Our Little Nicholas

Yes, all the pain and agony, all the sacrifices, all the worries and the agitations, all the sufferings… are all worth it. Seeing my baby, holding him in my arms, touching his hair so soft, his skin so smooth, cuddling him, kissing him… having him at last… nothing can ever surpass the joy of motherhood.

A Cesarean Section can be painful after the operation; it is ever painful on the pocket too. But none of these pains can stop me from having my little Nicholas.

On December 15, 2008 at exactly 8:00 o’clock in the morning, the OR staff came and fetch me in my room. They say it’s time for my operation at last. I said another prayer before they wheeled me inside the Operating Room and I touched my tummy affectionately telling my baby everything will be fine.

The Obstetrician has other matters to attend to and so she came in late and the operation started at 8:44 in the morning. I was given the anesthesia shot first on my spinal so half of my body will be numb for the incision. The doctors were getting busy and bloody while I’m having some blissful thoughts of playing with my baby in a beautiful garden full of blooming flowers.

At last, by 9:07 in the morning, the doctor announced “A healthy bouncing baby boy!” I’m sure I grinned like a silly cat upon hearing those beautiful words. I know they have to clean my baby so I patiently waited for them to clean him while my incision was being stitched. Someone held my baby for me to see and a tear fell from my eye. Oh God… isn’t he the most beautiful baby on earth? The Anesthesiologist promised me I need to be stitched first and then I can be with my baby in the Recovery Room so I let them take my little angel away from my sight for a couple of minutes.

I was taken to the Recovery Room at 9:48 in the morning and they brought my angel to me. I was having chills due to the anesthesia but the discomfort cannot stop me from holding my baby in my arms and smelling his hair and touching his cheek. Oh my baby, my blood, my flesh, my life…

I knew I will be very happy to finally see little Nicholas but I didn’t expect to feel that way – I was euphoric with happiness, it seems my head was spinning and that I wanted to jump up and down and scream to let the whole world know that I’m a Mom… a very proud Mom.

Yes, it’s definitely all worth it. Thank God for this most wonderful gift of life…

No, Mommy isn’t packing for an island cruise but she did a lot of planning when she prepared for her labor bag! And why not? These are the essentials that will make hospital stay more convenient and comfortable.

Mommy’s not really planning to stay for a few days in the hospital, one or two is enough. But well, the last thing she needed is to forget something important on D-day since it will be a no-no to go back home and get what’s forgotten when she’s in the midst of labor already. But, she’s trying not to be overboard as well.

Mommy’s sharing here the contents (and the nice things to have, if ever) of her labor bag, maybe you can compare notes with her.

For Mommy - Essentials:

1. Cash/Cards (spare change/coins may come handy too)

2. Health Insurance Card (yup, that’s Mommy’s PhilHealth) and documents

3. Clothing:

- 2-3 Nightgown/Pajamas (with front buttons for easy breastfeeding)

- Several changes of underwear (some hospitals provide mesh undies for lochia leaking, but I don’t think they do here, so Mommy’s gonna be bringing some soft old undies from home)

- Bathrobe (comes handy especially if Mommy wants to walk on the hospital halls while waiting for me to come out, it will be chilly to walk around in a nightgown!)

- Nursing Bra and Pads (essential for breastfeeding Moms – Mommy plans to breastfeed me so she’ll be bringing 2; nice for non-breastfeeding Moms too, nursing bras offer support and comfort)

- Slippers and Socks (Hospitals can be so cold, so this will keep Mommy warm)

- Going-home dress (something loose and comfortable – with front buttons – that Mommy will wear on our way home)

4. Sanitary Napkins (highly absorbent with plenty of coverage will do, Mommy will be bleeding, shucks!)

5. Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, lotion, shampoo, hairbrush)

6. Lip Gloss or cream (to lessen dryness from breathing so much through the mouth)

7. Watch or Stopwatch (to time contractions)

8. Mobile phone (to spread the good news – the charger must be brought as well)

For Mommy - Recommended:

1. A camera/video camera/digital camera (to capture the moments) plus extra films, tapes and batteries (a charger shouldn’t be forgotten too)

2. MP3/MP4/battery-operated tape player (for Mommy’s favorite music)

3. Extra Pillows (these may be scarce in the hospital)

4. A small cooler with light and healthy food and drinks

5. Baby book (to record our first moments, it’s good Mommy loves to write)

For Mommy – Nice to Have:

1. Laptop (hmmm.. Mommy doesn’t have one now… she can’t send virtual birth announcement then)

2. Massage lotion/Aromatherapy items (Why not make Mommy relax right?)

3. Cosmetics (of course Mommy would love to look great in photographs – not that she needed all those cosmetics though, my Mommy’s a natural beauty, hihihi!)

For Me! (Yipee!):

1. Several changes of clothing (Mom, don’t forget my first picture outfit!)

2. Diapers for the trip home

3. Bottles and Milk Formula (in case Mommy can’t breastfeed)

4. Knitted cap (I have to look cool! Hihihi!)

5. Receiving blankets

I have just a few items since the hospital will be providing everything I will be needing during my stay. The above items are the one I needed for my trip home.

Since Little Nicholas is coming (felt like he’s knocking on the doors), Mommy mustered the courage to watch actual birth videos @ YouTube. Well, there are so many available videos to watch but what caught Mommy’s attention are these two videos entitled Pregnant Woman Giving Birth and Real Childbirth Video (I decided not to embed the videos here, some might not like the bloody scenes).

Mommy swallowed her saliva again and again while watching the videos. That’s how they do it? Some comments are right, it’s really scary! Do doctors really have to twist the baby’s head here and there? Is it really that bloody? I guess I’ll faint!

But then Mommy’s fear was easily replaced by relief and joy when she saw the baby’s hands coming out. Ah! Those cute little hands, so little, so soft! Then a few seconds after, the whole body followed, and he’s out! Wow! That was fast huh! Mommy felt silly crying in front of the monitor, witnessing that birth (bare with Mommy ok? She’s extra sentimental these days). It’s just beautiful to see a baby go out like that. Mommy can’t wait for Little Nicholas to go out too.

Oh! To hold Little Nicholas in my arms finally! No amount of blood or head twisting can stop me from giving birth. No amount of pain or fear can outweigh the bliss of seeing Little Nicholas at last!

Mommy read it in a book somewhere that the actual birth is painful due to many reasons. 10% is physical and 90% is functional (due to psychological and even emotional factors). Physical factors may include: the baby’s difficult position, baby’s big size, high blood pressure, fatigue, poor health and other unusual conditions. Functional causes can be:

1. Incomplete Muscle Relaxation - due to fear or counter responses to the physical pain

2. Improper Breathing - rapid and shallow breathing which depletes oxygen in the uterus and even causes toxicity and pain in every part of the skeletal muscles

3. Improper Positioning of Mom’s Body - some positions cause more pain

See? It isn’t so hard right? Mommy just have to make sure she isn’t scared and she’s [repared for D-Day. Everything will go smoothyl. It’s definitely a month (more or less) to go; let’s get the ball rolling and start the countdown. Mommy’s ready!