When I was pregnant, all I had to do was download apps like What To Expect, visit different websites, and message friends/medical practitioners whenever I needed to find out more about my baby's development inside my tummy, about baby's first weeks of life, about parenting, or if there's just something I'm worried about. Technology really is a blessing especially for first-time mothers like me.
Admittedly though, I could not get enough of information for when I'm actually in the Labor Room. Being an imaginative person, I created different scenarios in my mind starting from when I would be in labor up to coming home with our new baby.
When I actually got there, I realized there are a lot of details from the reading materials I've devoured. I wished I could have mentally prepared myself more.
So first-time preggers, I got you! I'm listing down the small yet important details I should have mentally prepared myself for. Of course your experience could be different from mine. I just think, in one way or another, that these might help you somehow.
BABALA: This can be graphic so for anyone with a weak stomach, hindi 'to para sa inyo.
For one, I didn't know labor involved A LOT OF URINATING, so the first items all involve peeing.
I hope I didn't gross you out too much haha! Ultimately, if you're a first-time pregnant woman about to give birth, I hope this helped. Have a safe delivery!
Admittedly though, I could not get enough of information for when I'm actually in the Labor Room. Being an imaginative person, I created different scenarios in my mind starting from when I would be in labor up to coming home with our new baby.
When I actually got there, I realized there are a lot of details from the reading materials I've devoured. I wished I could have mentally prepared myself more.
So first-time preggers, I got you! I'm listing down the small yet important details I should have mentally prepared myself for. Of course your experience could be different from mine. I just think, in one way or another, that these might help you somehow.
BABALA: This can be graphic so for anyone with a weak stomach, hindi 'to para sa inyo.
For one, I didn't know labor involved A LOT OF URINATING, so the first items all involve peeing.
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| See how they are working on me down there? Awkward bes but that's a fact of life. |
1. MY URGE TO PEE DOUBLED. I know for a fact and by experience that pregnant women pee every so often but while I was in the Labor Room (LR) it seemed like my urge to pee even doubled! Maya't-maya nawiwi ako and because I got into the LR at 4CM, the doctors wouldn't allow me to get up from my bed anymore so I had to..
2. PEE ON A BEDPAN. Nakakaloka 'to kasi hindi talaga ako nakapag prepare para dito neveor read this anywhere so I was a bit horrified at first but because the call of nature was very strong, I just had to do it! I've never peed on a bedpan before nor do I know anyone who had to so I didn't know that..
3. PEOPLE HAD TO HELP ME PEE on the bedpan. Grabe dyahe! I know they are professional medical practitioners and that these are all in a day's work for them, still, sana man lang naihanda ko ang sarili ko. Eh maya't-maya nawiwiwi ako. Minsan nga pinipigilan ko na lang :(
4. MY WATER BAG HAD TO BE POPPED. When I was at 7CM, one of the doctors told me they had to pop my water bag, this will speed up delivery daw. It didn't hurt because I was well into epidural at the time but when I saw the device they used to pop my waterbag, juskoday naloka ako!
5. DRAINED MY WATER BAG USING A TUBE. They had to insert a tube inside me and drained my water bag while there were..
6. PEOPLE WATCHING. And when I say "me" I mean my mini me down there. It was very unnerving but yes, they watched as fluid drained out through the tube. After that, from peeing on a bedpan, I moved on to..
7. PEEING ON A DRY SHEET. They had to put a dry sheet on my bed when they popped my water bag and because as my contractions grew stronger and more frequent, I could not hold in my pee anymore. Kusa na lang siyang nagti-tinkle.
There was also a point where my OB requested for a urinalysis (I don't know if it is SOP or if it was just because my BP was high) and so the person that collected my urine HAD TO watch me pee because she had to catch the midstream urine.
Kaya pa? I TOLD YOU this could get graphic. HAHA!
8. THERE WERE SEVERAL INTERNAL EXAMS (IE) I don't know what I expected! I just know that although necessary I detest IEs and I did not expect there would be quite a few before delivery. It was uncomfortable every single time except once the epidural kicked in.
9. PREPARE TO GET NAKED. Hindi ko alam if you can tell by my photos pero hindi ako kasing kinis at kasing sexy ni Christine Reyes. I know, shocking right? Hence, my distress in showing a lot of skin. I'm not really conservative, I'm just conscious haha! That's why I felt really awkward when I had to be butt-naked pala when they were putting in the epidural line and that there will be LOTS of people at the Delivery Room! As I've said, wala lang naman sa kanila yun because they're all professionals but if you're a conservative or conscious like me, this is something you have to mentally prepare yourself for.
10. PUSHING IS HARD. To push hard is hard. Hahaha! Kaya pala there are Lamaze classes to prepare you for all that pushing. Getting instructions when you're being wheeled to the DR can be quite confusing. I was like, why am I hearing this for the first time eh 12 hours na akong nandito? Anyway the instructions I get were: once you feel a contraction take a deep breath then push while counting one to ten, and push using your abdomen not your throat. Practicing breathing techniques will also help a great deal.
11. MENTALLY PREPARE YOURSELF FOR THE PAIN AND DISCOMFORT AFTER DELIVERY. I mentally prepared myself for this because I saw both my sisters give birth and I witnessed how they had to endure pain and discomfort after the delivery. Even so, I still was a bit shocked at how weak my body seemed. For the most part, I was exhausted and aching all over. I also couldn't pee! Huhu! The doctor said my bladder was still getting used to having an enormous pressure having been lifted off it that's why I had difficulty to urinate. There was also another IE (ugh!) and of course the pain from the sutures (although you might not need this if you're lucky).
All in all, I think I fared quite well. I was in awe of almost anything. I love new experiences and perhaps that was why I wasn't scared. I wanted to take everything in. Uncomfortable lang talaga at nakaka-haggard pero doable naman. Generations of women have endured far more discomfort and difficulty in giving birth kaya swerte na talaga tayo ngayon.
Also, worth it naman talaga once your baby is in your arms. Especially when you have moments like this.
2. PEE ON A BEDPAN. Nakakaloka 'to kasi hindi talaga ako nakapag prepare para dito neveor read this anywhere so I was a bit horrified at first but because the call of nature was very strong, I just had to do it! I've never peed on a bedpan before nor do I know anyone who had to so I didn't know that..
3. PEOPLE HAD TO HELP ME PEE on the bedpan. Grabe dyahe! I know they are professional medical practitioners and that these are all in a day's work for them, still, sana man lang naihanda ko ang sarili ko. Eh maya't-maya nawiwiwi ako. Minsan nga pinipigilan ko na lang :(
4. MY WATER BAG HAD TO BE POPPED. When I was at 7CM, one of the doctors told me they had to pop my water bag, this will speed up delivery daw. It didn't hurt because I was well into epidural at the time but when I saw the device they used to pop my waterbag, juskoday naloka ako!
5. DRAINED MY WATER BAG USING A TUBE. They had to insert a tube inside me and drained my water bag while there were..
6. PEOPLE WATCHING. And when I say "me" I mean my mini me down there. It was very unnerving but yes, they watched as fluid drained out through the tube. After that, from peeing on a bedpan, I moved on to..
7. PEEING ON A DRY SHEET. They had to put a dry sheet on my bed when they popped my water bag and because as my contractions grew stronger and more frequent, I could not hold in my pee anymore. Kusa na lang siyang nagti-tinkle.
There was also a point where my OB requested for a urinalysis (I don't know if it is SOP or if it was just because my BP was high) and so the person that collected my urine HAD TO watch me pee because she had to catch the midstream urine.
Kaya pa? I TOLD YOU this could get graphic. HAHA!
8. THERE WERE SEVERAL INTERNAL EXAMS (IE) I don't know what I expected! I just know that although necessary I detest IEs and I did not expect there would be quite a few before delivery. It was uncomfortable every single time except once the epidural kicked in.
9. PREPARE TO GET NAKED. Hindi ko alam if you can tell by my photos pero hindi ako kasing kinis at kasing sexy ni Christine Reyes. I know, shocking right? Hence, my distress in showing a lot of skin. I'm not really conservative, I'm just conscious haha! That's why I felt really awkward when I had to be butt-naked pala when they were putting in the epidural line and that there will be LOTS of people at the Delivery Room! As I've said, wala lang naman sa kanila yun because they're all professionals but if you're a conservative or conscious like me, this is something you have to mentally prepare yourself for.
10. PUSHING IS HARD. To push hard is hard. Hahaha! Kaya pala there are Lamaze classes to prepare you for all that pushing. Getting instructions when you're being wheeled to the DR can be quite confusing. I was like, why am I hearing this for the first time eh 12 hours na akong nandito? Anyway the instructions I get were: once you feel a contraction take a deep breath then push while counting one to ten, and push using your abdomen not your throat. Practicing breathing techniques will also help a great deal.
11. MENTALLY PREPARE YOURSELF FOR THE PAIN AND DISCOMFORT AFTER DELIVERY. I mentally prepared myself for this because I saw both my sisters give birth and I witnessed how they had to endure pain and discomfort after the delivery. Even so, I still was a bit shocked at how weak my body seemed. For the most part, I was exhausted and aching all over. I also couldn't pee! Huhu! The doctor said my bladder was still getting used to having an enormous pressure having been lifted off it that's why I had difficulty to urinate. There was also another IE (ugh!) and of course the pain from the sutures (although you might not need this if you're lucky).
All in all, I think I fared quite well. I was in awe of almost anything. I love new experiences and perhaps that was why I wasn't scared. I wanted to take everything in. Uncomfortable lang talaga at nakaka-haggard pero doable naman. Generations of women have endured far more discomfort and difficulty in giving birth kaya swerte na talaga tayo ngayon.
Also, worth it naman talaga once your baby is in your arms. Especially when you have moments like this.
I hope I didn't gross you out too much haha! Ultimately, if you're a first-time pregnant woman about to give birth, I hope this helped. Have a safe delivery!
