Benjamin

The Milestone. So here's the story...

July 27, Monday, I went to see the midwife, and she gave me a paper tohave another obstetric scan just to see how much fluid is around the baby...

July 30, Thursday 10:30 in the morning. That was my scheduled obstetric scan.The radiologist puts the sonogram on my midriff and the first thing she saw wasmy baby's crown, "oh, your baby is breeched"... and we were like:"that can't be right...". The radiologists suggests I call my midwiferight away.

So, around 12 noon, I called the landline of the Kate Shepard Midwifery...there was no answer, I thought maybe they are at lunch, I'll give it 15 minutesbefore I call again. And then my mobile rings... it was my midwife. I was to goto the North Shore Hospital around 4pm and gostraight to the second floor, after coming out of the elevator, just turn leftto the birthing suite where they will monitor the baby for some time.

We went to the birthing suite alight, and stayed there for more than threehours. The monitoring took longer than we thought, and we caled in the nurseand asked about it, nurse said baby's heartrate is ok, but doctor might want tosee 20 minutes more of the graph.

Then the doctor came, and I was asked if it is alright for me to stay in thehospital as they think I might go into labor anytime soon. They would like tofit me in the moment that there is an available slot for c-section. Monday 'tilWednesday of the next week is fully booked and yet I must not wait 'til thetime I go into labor as it will be dangerous. They must fit me in on Friday,but it could go also on Saturday. Since I really don't like hospitals, Iinsisted I go home and just come back early at 7am on Friday.

I was told "nothing starting 2am" Friday. So I ate everything Iwanted to eat before that... Ice cream... cheescake... fruits...

There we were, it was Friday, 31 July 2009, I doned on the unfashionable blue hospital gown they asked me to wear, a hideous thingall open at the back. There was another woman there with her partner who wasalso waiting for a c-section. They said I will come after her. But then again,the doctors decided mine was more urgent as she had to wait for something(which I don't know). So the nurses, midwife were busy with me, taking bloodsamples, making me sign papers, and the anaesthetist who intorduced himself asRichard, along with an observer (a student anaesthtist) also comes to explaineverything he will administer on me. More papers to sign and a pill Ranitide tobe taken 2 hours prior to the operation.

Even papers about Vitamin K for the baby. sign sign sign...

Then between 8:30-10am, I was wheeled off to another waiting room severalfloors higher where I was asked the same questions over again. The attendingmidwife says... just to be sure, they do that. I have lost track of the waitingtime when I was wheeled off to the operating room.There were a whole bunch of specialist people there, probably around 8 of them,all very friendly, all very confident.

Some of them would start talking to me, to tell me exactly what they are doing,the reason why they are doing it and how it might feel. I was asked to cross myarms over my torso really bend down and not move for a few seconds. Theinjection at my back felt like a little sting, but the only reaction I gave wasa little 'ooo'... and then it starts, I couldn't feel anything from my chestdown.

I was awake through the whole procedure. I can tell when the obstetric doctorlifted my hospital gown (I whispered to G: "holy cow, now this is embarrassing...").It was a bit entertaining there; they were actually talking to me while theywere at it. They asked me, how tall I was... I told them I usually write 5' on paper but actually I'm around 4'10 or 4'11. That made them laugh. My partnerbeing there and the light atmosphere among the specialists there actually gave me confidence that things will be alright, I am in good hands.

I can feel them moving things around down there, but no pain really. Myimagination is a bit wild, it is a wee bit scary being opened up and knowingit. And then... I heard a little cry. and there HE was... our little Benjamin.

Little at 3.97 kilos... well done baby, they said.

and that was the story of the birth...

I had to stay at the hospital for a few days, I remember I was in MaternitySuite K, which will be another story, as I had my first challenge as a new mum.Will tell you more about this soon (soon napud)...

Hello Summer

Life's A Beach!

It's Summer again in New Zealand! Coincides with that heart warming season called Christmas. Well yes, we hardly get a White Chistmas here, but I am glad since I don't think I'll enjoy feeling frozen during the holidays. So far my friends and I have been able to get together and had a videoke session, at which I got a score of 93. Nothing to brag about, you just "read" the lyrics and make sure you make a sound when the text color changes!

A few weeks ago, I went to the Coromandel Peninsula with a fellow Filipina. The whole day was nice, except for that part when we had to board a bus to the wharf where our ferry back to auckland was docked. We never saw the darned bus. Being stuck in the Coromandel wasn't that bad. I met a few people at the backpackers lodge and in the morning after, my friend and I rode the intercity buses to get to Auckland again, and saw the beautiful sites of the northeastern country side.

After another few weeks, our medical publishing staff had a great time in goat island and then went lunch in a fine winery way past Warkworth. At goat island, I went snorkelling with the fishies and was fortunate to see two stingrays. I was later told that they raise the top end of their tails when you get too close... you know what that means, I could have been stung!


Current mood: Looking forward to things
Current song: Stars are Blind (Performed by Paris Hilton)

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The least of things with a meaning are worth more in life
than the greatest of things without it. -Carl Jung-
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When The Wind Blows

The wind in Auckland can be strong enough to whisk your umbrella out of your hand. My umbrella didn't "fly" away, but the hinges gave way, it now looks like funny and, no, it doesn't even look cute. This happens to be a gift from my former flattie, this umbrella is still priceless thus the photo. I have just been to Foodtown to do some groceries, and now my groceries are still in the trunk... so is my dinner. I have to wait 'till this rain slows down to keep my little self from getting drenched. A friend of mine mentioned once, wind in Wellington is much much stronger. Bright side... I love Auckland! And the sound of the special alarm clock makes every morning a good morning. Perhaps, people should find a special thought in the morning, keep that thought and let it spread through the whole day. The wind blows hard, but it can never blow your special thoughts away.

There seems to be a lot going in these day and these tend to coincide with school holidays in the country. For instance... Batman the Dark Knight, coming to haunt the big screens at last. I am booked! I go on friday evening, come rain on thunder!

current song: Ang Panday Theme Song (Sugarfree)
current mood: Light