This story was written last February 24, 2023 almost 6 years ago and yet I still feel the overwhelming joy when you came into our lives. It will be remembered how amazing and strong your mommy was. I thank God for everything until this day.

Hubby: Morning of May 6th, we went for the weekly Obstetrician Gynecologist check up. Wifey was still at 2cm and no signs of labor, but the doctor advised us to take primrose to induce the labor naturally. We went to SM Aura for wifey to walk and allow gravity to do the pushing. We still returned home that day while everyone was looking forward to the great news.

Wifey: Dra. Karen also suggested that I go up and down the MAB stairs (clinic area) to help with the gravity pull. After several rounds, Jaycee and I got bored and decided to walk around SM Aura instead.

Wifey: We were praying hard too. Dra told me that I cannot go past 39 weeks as I had gestational diabetes, and with my age (36yo), it was considered high-risk pregnancy already. That was Saturday, and she gave until Monday for natural ways to induce. If primrose and exercise won’t work, she will have to induce me with meds on Monday. I was praying that we”ll have normal delivery. I am scared of CS, and I was very anxious 😬

Wifey: We decided to go home to our condo (U3306 Flair at Mandaluyong) so I can have another exrra night to rest. I was so tired, anxious of the unknown. By 3am though, I started having dysmennorhea. And the feeling of uncomfort and boatedness. Deep inside, I knew that day we’ll meet Johan. ❤️ Mixed feelings though, because I fear the pain of childbirth. Di ko sure kung kaya ko, as I have low pain tolerance.

Hubby: Next day, May 7th around 10am, we prepared ourselves to go to St. Luke Medical Center Global City. We went directly to Ob Gyne Complex at the 3rd floor. We were admitted at 11am in the Labor Room. I bought lunch at the 5th Floor canteen (which we should have brought instead).

Wifey: At this point, I started to realize how I dread the IE! 😭 It was really painful! Looking back, I’d always say that delivering a child is losing my kahihiyan. Imagine a handful of interns, zooming in down there with one of them poking me to check my cervix.😱😨😱😨 And this was done EVERY HOUR. Every time I see them coming, I would cringe. Ugh, I HATE IE! But there’s no other way, so embarrassment + discomfort + pain had no place just to deliver my Johan safely.

Hubby: In the afternoon, wifey was medically induced. Contractions and pain started around 1pm. I can’t explain how painful it is for my wife as the labor cycle went on.

Wifey: We thought I was ok, so Hubby went down to buy our lunch while I settled in the Labor Room. When he was out, Dra called and told me that she will give me something to induce already via my IV line. I said ok, thinking it will still take a while. But no, just around 5minutes after it was injected, major contractions kicked in. It was so so painful. Everything I learned in birth class like breathing was forgotten. I called Hubby to hurry back because I was in so much pain. I think my fear doubled the pain.

Wifey: Hubby returned and also started to stick my affirmation cards (bible verses) in the walls of the Labor Room. I tried to eat but at some point, I vomitted because of the contraction pains. The ancipation of the next contraction is so bad that I would panic when I see in the monitor screen the upcoming contraction. I cant imagine how I will go through the rest of the labor with that kind of pain.

Wifey: Johan’s heartbeat was also being monitored, so contratry to my birthplan, I was strapped and cannot walk around. The nurse would always come in to tell me I should not sit, because the monitor belt is taken out of place and they cannot see Johan’s heartbeat. But contractions were so painful that I just had to sit!

Wifey: And yes, the different internssss (plural!) would still continue with the IE periodically. Gosh.

Hubby: At around 3:30pm, she was still at 5cm and couldn’t move around to relieve the pain because she was strapped to be monitored, we decided to administer her with an epidural. She was taken out from the Labor Room to go to the Operating Room.

Wifey: Yes, I begged Hubby for the epidural. Huhu, thank you for not insisting to stick to our birthplan (no medications birth sana ang plan).

Wifey: It was scary when I was wheeled in the OR. Everything was so bright with lights, and I was transferred to the operating table (very narrow cold metal table). After prepping me, I was asked to curl so that the anes can locate my spine. It was another scary moment. I have nothing but Johan with me and I was just talked to God to relieve my fears. I saud, bahala na Siya sa amin ni Johan. After the epi injection, it was instant relief! Hay, thank you Lord. I cannot feel anymore the contractions.

Hubby: Coming from operating room, she was relaxed so I already knew that the epidural already took effect. She was able to take a nap.

Wifey: I cannot feel the IEs anymore, hay TYL talaga! The epidural would wear off after sometime, and I would request for a another shot through the existing IV line in my spine.

Hubby: At around 5pm, her water bag was manually popped with long big needle to labor to be faster. It was already 7pm and the epidural already worn off and the pain started to be felt again. Few minutes before 8pm, she was taken to delivery room. I packed our stuff and prepared myself to be called and get dressed to scrubs. I was praying in circles inside the labor room, while removing those bible passages I’ve posted around the room.

Wifey: According to Hubby, my water bag was popped with a hook-like stuff. I was amazed how much the water is— it filled the big basin that the nurses were holding. Dra intructed this since I am almost ready to give birth based on my cervix IEs (dilation and effacement).

Wifey: Finally, I was checked and they said 8cm dilation. I remember seeing the nurses and interns get on their feet to call Dra., and with her instructions I was prepped to be brought to the OR. I cannot remember where Hubby was.

Wifey: Everything happened fast from then on. I remember I was begging for another epidural shot, but they said no because I need to feel the contractions to be able to push. It was so, so painful again. Every contraction I would just think it brings me closer to seeing Johan.

Wifey: Len was with Granpa Jun and Grandma Ting at Flair condo at this time. She recalls later on how they prayed the rosary unceasingly as soon as Jaycee texted them that I will be brought tonthe deluvery room. They are my number 1 prayer warriors 😍

Wifey: At the OR, I saw Dra Karen giving instructions here and there. I was transferred at the operating table again. The anes was giving me encouragement (nope, not epidural). I was hooked with oxygen, and other monitoring devices. It was overwhelming.

Wifey: I also remember Dra Karen looking for Jaycee because it was time for me to push. When Jaycee came in (dressed in scrubs), he stayed by me as I pushed. Dra Karen said I did a good job, and Im very good in pushing. She said she can see Johan’s head, but his head is going back up. Then they saw his cord coil, and I was really worried that we’ll end up in CS 😩

Wifey: Dra Karen assured me that she will do her best to keep Johan safe (his heartbeat went down when I pushed, because of his cord coil on his neck). On my second contraction, they asked me to push hard again ( this time I had poop with it, and the nurse assistant was asked to put it away..sorry yucky). I also remember a couple of assistant pushing ON TOP of my belly to help Johan go down (literally nakadagan sila sa akin sa tummy, grabe haha)

Wifey: Finally on the third push, I gave my best. I felt something big came out of me. My JOHAN WAS OUT 😍

Hubby: At 8:19pm, Johan cries out to the world. I was overwhelmed on what to do.

Wifey: I cannot describe how it felt when I saw Johan. I was amazed that he was just in my belly minutes ago, and now he is here with us. He is a miracle, a gift from God. I cannot thank God enough for making me your Nanay. He was crying loud, and was placed on top of my for Unang Yakap. I was at loss for words. This tiny baby is now with mommy and daddy in the outside world. My heart melted for you, baby Johan. ❤️ Dra Karen also showed his balat.

Wifey: They started stitching my tear after the placenta was delivered out. Hubby also cut the cord, after which vials of blood were secured for stem cell cord blood banking.

Wifey: Johan was taken from me so they could clean him up, take his Apgar score, weigh. Hubby was with Johan at this time.

Hubby: After wifey and baby Johan was transferred to recovery room, I need to get our room where to stay for a couple of days for monitoring. I headed to admission and got our room at 10pm. It was a deluxe room. Thanks to Macquarie’s benefits.

Hubby: Being tired, I slept and woke by the call from the intercom in the our room informing me that wifey needs to take food before she can take medicine. It was already 12 midnight and I scrambled where to buy food. I bought fried chicken meal at McDonald’s outside the hospital and brought it to the nurse. I waited for my wife and son to come out from recovery room and accompany them to the room.

Wifey: At the recovery room, Johan was so malikot 😍 He was in a warmer (newborn bed) beside my bed and the nurse would say his cries filled the entire floor 😅 The nurse said she couldnt contact Hubby in the room. He needs to buy food for me before I could take the pain meds. Up to now, I would still sumbat why he slept (haha) while I was already in pain waiting for my dinner. Finally, after around an hour he was back with my food and we were cleared to go in the normal room, yey!

Hubby: I was a long day, but it was just the beginning of our journey as parents to Johan.

Welcome to the outside world Johan. We love you! ❤️❤️❤️