It was in the afternoon of July 10 last year when I felt frequent contractions and I thought to myself, "Is this the time?" Even though Dan and I have attended several seminars that taught us the difference between true and false labor (plus the fact that I was a nurse), I still cannot figure out if it was false or true. You must understand, it's my first time... my very first time to get pregnant and eventually give birth. So when I felt the contractions, Dan and I tried to time the intervals and when it became closer and closer, we really thought that was it. So we went to Shiphrah, a birthing home, to get checked. But it wasn't time yet.
Going back home, I still felt the regular contractions and just several hours after, I felt that my water bag broke and some of its water trickled. We texted our midwife and she told us to put a napkin and see if it will be soaked. Our midwife was just relaxed and so was Dan. I wasn't! I honestly feared for Alice. I prepared for this day for almost nine months and I was really confident I could do it naturally but I still felt fear. I've been hearing a lot of stories about broken water bags and emergency cesarian sections which I really do not like to end up in. BUT I thank God for Dan who encouraged me and reminded me of what we prayed and hoped for - a natural, unmedicated water birth.
At about 3am the next day, I tried to wake Dan up as I felt the stronger contractions. It didn't make me sleep. So we went to Shiphrah, once again but this time, I thought this MUST be the time. I was hoping that Alice would come out that day because the contractions are getting stronger and the intervals are getting shorter. But when our midwife checked, Alice's head was still not engaged to my inlet. So she advised us to walk. Whoa! NOT YET ENGAGED? Why oh why? Before Dan and I went walking, my mom and sister arrived and gave me my much-requested KFC Crushers. Haha! (I imagined giving birth while drinking a cold Crushers) So Dan and I walked with the Crushers. By that time I was kinda tired because the contractions had been consistent since the day before. Just imagine planking, every five minutes for thirty seconds and then planking again every three minutes for more than thirty seconds, and then doing that again with shorter time interval with more seconds. I'm just glad that my friend (hello Stanley Lanting) trained and helped me strengthen my core. I could say that my body's ready to give birth but it was really tiring.
When we got back to the birthing home, my cervix was just at three centimeters open. WHAT? I thought I was at eight or nine already! But NO! So my midwife advised for me to do forward leaning (prone position with butt out). Shortly after doing that, water gushed out from my water bag. I think it was really broken now. Not just trickle but gush! Oh my gosh!!! To make the matters worse, the contractions even got stronger and the intervals got closer. Yeah, bring it on!
After that all I could remember were contractions, after contractions, after contractions... and squeezing Dan's hand. I also remember him comforting and encouraging me with his massages and sweet words (yihee). He even read Psalm 23 to me. It helped me relax and smile. Resting or power napping also helped me regain my strength.
Oh I forgot to mention, our doula also arrived and she assisted me. I honestly forgot when she came because I didn't have time to think of that anymore. All I want was to deliver Alice safely. But I remember she was there to help me sit down the gym ball. She was there giving me food and water when she thought that I look hungry or thirsty. She was there to massage me when Dan had a quick break (more of a breather actually). She was there encouraging me to sit on the throne (bowl) to help Alice go down my inlet. At first I didn't want to sit there because every time I did that, I felt the contraction more. It was more painful. But after several hours of walking and sitting and basically being in labor, I finally decided to sit down there for a longer period of time. I told myself, "Okay, I will do it! I just want my labor to end." True enough, after being on the throne, my midwife saw that I was really in active labor. Yehey! I could finally get in the pool! It was a relief! (Okay, so just a background. In water birth, the mother should get in the water if she's already in active labor. Please research for more details. Hehe!)
So I was in the pool. I felt so relaxed. Dan went in the room as he was having a break. He asked me if he'll call my mom and my sister and I said yes. So my whole birth team was there inside the room - Dan, mama, Honey, Ms. Betty (our doula), and ate Lornie (my midwife). I love my birth team! We were all very expectant and excited to see Alice. My mom was a bit worried for me, I guess but I wasn't able to feel that. Nakita ko lang sa video after kong manganak. Haha!
Going back home, I still felt the regular contractions and just several hours after, I felt that my water bag broke and some of its water trickled. We texted our midwife and she told us to put a napkin and see if it will be soaked. Our midwife was just relaxed and so was Dan. I wasn't! I honestly feared for Alice. I prepared for this day for almost nine months and I was really confident I could do it naturally but I still felt fear. I've been hearing a lot of stories about broken water bags and emergency cesarian sections which I really do not like to end up in. BUT I thank God for Dan who encouraged me and reminded me of what we prayed and hoped for - a natural, unmedicated water birth.
At about 3am the next day, I tried to wake Dan up as I felt the stronger contractions. It didn't make me sleep. So we went to Shiphrah, once again but this time, I thought this MUST be the time. I was hoping that Alice would come out that day because the contractions are getting stronger and the intervals are getting shorter. But when our midwife checked, Alice's head was still not engaged to my inlet. So she advised us to walk. Whoa! NOT YET ENGAGED? Why oh why? Before Dan and I went walking, my mom and sister arrived and gave me my much-requested KFC Crushers. Haha! (I imagined giving birth while drinking a cold Crushers) So Dan and I walked with the Crushers. By that time I was kinda tired because the contractions had been consistent since the day before. Just imagine planking, every five minutes for thirty seconds and then planking again every three minutes for more than thirty seconds, and then doing that again with shorter time interval with more seconds. I'm just glad that my friend (hello Stanley Lanting) trained and helped me strengthen my core. I could say that my body's ready to give birth but it was really tiring.
When we got back to the birthing home, my cervix was just at three centimeters open. WHAT? I thought I was at eight or nine already! But NO! So my midwife advised for me to do forward leaning (prone position with butt out). Shortly after doing that, water gushed out from my water bag. I think it was really broken now. Not just trickle but gush! Oh my gosh!!! To make the matters worse, the contractions even got stronger and the intervals got closer. Yeah, bring it on!
After that all I could remember were contractions, after contractions, after contractions... and squeezing Dan's hand. I also remember him comforting and encouraging me with his massages and sweet words (yihee). He even read Psalm 23 to me. It helped me relax and smile. Resting or power napping also helped me regain my strength.
Oh I forgot to mention, our doula also arrived and she assisted me. I honestly forgot when she came because I didn't have time to think of that anymore. All I want was to deliver Alice safely. But I remember she was there to help me sit down the gym ball. She was there giving me food and water when she thought that I look hungry or thirsty. She was there to massage me when Dan had a quick break (more of a breather actually). She was there encouraging me to sit on the throne (bowl) to help Alice go down my inlet. At first I didn't want to sit there because every time I did that, I felt the contraction more. It was more painful. But after several hours of walking and sitting and basically being in labor, I finally decided to sit down there for a longer period of time. I told myself, "Okay, I will do it! I just want my labor to end." True enough, after being on the throne, my midwife saw that I was really in active labor. Yehey! I could finally get in the pool! It was a relief! (Okay, so just a background. In water birth, the mother should get in the water if she's already in active labor. Please research for more details. Hehe!)
So I was in the pool. I felt so relaxed. Dan went in the room as he was having a break. He asked me if he'll call my mom and my sister and I said yes. So my whole birth team was there inside the room - Dan, mama, Honey, Ms. Betty (our doula), and ate Lornie (my midwife). I love my birth team! We were all very expectant and excited to see Alice. My mom was a bit worried for me, I guess but I wasn't able to feel that. Nakita ko lang sa video after kong manganak. Haha!
(Back) Joy, Mama, Dan, Ms. Betty, ate Lornie. (Front) Me and Alice. Honey, my sister, is taking the photo.
I still had contractions but this time I could manage it more. The warmth of the water gave me ease! I was able to eat, joke a little bit, think more clearly and sing. "You are the strength of my life, Lord! It doesn't matter what will come my way. You are the strength of my life, Lord. I'm holding on to you!" As I utter that song, I was really hanging on to God and asking Him for strength. I have been meditating on what the Bible says that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! At that time, I badly needed physical strength and the Lord gave it to me. Now that I could think clearly, every time I had contractions, I say a quick prayer and I imagine Alice's feet. I imagine its smell. Hmmm... Smells like a baby. "Alice, I will meet you in a few minutes." My midwife asked me to feel where Alice's head was. As I checked it, I could feel Alice's head! It was near my opening. I was crowning! Woohoo! I was crowning! Ito yung totoong onting push na lang! But I wasn't pushing that hard whenever there's no contraction. My midwife coached me well. I was just gathering my strength, praying, singing or imagining Alice's feet every interval. When contractions come, I puuuush and breathe... After several contractions, people around me started saying that they could see Alice's head already. Oh, I was excited to see Alice and to end my labor. One last interval and one last push and our very first baby came out! What a joy! I didn't know what I would feel at that time but I was just sure that I just said, "THANK YOU LORD!" Finally, after three years of waiting, we now have a baby! We're officially parents!!!
This is one of the our first pictures together. I just love this moment. I remember when she was placed on my chest, she immediately searched for my breast to suck. And our first breastfeeding session happened! It wasn't as pleasant as I thought because it wasn't pain free but I still love it!
Look at how happy Dan was in this picture! Oh, by the way, before we got out of the pool, Dan cut Alice's cord. Hoorah! Actually it was stated in our birth plan that Dan will not cut Alice's cord (because he's afraid) but when he was there, he had the guts to do it! He's such a brave man! I am so proud of him!
My sister, Honey, holding Alice and looking tired too. She was in Shiphrah from morning 'til I gave birth at 1:19pm and the day before that when I had a false alarm. That explains her sleepy eyes.
Alice's first visitors aside from my family - our friends and Dan's sister with our nieces. They brought balloons and a cake. Such a great time to remember!
I asked Bianca Bonifacio, a volunteer from our church, to make this board for me. I intentionally brought it with us for me to be reminded that with God, all things are possible! True enough, I gave birth naturally, without medications and without tear (yes, no stitches)! Plus I didn't feel any back pain. Who's doing is this? It could only be God's!
PS. Sorry, I am not that detailed about the time. I mean, who cares about the time when you're in labor, right? Good thing, our videographer, Dads Valencia, beautifully captured Alice's birth with some time details.
