Pregnancy Update Week 37 and Happy Birthday Sven!

I visited my OBGYN on my 37th week (Thursday). And I'm already 4-5cm dilated, 70% effaced. We really thought I might give birth in a few hours or on the next day, because it's already my 2nd pregnancy and expected to come out or progress faster.

Swab Test

After my doctor's appointment, we immediately went for a swab test and kept praying for a fast, and negative result. As soon as we finished our swab test, we informed our doctor's secretary so that our doctor can inform them to check for our swab test result ASAP as I might give birth very soon (and supposedly it'll take 24-48 hrs to get the result).

Fast forward, 3days later, baby hasn't come out yet. I don't feel consistent and intense contractions, and my water bag is still intact. I've been waiting, and just kept checking - Did my water break or is it a discharge? Is this going to be a start of consistent and intense contractions? Nope, so far, he has not decided to come out yet.

Morning Walk

We also started walking in the morning, to help open up my cervix and with the contractions. Anyway, we're just going to wait when Sven is ready to come out.

The Wait

We kept waiting for any sign that I'm going to give birth but had none. My water didn't break, and I didn't have consistent and painful contractions. We wanted to give birth while my swab test is still valid. Later on, I also found out that my OBGYN has been waiting for a call since Thursday. Hahaha. But little Sven didn't want to come out yet.

Monday

It's the 5th day since I had my first swab test, which means we have to do a re-swab so that the result, which may come out 24-48hrs, will be ready by the time my first swab test is no longer valid. Right after I took a bath, we decided to go to the hospital for a re-swab, I was just on my pajamas thinking that I only need to be in the car for the drive-thru swab test.

On the way to the hospital, my husband thought that perhaps we can go directly to the Labor and Delivery and ask if it's possible to get an IE (since it was already afternoon, and my OBGYN's clinic is no longer open at that time). If I didn't progress since Thursday, I'll get another swab test, but if I have progressed already (I was thinking 7cm), then I'll ask to get induced so I can give birth that day.

I was walking very slowly from the car to the hospital entrance, the guard who saw me asked John to get a wheelchair for me. We got everything we need for that check-up, my clear book which contains all test results, ultrasound, and prenatal booklet. The resident doctor will only need to get all info from the clear book and I wouldn't have to think about answering all their questions while on labor.

So, I got inside Labor and Delivery at around 3PM. I was told that they'll gonna do IE and CTG, but there are many pregnant women lining up for CTG and I might only be able to have one after 3hrs. But because I have a private OBGYN, I was entertained immediately. The perks!

The resident doctor of my OBGYN checked on me first. I remember she was the same resident doctor who checked on my when I went to the hospital at 34wks. We were just talking casually while she's checking my cervix. It took quite a while and later on, she told me I'm on 7cm already. Which means I'm gonna give birth soon. I was immediately transferred to the labor room.

Instead of the 3hrs wait for the CTG, I was immediately given one when I arrived at the labor room. They called my OBGYN and told her I'm already 7cm. Good thing is that my doctor is already on her way to the hospital when we informed her secretary that we will be going to the hospital that afternoon.

Labor Room

I was still laughing, talking casually to the nurses and doctors and was very calm - because I still didn't have painful contractions. The CTG shows that I'm having my contractions every 5-7mins, I couldn't even feel it. They kept asking me for my pain score and I told them I still couldn't feel any painful contractions. I'm already 7cm, it's suppose to hurt. They kept joking "Sana all." Must be because I kept praying to have a painless delivery, as much as possible. My water still didn't break, and probably that's the reason why I can't feel any pain.

My OBGYN arrived, she checked for my cervix, she said it's somewhere between 7-8cm. She manually broke my amniotic sac, and I was given Oxytocin. And my oh my, from zero pain score, it went up quickly to 5, 8, then 10 (most painful) in less than 3-5mins. I couldn't mind the time, I was just in so much pain, I'm almost crying.

My doctor already asked me to be transferred to the delivery room as she told everyone that I give birth very quickly. Lol.

Delivery

I was transferred to the delivery room immediately, it was so painful, I remember I was very calm when I was transferred to the delivery room during my first pregnancy, since the contractions would come and go. And when I'm not contracting, I'm just calm. This time, I was just in so much pain, and it's so hard to move.

Since most of the resident doctors in the Labor and Delivery knew my doctor, a lot of them came the moment I reached the Delivery room. My doctor is a fun and very approachable person, so I think a lot of the resident doctors like her. Imagine a flock of doctors in the delivery room, cheering for me as I started pushing. People outside the Labor and Delivery can even hear them.

I delivered Sven very quickly, I pushed him out in 5mins. I can remember how he looked like when the doctor placed him on me. I don't even remember when the placenta was pushed out, because I don't remember pushing it out. As soon as Doc Weda finished stitching me, I was moved to the recovery room while waiting for Sven.

One of the doctors visited me and checked my stitches, she also pushed down my tummy (uterus) and I remember a lot of blood came out when she did that. It was really gushing down there, if I was standing up, I might've collapsed from losing too much blood in less than a minute.

And after 30 mins, Sven is back in my arms. I breastfed him immediately while staring at him, memorizing his face, his skin, his arms and his legs. He's beautiful. And I can't believe I'm finally done with this second pregnancy, and will most likely be my last one. I will share in the next blog how my first born reacted now that he has a baby brother.

Hello World! I'm Sven Simon!