Childbirth: I Survived Delivery by Caesarian Section

I am not ashamed to admit that I have a very low tolerance for pain. With migraine attacks, I have to take pain killer and then hit the sack, whereas other people can still continue to work with the throbbing pain in their heads. When I would wake up, I would still feel groggy.

Anyway, I was due to give birth on March 26, 2009. We all know that the expected date is not always accurate as the baby can come out anytime normally after 37 weeks. I would do my normal routine, do my work, housework, and some walking to speed up delivery. I am intent on delivering the baby via the normal way, because of cost consideration and also because of recovery.

But on March 2, on a Monday, I already started feeling strong contractions. The intervals were not regular, however, I am already feeling all sorts of symptoms that I was nearing delivery. The pains and contractions persisted but wavered and would occur sparingly throughout the week. So I thought, Okay, maybe the baby wasn't ready to come out yet.

However, on March 10, the pains recurred and I was dead tired. My husband and I went to the mall in the afternoon to do some walking around and we spotted a nice mosquito net, which we bought. When I went to the restroom to pee, I wasn't pushing to pee, but there was gush of water. I called my doctor and informed her that I was passing by the hospital for an assessment.

In the Labor Room, the resident OB-Gynecologist did an internal examination without the lubricant and said that I wasn't leaking. But she was able to easily insert her fingers as there was already blood and mucous. She tried checking me using the speculum, but still there was no leak. However, my attending OB-Gyne still recommended that I be admitted to the hospital for observation, hooked on IV, and given cervix-softening medication as well as starting me on antibiotics, just in case my water bag was already leaking so that infections may be avoided.

I slept overnight in the Labor Room with 3 doses of Buscopan and another one in the morning. The next day, they started me on Syntocynon to induce labor and contractions. They gave me the minimal dose of 5 drops, but I did not quite get the duration.

All morning, I labored, but the pain was tolerable, and I kept on singing while my neighbor was already sobbing loudly. Around 9 am, more water came out. My OB-Gyne dropped by and checked me, I was still only 1 cm dilated. Around 10am, during another internal examination, my water bag finally gave way. So the decision of my OB-Gyne to get me admitted was a wise one, considering that if the resident OB-Gyne had her way, I would have been sent home.

I do not remember much of what happened after that, except the excruciating pain that would send me unconscious every two minutes. Yes, the contractions lasted 30 seconds only and would recur after two minutes, but the pain was too intense that I would pass out when I relaxed. I thought that I was laboring forever until I finally asked the student nurse attending to me on how long I ago I had been going on and off. I was shocked to learn that even though I thought it was already evening, only about 15 minutes had passed.

The dilation was progressing pretty nicely, but then the pain was already unbearable and so I requested for the application of epidural anesthesia. I think they gave it to me around 6pm, when I was already 6cm dilated so as not to further delay labor. Thank God, I was able to rest. They kept on monitoring me. Around 9pm, my doctor hooked me up on the fetal monitor and they learned that my contractions were very strong-way above normal and the baby's heartbeat no longer had variations. I was already shivering with cold. She scheduled me for emergency Caesarian Section.

I was not given spinal anesthesia, but the epidural was maintained, only with a higher dosage. I could feel the catheter rubbing on my cervix. I also felt the baby being pulled out from my uterus. The doctor had quite a hard time as the baby is already down in the birth canal. I felt like losing my breath in the process, although oxygen was steadily flowing to me. I asked the anesthesiologist to hold my hand. My OB-Gyne sensed my difficulty that she asked the other anesthesiologist to get me to sleep right after she pulls the baby out.

I did not know what happened next. The tranquilizer worked like a charm. The sad thing is, I did not hear my baby cry. My attending pediatrician said that they just let baby kiss me. I was not aware of these. These are the only regrets I have. I had always imagined holding baby right after I release her into the world.

But well, I guess we cannot have everything. I am just so thankful that I and the baby are safe. And my husband and I have been given the opportunity to sire a beautiful baby girl.

My delivery was a horrific ordeal but thank God for adept physicians who gave me the best care. I have a devoted husband and the most supportive families. And I know in my heart that the Lord was with me all the time, giving me strength in my weakest moment.

It took awhile for my recovery. I was not allowed to get up 24 hours after the operation because of the high doses of anesthetics and pain killers administered to me. But after a week, I thank the Lord that I forgot all about the pain and I felt ready to get pregnant again.

Two weeks had passed now. The major pains are gone, so I can now feel the minor pains, like the leg cramps, the pain on my left hand where the IV had been, the injection on my right leg... But other than that, I am already functioning rather normally-breastfeeding, walking around and exercising my arms. No running yet okay.

And in all these time, I kept mumbling: "This too shall pass..."

I have survived!