Pregnancy during pandemic: "No unang yakap or unang halik!"

I previously shared here on TAP about my pregnancy journey during the pandemic. And now, I’m sharing my experience in giving birth during pandemic.

Pregnancy during pandemic: “No unang yakap or unang halik!”

After I gave birth I realized how this pandemic really changed and affect our lives including giving birth. No unang yakap or unang halik. Salamat talaga COVID-19! (Insert sarcasm)

Thursday morning, December 3, around 5 AM, I am feeling uncomfortable. Well always naman na akong uncomfortable so it’s nothing unusual. Nakakaramdam ako ng braxton hicks but since i have a contraction app, I logged it in there.

Then the interval became closer and the pain becoming intense. The app is alarming already..informing that I should prepare to go to the hospital..

Our plan was that we will go that afternoon since it was my scheduled checkup. So, at 7 AM I ate breakfast despite having on off contraction. Kaso ‘yung plan ko na after lunch na pumunta ng hospital was changed kasi naman the pain was getting worst. Ang sakit na besh. Hindi na madala ng pa cute cute.

So i told Enteng, “Let’s go earlier.” I also messaged some of my friends, my mom and my aunt that i might give birth na kasi nga i think I’m in labor.

BASAHIN:

YES! I’m Pregnant… OH NO! Its Pandemic!

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Nakakaramdam ako ng contraction

Then I took a bath. Having a warm bath is actually very helpful with the pain. Kaya every contract niya, binubuhusan ko ng tubig tiyan ko. Napaisip ako, kaya pala may water birth. It’s very helpful pala mag labor at manganak sa tubig.

After ko magbihis, Enteng was still not dressed, hindi pa nakaligo at nakakain. So nagkasagutan pa kami. Naiyak pa ako sa inis and tried to go without him. I grabbed my bag and nag walk-out. Pero I ended up sa kwarto kasi nag-contract na naman. He ended up not having breakfast sa pagmamadali. Apparently hindi yata niya narinig ‘yung sabi ko na we’ll go early sa hospital kasi super sakit na ng tiyan ko.

We then texted both my OB’s Doc Uy and Doc Tuason about my situation. Kasi nga hindi daw dapat ako mag-labor baka ma-stress ang kambal sa loob.

Noong nasa taxi na kami they both replied asking if i had my RT-PCR done. Sadly no. So, I was worried because the RT-PCR at the hospital cost twice than outside. Gladly Doc Tuason called new world (one of the testing center near Davao doc) and have my details forwarded their so i can be prioritized.

Nagpa-swab test kami

While traveling, the contractions were getting intense. Good thing the driver was so sensitive. Upon arriving at new world, my husband filled up the form, paid sa cashier and I had my swab.

Done.. It’s not really that painful pala. Then we walked from new world to Davao Doc. Malapit lang naman siya.. Pagdating sa Davao Doc, QR code pa. Imagine, I’m in labour but had to do swab test, mag QR code pa and all the interview. Salamat talaga COVID-19 (Insert sarcasm)

When I arrived sa ER, Doc Tuason was there already. Did a NST and IE. It was 4 cm already, 7 or 70% effaced (hindi ko narinig kung 7 ba or 70) and malambot na daw cervix ko. So she said i-admit kana and i-CS now na.

Nagulat pa ako and napaisip. Lagot, hindi namin dala mga gamit namin. And also I’m just 36 weeks 6 days..with day short for 37 weeks..will my babies be okay?

But i don’t have any choice. So, they had Enteng processed the papers and pina-xray din siya at CBC.

While enteng was processing everything, dinala na ako agad sa DR. It was, i think 10 or 11 and everything happened so fast. The anesthesiologist was there already. Introduced himself and told me na baka sumuka raw ako upon putting the anaesthesia kasi I ate breakfast pa. Which really happened during the operation. Nasukahan ko pa si Doc!

The doctors and nurses and staff were all so accommodating and mabait. I swear to God this was the gentlest birth i experience. Kay que horror jud ang delivery ko kay Summer sa other hospital. kung anu-ano ng ni-request ko habang inooperahan.

“Doc, nahihilo ako paki taas ng ulo ko.” “Doc ang lamig paki patay ng aircon.” “Dok nasusuka ako.”

Sabay suka kay doc. Don’t worry I always tell thank you after every request.

At 11:25 AM, baby 1 (cephalic baby) was out. I heard him cry. They showed him to me but I was so sleepy na always akong ginigising ni Doc. Then I can feel them niyuyugyog ang tiyan ko and I couldn’t breathe na parang may nakadagan sa dibdib ko. They did ECG and at 11:29am baby 2 (franc breech baby) was out.

I heard him cry too and was shown to me. They were both breastfed naman kasi pinadede sila ng nurse sa akin pero sandali lang yata iyon but we didn’t have unang yakap or halik or singhot man lang.

Why? Because my RT-PCR results were not yet released and I am not yet cleared. Baka raw mag-positive, God forbid. So while I was recovering, i saw 1 of the twins from afar. Kasi nasa iisang room lang kami but nasa sulok sila pinapainitan..i sooo wanted to standup already and go to them kaso i couldn’t move. Ulo ko lang ang nagagalaw ko. Even mga kamay ko hindi ko magalaw kasi both my mga swero.

“Everytime 1 of the twins cry, i would just call out to them and tell them, don’t worry mga anak, mama is here lang..wag na iyak. love kayo ni mama..and they would stop crying.”

(Hays naiiyak ako while remembering this)

Until sa I was transferred to our room and sadly, the twins cannot be roomed in until my result is out and it is negative. So both me and Enteng weren’t able to see them up until the next day. Umabot yata ng mahigit 24 hrs bago sila na i-room in. My result came in around 9 or 10 in the morning but they were roomed in after lunch na.

They stayed at Nicu for the meantime buti na lang Enteng was able to see them in the morning and was able to get pictures and we did video call na lang so i can see them.

Hays.. COVID-19 did really create a big change in our lives and it gave me an experience that I will surely remember for the rest of my life hoping that this pandemic ends pretty soon. If one thing I’m thankful for is that getting locked down gave us this twins. My Aire Azriel and Snowe Uriel. Both angels sent by God to complete our family.

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