It has been more than a week now after giving birth to a healthy boy. I can still remember his first cry, first kick and the look on his eyes after seeing the outside world. The feeling is surreal and unexplainable and all my worries washed away after that first skin to skin with my baby.
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It was Monday night when we arrived and admitted to Ortigas Hospital and Healthcare Center. I am on scheduled Cesarian Section because my placenta is is partially blocking the opening of the uterus. This is kinda sad on my part because as much as possible, I would like to deliver my baby normally. I read several articles that after the Cesarian Section operation, I might not be able to move around for a few weeks and I thought, that is still a surgery. What are the chance that I will survive the surgery? Will I still see my child? Will I still be able to open my eyes after the operation? These thoughts are flooding my mind a few days before my scheduled operation.
After arriving to the hospital, we had to undergo first some screenings regarding COVID symptoms. Me and my husband did a swab test and thankfully, we were both negative to COVID. My husband then went to the admitting department to pay for the downpayment and to prepare our room.
This is the room that they gave to us. A semi-private room that should accommodate two patients. But since there is still COVID, this turned to be a private room. The nurses gave me a dress to change with and to be used during the operation. My operation is early in the morning of the following day and we could not sleep soundly, thinking that the D-day is near. The nurses also gave me some medication and monitoring apparatus to monitor by blood pressure. I should maintain the normal blood pressure before the operation, else I will undergo an emergency CS.
Around 6AM in the morning, the nurses already checked on me and prepared me for the operation. My husband packed the baby clothes, my postpartum kit and documents after delivering my baby. I admit, we overpacked a little bit because this is our first time and as much as possible, we would like to be fully prepared.
Around 8AM in the morning, when the operation completed. The anesthesiologist gave me medication to not feel the operation and to let me sleep to recover. But the first cry from our baby gave me something like an adrenaline rush and I could not sleep at all. Especially during the first skin-to-skin with my baby. The feeling is surreal! Am I now a mother? Are we now parents? My baby then proceeded to the neonatal intensive care unit for his newborn screening. My baby boy weighs 3.45 kilos, normal skin complexion and initial findings are ok. I then proceeded to the recovery room to rest.
After a few hours, the nurses assisted my to go to our room and then afterwards, my baby came. At this point, I still can't fall asleep. Maybe I am already missing my baby?
I am so thankful to God for the smooth operation, to the doctors and nurses who assisted on me and made me feel comfortable before, during and after the operation and also to my husband for all the support that I need until this day. As a watched the outside world thru our window, I can't help but be amazed of the amazing works by God.
After 3 days, it's finally time to go home. I remember, I was so worried because I still have no milk and the one that my baby is feeding is from the hospital. So going home means that I should now produce milk for my baby and the stress that I brought me is unimaginable. On the first night that we got home, I cried a lot because I know that my baby will get hungry anytime. I kept on massaging my breast hoping that milk will come out eventually, but to no luck. Thankfully, one of my friends gave us breastmilk good for 2 days. Now I just need to focus on healing because I cannot walk on my own nor get up from bed during this time because of the wound from the operation.
Now, I am still in pain and can't do much work around the house. Thanks to my husband for being an all-around dad. He's the one cooking our food, cleaning the house and changing the diaper and feeding our baby at night. And oh! I can now produce milk! Hurray! I guess, I am too tired and stressed out on the first 3 days that my body cannot produce milk at all. But all those worries, tiredness, pain from the operation instantly went away once I look at our baby's cuteness. He now weighs 3.6 kilos and hoping to have a healthy body. Please also pray for my fast recovery because the end of the my husband's paternity leave is nearing and he needs to come back to work.
That's all and thank you for reading! Hoping to share more of our stories here on Hive! :)
