We expected to have a daughter but were gifted with a son

Back in December, when I was on my sixth month of pregnancy, my OB recommended that I get this Congenital Anomaly Scan (CAS). Basically, it is like an ultrasound but more thorough. My baby will be checked from head to toe; eyes, heart, spine, fingers and toes, etc. Of course kasama na rin dito ang gender.

I went in for the scan on a weekday kasi mas konti ang tao. I just arranged to meet Mr. L after office.

I thanked the Higher Being because everything turned out well for my baby according to the ultrasound. Then came the gender reveal. I was so excited! My husband and I wanted a girl. During the early months of pregnancy I told him I "felt" we were having a girl. Ang confident hahaha! So when the doctor told me that she was almost sure I had a girl in my tummy, there was no doubt in my mind that she was right. To be fair, she did tell me that my baby's umbilical cord is between its legs making it more difficult to tell for sure but she wasn't seeing any other, um, protrusion. She said she was about 80% sure. Ako naman dedma na sa 20%!

I met with my husband after work that day, brought him to TWG (special occasion eh!) and showed him the ultrasound with my scribbled handwriting in pink pen that said: It's a girl! Tuwang-tuwa si Mr. L. Naka-post pa sa Facebook hahaha!

A couple of months after that, a very good friend of mine organized a baby shower for me with my former colleagues and some of our close friends. She asked me for a wishlist and good thing I told her to "lessen" the pink stuff kasi feeling ko madaming magbibigay ng pink(speaking of, kailangan ko din palang maiblog ang baby shower haha).

Come April, my OB said she was leaving the country for a couple of weeks starting Holy Week. My Expected Date of Delivery (EDD) was April 28 but if I was to give birth on the weeks my OB wasn't here, a reliever would have to deliver my baby and I didn't like the sound of that. Siyempre, as much as possible, I want to limit the number of people checking in on my vajayjay.

I told my husband that I felt (eto na naman ako sa kaka "feeling" ko eh no? Haha) that my baby will come out on April 8th latest. I came in for my prenatal checkup on April 3rd and my OB said my cervix has started to open. Yiii na-excite ako! The following days were filled with me packing and unpacking our hospital things hahaha and of me trying to determine possible contractions. However, April 8 came and went and wala pa din. Naiinip na ako.

2AM of April 10th, I woke up with a pain similar to that of a menstrual cramp but this one extended to my lower back. Sabi ko "this is it!" haha! So I took a shower, I lathered, scrubbed, shaved, lahat na! Ang tagal ko sa banyo mga 45 minutes! Hahaha! All the while pinapakiramdaman ko kung masusundan yung pain, wala naman! Until I finished my shower and fell back asleep. After Mr. L left for the office, I went back to bed. Napuyat ako eh. I woke up noontime na eh may prenatal checkup ulit ako and my OB's clinic is only open until 12nn. Dedma, I still went kahit 2PM na yun.

I got to Dr. Vicencio's clinic just before 3PM and there were no other patients anymore, ako na lang talaga haha! We went about our normal routine. Then she checked my BP, 160/80! Kalerkey! She did an Internal Exam and told me my cervix has dilated to 3CM na and that I was to go to the Pre-Labor Room ASAP. I called my husband and my mama to tell them the news.

I was in the Labor Room by 5PM. The pain didn't start until they popped my waterbag. It was around 7PM. For those who are curious, yes, labor is painful! It's like LBM and menstrual cramps combined and to the tenth power! Hahaha! Good thing there are three to five minute intervals and thank goodness I learned yoga breathing techniques. It helped a lot!

*WARNING: Unflattering photos ahead but this doesn't get any real than this so kebs!

Kaya pa besh?

For Mr. L to be allowed into the Labor Room,
he had to change into this scrub suit. P450 siya teh!
Tapos kailangan isoli after. KLK!

At past 3AM I was wheeled into the Delivery Room. They called my husband (he was with me at the Labor Room but after a couple of hours I told him to go get some sleep because who knows when we'll get to sleep again? Haha) but I requested that they don't let him in until the baby is almost out. I did not want anyone to see me so, um, defenseless? I don't know, just the picture of me spread-eagled under bright lights and strangers, it sure wasn't a pretty situation.

Ayun na nga, after a few unsuccessful pushing, the pain started again and they had to up my epidural shot. Kaso mo, the person assisting the anesthesiologist misplaced her apparatus! NACACALOCA! Namimilipit ako sa sakit and she was running around trying to find whatever and wherever it is. In reality it probably just took her a few minutes but my gahd it felt like hours! She got reprimanded na nga. In between pains I was like "uy take your time naman, okay lang talaga ako eh!" hahaha kaloka si bakla!

After a few more pushing, Dr. V said the baby's heartbeat is starting to slow down so she has to use forceps to get the baby out na. There will be a few marks on her head and face but they will go away after a few days din daw. They called my husband in and the next push should be my one big push daw. Okay game!

The contraction came, I pushed like I never pushed before and next thing I heard was my baby's hesitant cry and my OB explaining to my husband why she had to use forceps. She was talking a mile a minute. Then the doctor to my right, I think she was a pedia, said to me quietly, "Congratulations! You have a baby boy!" I tell you, at that moment it didn't quite register to me just yet.

Ito yung medyo nahimasmasan na si Mr. L at nag-picture na siya LOL!
Look at that baby! Nakadikit talaga siya kaagad sa'kin huhu! Adorbs!

I do not remember this. I asked Mr. L what was this doctor doing
kasi mukhang sasampalin niya ako hahaha!
He said she was asking me how many fingers I see.
Hala eh di ko maalala, I asked him what I answered,
di niya na rin daw maalala hahaha!

Then they put the baby on my breast for our first skin-to-skin contact when I glimpsed his widdle penis and that's when I thought, "bakit may pototoy?" and then one of the doctors said to Mr. L, "Oh daddy, hindi ka ba magpi picture?" hahaha! Natulala na yung asawa ko eh! Sobrang funny nung moment. So "us". Hahaha!

When the nurse asked for his change of clothes, towel, and swaddle, yung pink talaga ang pinadala ng asawa ko eh hahaha! Yun naman kasi ang ibinilin ko sa kanya. Everyone who saw our baby at the Recovery Room commented on how cute our baby girl is and I was too tired and also too mischievous to correct them.

Aminin na nating ang chaka ko dito pero dedma na,
first family picture namin to eh!

This was when he was first wheeled into our room.
Their first itay-and-son photo. Oh diba pink? Ang cute cute huhu!

Over the next couple of days, it's been kind of a challenge to alter our mindset. Although we are just as happy that we have a boy, we have been expecting for a baby girl for months and what with our baby wearing pink stuff (hahaha!) we sort of still thought that he was a girl.

It was just for a couple of days though. Ngayon okay na.

What a nice surprise, having a boy. I can't wait to see the bond he and my husband will form in the years to come. We're excited to raise a man who will treat women the way they (we) deserve to be treated. I'm grateful we are given this opportunity to raise a human being and we're determined to do right by it.

At 'yan and delivery story ko na mix of pain, suspense, gore, and comedy hihi!