinabi ko umiri ka, you push, okay?” I knodded, waited for her go signal and did as what she instructed.
I remember falling asleep every after push, but nothing was happening. They said my baby wasn’t going down. The next set of pushes I did were already assisted with 2 big nurses. They were pushing my stomach to help me, but still no progress.
The doctor said my baby was already in distress and her heartbeat was getting weaker. She decided to use a vacuum extraction. Finally, at 12:09 midnight, my baby was out. The doctor said she was really big that’s why we had a hard time getting her out.
Hearing her cry was the best sound I ever heard. It gave me peace and comfort. They put her on my chest – Unang Yakap. There she was – a perfect, beautiful, and healthy baby. An angel sent from above. It’s all true.
“The pain you’ve been feeling can’t compare to the.joy that is coming.” – Romans 8:18